NASCAR: Ford reveals modified Sprint Cup Fusion

Ford has revealed a slightly different look for its NASCAR Sprint Cup Fusion racecar body, incorporating changes to the front end that are aimed at more accurately resembling the 2017 production model (inset), which has been similarly tweaked. It is the third body change for the Fusion since it replaced the Taurus as Ford's Sprint Cup model in 2006.

Officials with Ford Motor Co. unveiled the automaker's 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry Monday evening during the opening day of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

"There's no mistaking we're here to win races and championships," Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance, said. "And we believe the new NASCAR Fusion will be a powerful tool in the hands of our teams and drivers.

"Aerodynamics are more important than ever at the speeds these cars run, so we used some of the best wind tunnel and computational fluid dynamics technology available to create this new Fusion. Fortunately, the Ford design team gave us a great car with which to start."

The lower portion of the grille adopts a more rounded look, while revisions have also been made to the inset area beneath the grille and above the splitter has undergone alterations as well.

Team Penske's Brad Keselowski will be the first to put the new Fusion on the track as he is scheduled to take part in a two-day Goodyear tire test Tuesday and Wednesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.