Motor Authority - blog Category: Taurus

  • Report: More Exciting Styling Planned For 2012 Ford Taurus

    Report: More Exciting Styling Planned For 2012 Ford Taurus September 20th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, September 20th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 1 Comment

    Report: More Exciting Styling Planned For 2012 Ford Taurus

    Performance fans disappointed by the lack of flair applied by Blue Oval designers on the latest 2010 Ford Taurus SHO may soon be able to sing another song. A facelifted version of the car, due in 2012, will reportedly feature more overt styling to help distinguish it from the more run-of-the-mill Taurus models.

    Looking at the 2010 Taurus currently in showrooms, the only giveaways that this is a special model are the unique wheels, a tiny bootlid spoiler, silver highlights around the LED located in the front bumper, and small “SHO” badges.

    According to one Ford insider, the automaker is considering making the SHO’s look...

    Performance fans disappointed by the lack of flair applied by Blue Oval designers on the latest 2010 Ford Taurus SHO may soon be able to sing another song. A facelifted version of the car, due in 2012, will reportedly feature more overt styling to help distinguish it from the more run-of-the-mill Taurus models. Looking at the 2010 Taurus currently in showrooms, the only giveaways that this is a special model are the unique wheels, a tiny bootlid spoiler, silver highlights around the LED located in the front bumper, and small “SHO” badges. According to one Ford insider, the automaker is considering making the SHO’s look more distinct in the future. No details have been revealed other than the car will be sporting some new wheels and some “significant” changes. As for a release date, the insider explained that Ford will have to wait until at least 2012 as any earlier date would make it appear as though the company is trying to fix up a mistake with the original design. Hopefully, Ford’s engineers will also get a chance to address the car’s lifeless steering and puny brakes. [Car and Driver] Read More

  • Your Spin: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO Is No Car of the Year

    Your Spin: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO Is No Car of the Year August 21st, 2009 ByKinder Essington Kinder Essington, August 21st, 2009 Kinder Essington 11 Comments

    Your Spin: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO Is No Car of the Year

    Editor's note: High Gear Media wants you to write for us. Here's what happens when you do--you get published alongside the pros, if your post is smart, well-written and has the grammar goods. Congratulations to Kinder Essington for being the first-ever High Gear Media enthusiast to be published on one of our core sites--TheCarConnection, Motor Authority, GreenCarReports and CelebsandCars. Want to be the next? We have 39 sites waiting for your words--check them out, sign up, and join us in the auto world's fast lane.

    First, let's get one thing straight. The new 2010 Ford Taurus is light years ahead of the most recent model, and with its...

    Editor's note: High Gear Media wants you to write for us. Here's what happens when you do--you get published alongside the pros, if your post is smart, well-written and has the grammar goods. Congratulations to Kinder Essington for being the first-ever High Gear Media enthusiast to be published on one of our core sites--TheCarConnection, Motor Authority, GreenCarReports and CelebsandCars. Want to be the next? We have 39 sites waiting for your words--check them out, sign up, and join us in the auto world's fast lane. First, let's get one thing straight. The new 2010 Ford Taurus is light years ahead of the most recent model, and with its fresh looks and ground-breaking technologies, it is most in keeping with the spirit of the original Taurus of 1986.  But naming its EcoBoosted model the SHO indicates a total misunderstanding of the brand. The original SHO Taurus (I owned two in a row) was a visceral machine. It was powered by version of the standard 3.0 liter Vulcan V-6 re-engineered by Yamaha featuring among other things a long and a sort set of intake runners.  Below 3,500 RPM, the long runners provided good torque characteristics, which made the car very tractable around town.  But when the short runners opened up above 3,500, the whole car took on a different character...the engine howled, vibrations shot through the car and it lept toward the rev limiter.  The engine itself was good for some 8,000 RPM, but the accessories (alternator, power steering pump etc) whold have turned to road shrapnel.  This powerplant put 225 hp through a front-drive system at a time when 200 hp was considered the front-drive max. Add to this the amazing inclusion of a five-speed manual transmission, which was engineered into the original vehicle because fleet cars of the day were required to offer a four-cylinder and a manual transmission--a Taurus version that never sold to anybody. Without this fleet car feature, the original SHO would never have been the cult success it was (even though the ratios left much to be desired). (Ed. note--the manual on the SHO was different from the four-cylinder manual.) Then enter the DN101 Taurus of 1996.  The SHO name was carried over to a new, V-8-powered car with an automatic transmission.  No manual available.  I drove this car on the Dearborn track and was sorely disappointed. It was a heavier car. The performance off the line was adequate, but in the mid-range, where the old SHO did its Jekyll/Hyde act, the new car felt flat. And with no manual to play with, the new SHO was just a V-8-powered car. At the time I described the old car as a home-built hydroplane with a screaming Mercury outboard clamped to the stern, while the new car was more like a vintage mahogany speedboat...fast but stately. I pleaded with my compatriots to ask that the SHO moniker be dropped and the car sold simply as a V-8-powered Taurus (minus the effective but dorky-looking spoiler). Of course I was ignored and the DN101 Taurus was soon discontinued. The 2010 Taurus SHO is an even heavier car, the characteristics of the powerplant have been described as smooth and linear and again, no manual transmission. In other words, it's no SHO. And finally, it seems to me that the EcoBoost brand is a lot more important to Ford's future than is SHO (the EcoBoosted 2010 Ford Flex carries no SHO designation), so the emphasis should be there, not on some old promise of explosive excitement which also happens to be missing in the new car. Now a good question is, should a marketing blunder be cause for not winning the NACOTY? An overpromise or a mis-promise is as much a failure as bad brakes. These days you need great cars and insightful marketing to qualify for greatness, not one or the other. -------------------------------- Write your own car blog at High Gear Media! Sign up to write and tell car enthusiasts and shoppers what you think about your vehicle or today's car news and get published to High Gear Media sites like AllSmallCars, LexusReports, FamilyCarGuide and more! Read More

