Every year, Las Vegas, NV plays host to the biggest automotive aftermarket party on earth – SEMA. Each November, the four halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center are packed with thousands of the scene's most amazing vehicles, many of them never before seen as they make their debut at SEMA Though most project vehicles start with the intention of being show-stoppers, a small percentage actually reach that level.

The team at Canadian-based HPA Motorsports has built a strong reputation as one of the top car builders in the industry, usually transforming unsuspecting Volkswagen automobiles to tire-shredding supercars. This past SEMA marked the unveiling of HPA's army of Volkswagen R-GT vehicles, as the 500+ horsepower Jetta, Passat and Toureg all left enthusiasts wetting their pants. As thousands flocked to the Volkswagen booth for a glimpse of these extreme Veedubs, this 2006 Ford Fusion flew under the radar. However, our eagle-eyed editors locked onto this unique demo car before anyone else.

As the obvious black sheep in the HPA herd the Ford Fusion project served as a break from the ordinary. Dubbed as an up-and-coming star in the Ford line-up, the Fusion is Ford's latest entry into the performance sedan segment. Actually, this platform will be subjected to an intense amount of R & D, as it debuted on the NASCAR circuit this season. But before the vehicle started tearing up the left-hand turns, HPA was enlisted to create a slick, street-legal version to showcase its strong potential.

The four-door was delivered to HPA's Surrey BC office, where the designers sculpted a prototype FPD aero kit. Soon after, the Ford Fusion was equipped with a brand new fibreglass front bumper, rear valence and side skirts painted and installed courtesy of Boyd Autobody of Langley, BC. Black chrome treatments were also added to the front grill, headlights and taillights to set this Ford Fusion apart from any of its production-line counterparts.

Though the car now looked faster than it really was, HPA took the necessary steps to ensure that it had the performance to back up its aggressive appearance. The factory suspension sufficed for completing the regular day-to-day tasks, but was sorely lacking when it came time to push the pedal to the metal. In its place is a set of ST adjustable coil-overs from KW Suspensions, allowing for the customization and control of the look and feel of the Fusion.

Fancy footwork is essential for any performance-tuned vehicle, and the HPA Ford Fusion is no different. Sporting mammoth Monobloc four-piston calipers and 345mm ‘J-slotted' rotors beneath the front wheels, the driver is in total control. Plus, with a set of Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tires wrapped around 19-inch BBS wheels, the Ford Fusion is ensured a firm grip on the road ahead. The RS-GT wheels feature the classic BBS signature mesh design and forged construction, while their sizable 65mm lip and black diamond finish make them the perfect fit for this automotive outfit.

Slide inside the cabin and you're treated to a slick race-inspired interior courtesy of the team at Custom Creations in Chilliwack, BC. Keeping the driver and passenger firmly in place is a pair of Recaro reclinable race seats, while a Recaro baby seat with race harness was installed to keep smaller passengers safe and out of harm's way. Black alcantara fabric accents the interior, creating a lavish environment rivaling the Ford Fusion's German-bred competition.

Custom Creations was also responsible for creating the Ford Fusion's multimedia system, as Sony supplied a number of its newest products to the cause. A Sony XAV-A1 head unit sits inside the dash and controls the entire Sony system. The boom is created by a pair of XM-SD46X amplifiers and few 10-inch Sony XS-LD105PS subwoofers housed in a custom fibreglass trunk enclosure. Acoustics are further individualized thanks to a pair of Sony NW-HD5 Network Walkmans (MP3/ATRAC3plus) and MV-02HP cordless headsets integrated into the system. Visuals are conveyed via a trio of Sony XVM-H65 6.5-inch LCD monitors, with a single unit up front and one moulded into the back of each Recaro seat. All of the wiring and interconnects are courtesy of the team at Monster Cable.

The completed vehicle caught the eye of Ford brass upon its unveiling at the SEMA show and HPA Motorsports was awarded with the 2005 Ford Design Excellence Award. The team is truly proud of the finished product and they believe they've built the prototypical modern executive lifestyle vehicle. Bridging the gap between the weekend car enthusiast and corporate executive, HPA Motorsports dubbed the project the Fusion Stylist – a car that can fuel your automotive passion on or off the track. The vehicle is scheduled to make appearances at events all over North America this year.

Thanks go out to the project sponsors, including BBS, Dunlop, KW Suspension, Recaro, Sony and Monster Cable. Congratulations go out to the HPA Motorsports for building another jaw-dropping project.

Text By Michael Semira // Photos by Velocite

Article compliments of Performance Auto & Sound Magazine