Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Special/Limited Editions
Ford Fusion Raptors Edition gets benched
Click the image for a hi-res gallery of the Ford Fusion Raptors Edition
Ford sponsored the Toronto Raptors back in 2006, and one of the promotional ties in the deal was a special Ford Fusion Raptors Edition (here is the promo video). The car is replete with a magical selection of colors and images on the outside, and basketball-themed colors and textures inside. Check out that b-ball steering wheel, and those seats, and the TV in the trunk that would allow you to both ruin your eyes and watch games at a truly awful angle. If nothing else, we're impressed that it took two and a half years to show up on the used car sales floor. Less surprising is the fact that it's only done 5,900 kilometers in that time. It can be all yours for $25,000 Canadian... or you can just check out the high res pictures below. Thanks for the tip, Lance!
Gallery: 2006 Ford Fusion Raptors Edition
[Source: Autotrader Canada]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tommy 10:05AM (9/17/2008)
I love those rims...would go great with my gold teeth and my new Jordans
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Alex 10:06AM (9/17/2008)
the basketball meterial is actually a pretty cool idea, unfortunately nothing else on that car is.
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PaulPaul 10:08AM (9/17/2008)
not even if you payed me $25k...
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Rocketboy 10:27AM (9/17/2008)
Is this a joke car?
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Avinash machado 10:55AM (9/17/2008)
If it is no one is laughing. Do people laugh at bad jokes?
C.W. 10:31AM (9/17/2008)
only in Canada...
.... do people actually follow the Raptors... is this a joke?
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Gregg 11:07AM (9/17/2008)
That is truly awful.
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Grumpy 11:08AM (9/17/2008)
OMG - Is this one of Ford's better Ideas?? WTF!
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hatchbacks or cool 11:13AM (9/17/2008)
This is probably the worst car i have ever came across for 2 main resions
1. this is a horrible car the Fusion in that we have in the UK is a bit pointless to be honest but it is a far far far far better car http://www.ford.co.uk/fusion.
2. I don't get sport fan fair but would that car would be more likely to be valdalized or you be laughed by other people who spurt a different team?
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Fused 6:57AM (9/19/2008)
Far far far far far better than the US Fusion? I dunno..I clicked your link and YOUR Fusion is way way way way way fuglier than a new G3, never mind the N/A Fusion. I think you need to come out of the pub now and then and clean your glasses. Though I might not want all that stuff on the side of the car, I kinda think the seats look ahem, neat...and I like the wheels. A bit blingish maybe, but not bad. All they needed to do was slap a turbo (or something for Pete's sake!) and make it go too!
DjDATZ 11:47AM (9/17/2008)
Wow...Why is that fugly piece of sh*t representing our team?
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Unknown 12:02PM (9/17/2008)
I bet people are in UK saying, "Why don't we get any of the cool looking Fords". Hahaha..
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hatchbacks or cool 12:46PM (9/17/2008)
No its the other way round
neoscape 12:09PM (9/17/2008)
I think that if the seats weren't so obviously basketball themed, the two tone with black dividers looks pretty sweet. Almost like a art deco recaro. Key words there are "If," "weren't" and "almost." It's still hilarity on wheels.
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RPM 12:39PM (9/17/2008)
This is atrocious, inside and out. Ford: why wouldn't you use a Lincoln Navigator or Ford Expedition? That would be a better fit for the NBA, NBA players actually drive those, and fans would prefer to see the Raptors name on a higher end car, plus those chrome rims might fit on a Navigator.
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Unknown 1:08PM (9/17/2008)
I know. I was just kidding. :)
Luis 2:18PM (9/17/2008)
Cancellation isn't always a bad thing...
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Dave MacKinnon 3:14PM (9/17/2008)
Clearly the pictures don't do the car justice. This Fusion was built by Concepts on Wheels in Toronto and was one of the very first real 'theme builds' in the car audio industry. The concept clearly works fantastically for American Chopper and was duplication and exceeded in many regards by Concepts.
If you look at the car from a standpoint of a marketing vehicle (which it truly is), and the attention to detail and quality of the work done to the car, it's very impressive. Was it designed to be owned by the public or driven on public roads - absolutely not. It is a marketing tool for Ford and the Raptors and as such, was considered a majour success.
BTW, in response to 'why not an Escalade' or similar - sometimes you have to go with what is offered to you: If Ford says - "hey, do you want a Fusion", you don't say "uh, can I have something that's older than you are not trying to promote".
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Adam 5:17PM (9/17/2008)
Dave McKinnon is absolutely right. Most of you are missing the point completely. Not only are the Raptors a fantastic franchise, but the Ford Fusion our shop built received a lot of kudos from Raptor fans and car folks alike.
As a marketing tool it was extremely effective, and the people that won the car were ecstatic upon delivery. This isn't a track toy, a cruiser or a grocery getter. Its existence brings 3 points to light: Awareness of the Raptors basketball team, how versatile a canvas for modifying the Fusion is, and what our build team can do when they really flex their creative muscle.
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Adam 5:17PM (9/17/2008)
Dave McKinnon is absolutely right. Most of you are missing the point completely. Not only are the Raptors a fantastic franchise, but the Ford Fusion our shop built received a lot of kudos from Raptor fans and car folks alike.
As a marketing tool it was extremely effective, and the people that won the car were ecstatic upon delivery. This isn't a track toy, a cruiser or a grocery getter. Its existence brings 3 points to light: Awareness of the Raptors basketball team, how versatile a canvas for modifying the Fusion is, and what our build team can do when they really flex their creative muscle.
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