Dearborn, Mich. — Ford plans to use NASCAR racing as a major marketing platform for the launch of the new 2006 Ford Fusion.

Because Ford’s NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers are such high-profile spokespersons for both the production and racing versions of the Fusion, they recently gathered at the Ford Dearborn test track for a test drive of the new production car.

Here are some initial impressions:

MARK MARTIN – NASCAR DRIVER AND FORD DEALER
“As a dealer and a driver, I’m excited. I think it’s going to be really, really strong for us. I’m looking forward to getting them at the dealership because it’s a good-looking car. I was really excited when the Five Hundred came out, and I think it’s really cool when Ford comes out with a car that I really want to own myself, so I’m excited.”

WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT THE CAR?
“I think it fills a niche that we haven’t quite been able to fill. It’s very new and progressive with very new-looking technology. Whenever you drive the car you can tell that the research has been done. It’s quiet and smooth, the ride is fantastic and it feels powerful. It’s just amazing how much progress is made over time and how you can manage to make more power and more torque with less emission. You just get a little bit of all the best of all the worlds. Technology is amazing to me today.”

DALE JARRETT – NASCAR DRIVER, 1999 NASCAR CHAMPION, AND FORD DEALER
“The Fusion seems like a very nice vehicle. I think it’s a new car that is going to energize sales a little bit, and hopefully a lot. It’s got a very nice driving and handling package, plus the inside is very roomy and the interior is nicely done as well. I think this is just what we’ve been looking for to increase sales.”

WHAT ABOUT THE FUSION AS A RACE CAR?
“It has the things that we look for—the lines that we look for as far as what it’s going to do for us on the race track—is something that we’re going to be pleased with. I think this is probably much more compatible for making this into a race car than what we’ve done over the last few years since we brought the Taurus on, so I think that’s good news because we’ve done very well with that.”

WHAT DO YOU LIKE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT FUSION?
“I think the biggest thing for me is being 6’2” and seeing the room inside. I liked that and then noticed when I got out that I could still sit in the backseat with where I had the seat positioned in the front, so there’s a lot of room in there and that’s very big in my department.”

CARL EDWARDS – NASCAR DRIVER
“The Fusion is awesome. It’s a peppy little car. I drove the manual and we had a good time with it, but what I really liked about it is that it drives really quiet. That’s the biggest thing and it’s easy to drive. I didn’t miss a gear. Usually I’m bad about that, so it’s pretty easy to drive. It’s a fun car.”

YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THE CAR LOOKS?
“I think the way these new Ford vehicles look is awesome. I really like the nose on them and they say it’s going to transfer well for us in racing, so I think it looks great.”

ELLIOTT SADLER – NASCAR DRIVER WHOSE FAMILY OWNS A FORD DEALERSHIP
“I was very pleasantly surprised. They pretty much used me as an example because I’m the biggest driver, so they had me get in it and I was very impressed with how sporty and small the body looks, but when I get inside my knees are nowhere near the dash and my head is nowhere near the roof. I’m 6’3”, 220 pounds, so I was very pleasantly surprised. I also set the seat where I would be happy with it in the front and then got in the back and had plenty of room back there, too. I can’t believe they can have that much room with big guys like myself in a car that looks that small. They’ve done a great job.

”The other thing I was impressed with is how much rake is in the hood and how much vision you actually have as a driver from where the cowl is to the front. You can actually see the corners of the vehicle, whereas with some of the older model Tauruses you couldn’t. So as far as women are concerned and beginner drivers go, I think they can feel more comfortable and be able to see the corners better and feel safer driving it.”

WHAT ABOUT THE LOOK?
“I think the Fusion is going to be a hit. It’s a new product and it’s the new face of Ford. I think the front of it looks great. I like what they’ve done around the logo with the bars, and I think it’s a great direction. I was pretty impressed when I saw it. I think they did a great job.”

MATT KENSETH – NASCAR DRIVER AND 2003 NASCAR CHAMPION
“I think the Fusion is really nice. The car drives a lot better than the Taurus and it has a lot of power. The other thing I noticed is that it’s really comfortable as far as the interior goes. There’s a lot of room inside. The car drives and handles well, but it’s got a lot of pick-up and can really go.”