If a car manufacturer doesn’t build the car of your dreams, you can try and build it yourself if you so wish – and that’s exactly what the following owner of a Ford Fusion has done.
The current Fusion family is topped out by the Sport model, which has a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine delivering 325 HP and 380 lb-ft (515 Nm). While those are impressive numbers, Matt Soppa wanted the sound and naturally aspirated grunt you can only get from a V8 and set about creating a Coyote-powered Fusion.
Also Read: Ford Fusion Production Ending In 2020, 325 HP Fusion Sport Bows Out Early
The 5.0-liter V8 powers the popular Mustang GT, and Soppa’s engine is the one found in 2015-2017 Mustangs. Coupled to it is a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual gearbox from a 2007 Mustang Shelby GT500. With a custom engine tune and unique headers, the owner believes the engine delivers about 450 HP, a healthy improvement over the stock item.
Creating this V8-powered Fusion wasn’t just about dropping a Mustang engine and transmission into the sedan, though. Instead, it took it a serious amount of work to be able to fit the aforementioned Tremec ‘box, forcing the owner to create a custom transmission tunnel. Much of the cabin has also been stripped out and there is a bulky roll cage to add to the race car vibe.
Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels and the car sounds absolutely brutal thanks to a straight pipe exhaust with no mufflers. As one would expect, it is quite a tail-happy machine – and pretty much the closest thing to a Mustang sedan you’re ever likely to find.