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Ford was once king of the hill but then slowly rolled backwards and out of the limelight as new brands made an appearance in the market and as the US motor industry struggled to survive during the global financial crisis.

Now the car maker is flexing its muscle again and making a determined attempt to again become one of the world?s prominent manufacturers.

This is apparent in sales of its Fusion - billed as America's most fuel efficient sedan ? which at 151 137 units have already reached a record for 2009 and have beaten figures achieved in 2007.

Ford also has not softened the Fusion's design as other manufacturers have when rolling out 'greener' versions of their models.

Quite the opposite, in fact. The Fusion remains aggressive in its stlying, with three broad bars across the grille and chunky alloys with thick spokes. Flared wheel arches, a wide air inlet and a rear that is higher than make it appear to squat menacingly on the tar.

Ford sales analyst George Pipas in a statement said: "It's extraordinary that a car could set a sales record in an environment where overall industry sales are down 26 percent from a year ago,"

The model's success shows that customer needs are changing. They are more aware of fuel consumption and are opting for mid-sized sedans that offer value for money, with the Fusion?s hybrid and sport models forming part of this trend.

Hybrid units account for almost 20 percent of all Fusion sales and data from the 2009 US Global Quality Research System survey reveal that the Fusion Hybrid has the highest customer satisfaction ratings of any Ford vehicle ever.

The questions that remains is: Can Ford replicate this success in the world car market and regain its crown as a brand of note?