While Ford has aimed to turn the Taurus into its flagship car, the company has also shifted the car’s appeal. Instead of making the Taurus a staid family car with a high seating position and capable but conservative handling, Ford has targeted fun driving dynamics and a lower, sportier design. The roof line has been lowered by about three inches and the driving position has been lowered about two inches.
The exterior design is more dynamic, with a revised three-bar grille, shorter front and rear overhangs, a wedge shape defined by the belt line, and a rear end influenced by the Ford Interceptor concept shown in Detroit in 2007.
Inside, the center console is laid dramatically forward, and the interior has a sportier look, including some Mustang trim cues. The flagship theme continues with numerous amenities and safety and technology features. Among the luxury items are lumbar-massaging multi-contour front seats, Ford’s MyKey keyless access and start, and Sony-brand audio. Technology features include a voice-activated navigation system and radar-based adaptive cruise control.
New safety options consist of a forward warning system with collision mitigation, a blind-spot monitoring system and a cross-traffic alert system. The forward warning system uses the adaptive cruise control’s radar to detect if the vehicle is closing too quickly on the car ahead. If so, it warns the driver and charges the brakes to reduce stopping distance when the driver reacts. Cross-traffic alert also uses radar in the rear bumper. It monitors traffic crossing behind when the vehicle is backing out of a parking space and warns the driver with lights in the side mirrors.
The front-wheel-drive 2010 Ford Taurus will continue to be offered in SE, SEL and Limited models, all standard with a carryover 263-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. Ford’s EcoBoost turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, promised to produce at least 350 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, is expected to be available sometime after launch. The lone transmission is a 6-speed automatic with available steering-wheel shift paddles.
View 2009 Ford Taurus
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