NASCAR Cup Series

Ford unveils new car for 2013 Cup season

Published Jan. 24, 2012 8:22 p.m. ET

foxsports

"This changes everything."

With those words, Ford unveiled the 2013 Ford Fusion. The Sprint Cup version of the car was worked on by Ford designers in an effort to bring brand identity back to the sport. The result is undeniable with the 2013 Sprint Cup car mirroring the recently unveiled 2013 Ford Fusion production car.

”We wanted Fusion to be the car that helped return ‘stock car’ to NASCAR,” stated Jamie Allison, director, 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 race cars that look like cars in their driveways.”

This marks the third time Ford simultaneously launched production and NASCAR versions of a new model. The first dual launch came in 1968, with the sleek fastback Ford Torino. Legendary NASCAR driver David Pearson drove the Torino to back-to-back NASCAR championships in 1968 and '69. The second time came in 2006, when the then newly introduced Ford Fusion appeared in showrooms and on the track.

The new NASCAR Fusion entries will be tested throughout 2012 in preparation for their racing debut at the 2013 Daytona 500 in February.