Fusion’s off to the races

[mikeyb]

Ford is expected to announce this week that the Fusion will replace the outgoing Taurus as the visual basis for its next NASCAR Nextel Cup car. NASCAR rules require that its racecars be based on production models, so the Fusion is as likely a choice as the Taurus was.

I’m not huge into NASCAR, so let me wonder out loud why Ford doesn’t use the Mustang instead?
Aren’t Mustang owners more likely to be NASCAR fans than potential Fusion owners? Though many racecars in the past have been based on four-door sedans, Chevy currently uses the two-door Monte Carlo. Dodge has also begun using its new Charger, which is rear-wheel drive. A Mustang Nextel Cup car would be a coupe and rear-wheel drive, making it at least the same type of vehicle as its racing counterpart. I get the feeling, however, that NASCAR fans don’t really give a hoot what headlight and grille stickers they apply to the cars, just as long as they can go fast and turn left.

http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000980050030/

[Prodigy]

I'm not sure if they can make a "Mustang" fit the regulated size dimensions..
and keep it looking something like a Mustang.

[SilentSno]

The Mustang already sells it self. How many new Monte Carlos would you see if chevy didn't race them in Nascar. A lot less. Same idea goes for ford, pick something you need to sell to the mass market. Used to be the taurus, now the new Fusion.

I thought they would of picked the Five Hundred, i thought that was the taurus replacement. The Fusion seems smaller, I like it a lot.

I mean Dodge does use the Charger, but it isn't entirely the Charger of old, its a hot new Sedan with ol' school flavo' but big enough to hold a typical 2.1 Kids.

[nealric]

Never understood the nascar design philosophy:

"lets take a peice of junk boat car, strip it to near unrecognizability, but a huge ass engine in it, and make it do left turns at 200mph for hours on end"

why not take fast cars and make them faster?

[drumsbeloud]

Never understood the nascar design philosophy:

"lets take a peice of junk boat car, strip it to near unrecognizability, but a huge ass engine in it, and make it do left turns at 200mph for hours on end"

why not take fast cars and make them faster?


it's a marketing tactic for shitty products.

[Kansei]

NASCAR makes me sad (rei)(rei)(rei)

I hate seeing crappy american cards drive in ovals over and over. Give me some WRC rally or F1 racing or autocross or scca stuff any day of the week over that boring nascar crap.

[stdntDrvr]

nascar really isn't boring...yeah, if you go to a race you're surrounded by 100,000 drunk red-necks...but there's more to it than going fast and turning left. i hated it for years...my dad would watch it every sunday...finally, i broke down and went to a race with him...it was a blast. i've been a fan since. we even sat through a 8 hr rain delay...hell, after watching the first 30 laps, my ass wasn't leaving...but to each his own.

[SilentSno]

nascar really isn't boring...yeah, if you go to a race you're surrounded by 100,000 drunk red-necks...but there's more to it than going fast and turning left. i hated it for years...my dad would watch it every sunday...finally, i broke down and went to a race with him...it was a blast. i've been a fan since. we even sat through a 8 hr rain delay...hell, after watching the first 30 laps, my ass wasn't leaving...but to each his own.

Word. (mswerd)

[wannabe]

nascar fans are also the most brand loyal fans in the world. my marketing teacher in college was a nascar fan. 85% of the time a nascar fan will buy a product that is advertised on a car over one that is not. thats HUGE for marketing.

[stdntDrvr]

i read in a magazine from ford that the fusion sits on a mazda 6 frame...and it has a mazda 6 drivetrain.

[mikeyb]

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/il/news/2005/0714/fusion.500.jpg