In another victory for Ford, the 2009 Fusion has climbed to the ranks of the top ten best-selling vehicles in America and is the best-selling domestic car in the country.

To date, Ford has moved 151,137 Fusion units for the year, a 15 percent gain over previous sales of the car during a period when industry-wide sales are down by more than 25 percent. The previous record for Fusion sales was set in 2007 with 149,552 sold.

The Fusion line offers a diverse range of models including a hybrid with a combined fuel efficiency rating of 39 mpg. The hybrid accounts for about 20 percent of overall Fusion sales with 60 percent of those buying the hybrid returning to a domestic brand after owning an import.

The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid sports a four-cylinder gasoline engine (2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle) working in tandem with two battery-powered electric motors and makes use of a continuously variable transmission. Together they produce 191 hp.

The nickel-metal-hydride battery back is mounted in the trunk and draws air from the cabin rather than requiring an additional cooling system. It generates 20 percent more power than the packs used in previous Ford hybrids, allowing the Fusion to be driven up to 47 mph on all electric power.