On Jan. 24, NASCAR revealed the new Ford Fusion for 2013. The Sprint Cup car will still require further testing and tweaking before fans see it on the tracks, but the exterior will probably remain the same. I think it is an improvement over the previous Sprint Cup car and is an indication that stock cars may be making a comeback.
The 2013 Sprint Cup Car
The 2013 Sprint Cup car is a Ford Fusion that strongly resembles the cars fans may see in dealerships. Ford has obviously realized the marketing potential of making a NASCAR car that can be identified easier. The model shown on Jan. 24 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway gives me hope that things may finally change in NASCAR. A side by side comparison of the NASCAR and regular Ford Fusion reveals that the manufacturer has attempted to make them similar. Although they can never be identical, most of the body, the headlights and the grilles look the same.
“Brand Identity”
Considering the focus on sponsorships, it is not surprising that NASCAR has finally brought back the spotlight on “brand identity” to the cars. Although fans have been complaining for years that the cars were too similar and ugly, NASCAR seemed to ignore them. I think the real reason for the return of stock cars is brands realizing the marketing potential of NASCAR races. If fans see the cars on the track, they may be more motivated to buy them at the dealerships. Keeping the track and street cars similar will ensure the brand identity does not get lost.
Is this the End of the Ugly Sprint Cup Car?
The unveiling of the 2013 Ford Fusion is a good indication that this may be the end of the ugly Sprint Cup car. In 2007, the reactions of drivers to the Sprint car were mostly negative. Kyle Busch summarized the thoughts of many fans, “I can’t stand to drive them. They suck.” I think the reactions will be different for the 2013 Ford Fusion. Unlike the Car of Tomorrow (COT), the Fusion maintains some elegance and should bring back the era of individuality to NASCAR.
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Growing up in Indiana, Lana developed a love for motorsports at an early age. She follows NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula One. Follow @Lana_Bandoim on Twitter.