First Ever Hybrid NASCAR Pace Car to Debut in Miami

Ford proudly announced that its own 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid will pace the upcoming Ford 400 race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, marking the first ever hybrid leading the field to the green flag. The Sprint Cup-edition Fusion will come in NASCAR-inspired camouflage, Ford said in a press statement with race fans attending the race and ABC TV audience the first to see the car, scheduled for unveiling at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.

“Miami is an international city with a flair for what’s new,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Curtis Gray. “And with the evolution of Ford Championship Weekend into one of the highest-profile events in sports, the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami is the perfect spot for a historical racing first—the Fusion Hybrid Pace Car.”

Ford Fusion is said to be one of the most advanced hybrids ever built, working in two engine modes, electric and fuel, with speeds up to 47 mph and a range of more than 700 miles of city driving with a single gas tank. Obviously, Ford sees the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup race as a great way to advertise and promote its new model (which by the day, is due to launch in spring of 2009).

“The new Ford Fusion ups the ante in the mid-size sedan segment with outstanding fuel economy but retains what made it standout from the competition from the beginning – the fun-to-drive factor,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas, who will wave the green flag at the start of Sunday’s Ford 400. “The Fusion Hybrid pacing the Ford 400 showcases exactly what our customers want, fuel economy and fun – and we’re pleased to be able to offer racing fans a glimpse of what’s to come at Sunday’s race.”