Ford's 2013 Fusion sets the bar high

The sleek-looking Ford Fusion is getting rave reviews after Ford unveiled the model Tuesday during
the NASCAR media tour in Charlotte. Credit: Ford Racing

Ford Motor Company was the first of the big four manufacturers in NASCAR to unveil its 2013 Sprint Cup racecar. The Ford Fusion is sleek, racy and dare I say, a bit sexy. Simply put, it is one hot car! 

“The NASCAR Nation is made up of car enthusiasts, and NASCAR fans certainly love to pull for a brand or make of car second only to being able to pull for their favorite driver,” said NASCAR President Mike Helton. “Today is a very significant landmark for us. It brings back the relevancy of NASCAR on the race track to what fans have in their homes and in their parking lots and garages and at their parking spots at work.”

The entire purpose of the 2013 redesign it to return NASCAR to the production car designs. Back when Lee Petty drove, his car was nothing more than one bought off a car lot. Nowadays - especially with the advent of the Car of Tomorrow in 2007 - racecars are highly manufactured and appear so, missing that appeal to fans of being like the car they drive on the street. 

“We wanted Fusion to be the car that helped return ‘stock car’ to NASCAR,” said Jamie Allison, director of Ford Racing. “I think fans, when they see the car, are just going to smile and cheer. It is going to re-engage them with the sport and make the sport better because there is just something natural about seeing racecars that look like cars in their driveways.”

“This is a seminal moment in the sport where we had a chance to get it right once again and make sure the racecars are race versions of street cars.  And I am proud because I believe we have accomplished just that,” continued Allison.  “The 2013 Fusion is a stunning car and the 2013 NASCAR Fusion is even more stunning and I can’t wait to see it perform on the track and connect with race fans.”

Design Features of the 2013 Fusion Sprint Cup Car

• Designers addressed the overall proportion of the racecar to reflect proportions found in the production Fusion.
• Brand and design cues in the side of the vehicle.
• An identifiable front end grill with the distinctive look of a Ford.

Chevrolet, Dodge and Toyota have not said when they will unveil their 2013 models. NASCAR allowed the four automakers to remodel their racecars to make them more brand identifiable.