SEMA 2016: Webasto 2017 Fusion Sport Ballistic

Webasto chose the 2017 Fusion Sport as the ideal platform to promote its line of thermal comfort products.

Webasto chose the 2017 Fusion Sport as the ideal platform to promote its line of thermal comfort products.

The new Fusion Sport is the sleeper in the Ford lineup. With all-wheel-drive and a 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine, it is packed with performance potential. That makes it the ideal project vehicle to display at The SEMA Show. That was the idea that Webasto had when it set out to create its Ballistic Fusion.

“When we saw that Ford revised the Fusion for 2017 with the Sport specifically and they put the 2.7-liter EcoBoost in it, we came up with the idea to put the Webasto twist on it,” Josh Lupu of Webasto explained. “Off the showroom floor it is a pretty incredible vehicle, it is deceiving in how fast it is, how nimble it is, how smooth it is, but also how luxurious it is.”

The Webasto Ballistic Fusion stands out thanks to eye-catching Ballistic White metallic custom paint sprayed MRT Performance. It rolls on  Modulare Forged B33 20- by 9-inch wheels wrapped in Toyo Proxes rubber.

The Webasto Ballistic Fusion stands out thanks to eye-catching Ballistic White metallic custom paint sprayed by MRT Performance. It rolls on Modulare Forged B33 20- by 9-inch wheels wrapped in Toyo Proxes rubber.

Know for its thermal comfort products, Webasto used the project as a showcase for its aftermarket sunroof, engine heater and 12-volt fridge-freezer unit.

“We put our auxilary heating system on this car. Open up the armrest and we have a Webasto controller,” Josh said. “With a push of the button—and without turning on the engine—it draws the coolant in, warms it and pumps it back, so you have a warm engine. We can also turn on the fans and warm the interior.”

Not only will the Webasto Fusion keep you warm in winter, but it will keep your picnic lunch cool in the summer thanks to a little upgrade in the trunk.

“We have a 12-volt fridge-freezer in the trunk. Basically it is portable. You don’t have to put ice in it like a cooler,” Josh said. “It freezes or it is a refrigerator. It keeps your water cold and your sandwiches don’t get soggy. If you want to run to the beach, you just plug it in.”

The interior is upgraded with a Webasto H735-III comfort in-built sunroof, a Katzkin custom leather and suede upholstery and Ballistic White metallic matched interior trim pieces. In the trunk is one of the company’s 12-volt fridge-freezer units.

Naturally, the Ballistic Fusion is also upgraded with one of Webasto’s aftermarket sunroof upgrades, which delivers the same fit and finish as an OE unit. However, this car isn’t just about comfort upgrades. It is upgraded with a few performance upgrades, including an MRT cat-back exhaust and two easy upgrades from JMS.

Webasto Ballistic 2017 Fusion Sport

Powertrain

  • Webasto Thermo Top Evo engine preheater and comfort control
  • JMS BoostMAX boost controller, PedalMAX throttle
  • SCT Performance engine calibration
  • MRT Performance axle-back exhaust

Chassis

  • H&R Performance suspension
  • Rotora forged aluminium brake kit with six-piston, 15-inch front and four-piston, 13.8-inch rear brakes; H2 ceramic brake pads, stainless steel-braided brake lines

Wheels & Tires

  • Modulare Forged B33 20- by 9-inch wheels
  • Toyo Proxes T1 245/35-20 tires

Exterior

  • Webasto Kevlar front chin spoiler, side splitters
  • Heat extractor hood
  • Ballistic White metallic custom paint by MRT Performance
  • Shadow tinted glass

Interior

  • Webasto H735-III comfort in-built sunroof
  • Katzkin custom leather and suede interior
  • Ballistic White metallic matched interior trim
“We put the BoostMax on it, which essentially raises the boost by 4-5 pounds, but it doesn’t require additional tuning,” Josh enthused. “We put a JMS BoostMax and PedalMax on this car and it is insanely fast. The developer of the system was telling me that he had a similar setup and he had Porsche trying to run him down on the freeway.”

So Webasto’s Fusion Sport is built for comfort and speed, but it also features some really trick appearance upgrades made from a material you don’t often see—Kevlar. This material is similar to carbon fiber but stronger, and Webasto created some that looks great.

“Kevlar is never really exposed, because once you vacuform it and it’s infused, the weave tends to get scattered and looks like a mess,” Josh explained. “So, we spent a lot of time developing a system to leave the pattern exposed; then we backlit some of it. We can turn the Webasto logo on and off…”

So, you will definitely be able to buy the company’s thermal upgrades, but someday these Kevlar mods may hit the market as well.

“That’s something where we are testing the market. We see that Kevlar is going to be the next trend,” he added. “Now that it is on display on a world stage and we have received an overwhelming response to it. So, if the demand is high enough, we will be looking to offer something like that.”

An MRT Performance cat-back exhaust lets the 2.7 EcoBoost breathe free.

An MRT Performance cat-back exhaust lets the 2.7 EcoBoost breathe free.

Article Sources

About the author

Steve Turner

Steve Turner brings decades of passion and knowledge in the world of Ford performance, having covered it for over 20 years. From the swan song of the Fox Mustang to the birth of the Coyote, Steve had a front-row seat.
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