  • Ford wants 90% of vehicles refreshed by 2012

    Ford wants 90% of vehicles refreshed by 2012 August 7th, 2009 ByJeremy Weber Jeremy Weber, Author, August 7th, 2009 Jeremy Weber 2 Comments

    Ford wants 90% of vehicles refreshed by 2012 Despite the faltering economy - or maybe because of it - Ford will be refreshing the majority of its lineup in various regions around the world over the next three years. According to the company's CFO, Lewis Booth, Ford will be refreshing as much as 90% of its vehicle lineups in North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa.

    The figure of 90% refers to volume, rather than actual model numbers, indicating that Ford will be focusing on refreshing its highest selling vehicles in those various regions over the next few years. Booth explained to The Detroit News that the strategy of bringing fresh products to the market is important in... Despite the faltering economy - or maybe because of it - Ford will be refreshing the majority of its lineup in various regions around the world over the next three years. According to the company's CFO, Lewis Booth, Ford will be refreshing as much as 90% of its vehicle lineups in North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa. The figure of 90% refers to volume, rather than actual model numbers, indicating that Ford will be focusing on refreshing its highest selling vehicles in those various regions over the next few years. Booth explained to The Detroit News that the strategy of bringing fresh products to the market is important in strengthening Ford's bottom line, even "in the worst of economic times". But along with new product updates that will keep the Ford lineup fresh, Booth was also keen to show off the Blue Oval's recent structural changes that have reduced costs dramatically and will hopefully see it at least break even by the end of 2011. According to Booth, by 2015 Ford will have reduced its structural costs by almost half, while new vehicle development costs will be reduced by 60%. Along with facility and tooling costs, which are expected to drop by around 40%, the reduction in costs have largely been brought about by Ford's global strategy. By using global platforms that can be used for a number of different vehicles in different regions, Ford hopes to almost double the number of vehicles it builds from each platform in the next five years. Part of the way forward for Ford will also be to integrate more vehicles onto its global platform lineup, and by 2012 the automaker is hoping to have almost 80% of its volumes on global core platforms. Read More

  • Turnaround reached? Ford announces first sales rise in 19 months

    Turnaround reached? Ford announces first sales rise in 19 months August 3rd, 2009 ByRalph Hanson Ralph Hanson, Author, August 3rd, 2009 Ralph Hanson 1 Comment

    Turnaround reached? Ford announces first sales rise in 19 months It's already August and the industry isn't expecting to see much more than 10 million sales, but Ford today announced it is up 2% overall and 9% in retail versus a year ago thanks in part to the government's CARS (aka 'cash for clunkers') program. Could this turnaround be the beginning of the industry's as a whole?

    The early indicators say yes, but it will remain for the official sales reports to emerge for confirmation. As for Ford, the numbers look solid - for the most part.

    Retail sales are up a huge 9% over August of 2008, and marks the first year-on-year sales gain since November 2007 for the company. Ford credits the CARS program and... It's already August and the industry isn't expecting to see much more than 10 million sales, but Ford today announced it is up 2% overall and 9% in retail versus a year ago thanks in part to the government's CARS (aka 'cash for clunkers') program. Could this turnaround be the beginning of the industry's as a whole? The early indicators say yes, but it will remain for the official sales reports to emerge for confirmation. As for Ford, the numbers look solid - for the most part. Retail sales are up a huge 9% over August of 2008, and marks the first year-on-year sales gain since November 2007 for the company. Ford credits the CARS program and its new range of more fuel-efficient vehicles for the jump. Fleet sales brought the overall figure down to a rise of just 2% over November 2007, however - a reflection of the nearly 40% drop in volume from previous years' industry totals to a predicted 10 million or so for 2009. That gives perspective to the rise - it's an important change, but the overall picture is still a smaller one. Leading the way within the company's sales ranks are the Ford Fusion (up 66%), Ford Escape (up 94%), Mercury Milan (up 60%) and Mercury Mariner (up 71%). Not surprisingly, Ford's new hybrid technology has spurred sales rises of 323% for the gas-electric vehicles. Kenz Czubay, Ford's U.S. VP of marketing, sales and service had this to say of the slump-breaking month: “We had another strong month in progress before the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program started. “Our products, our dealers and our advance preparation enabled us to leverage the program and drive traffic and sales to another level,” he added. “In addition, we achieved a sales increase even though we decreased incentive spending in an increasingly competitive environment.” July also saw the first customer deliveries of the new 2010 Ford Taurus and Transit Connect. Now the waiting for the rest of the industry's reports begins, and with it hope for the future of sales figures and profitability.2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid2010 Ford Transit Connect for USA Read More

  • Video: Ford taking on luxury carmakers with new Taurus ads

    Video: Ford taking on luxury carmakers with new Taurus ads July 31st, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, July 31st, 2009 Nelson Ireson 11 Comments

    Video: Ford taking on luxury carmakers with new Taurus ads Acura and Lexus aren't the brands you'd normally think of when you think of Ford's competition, but those are exactly the targets of Ford's latest ad campaign for the new 2010 Taurus. Featuring a series of torture tests, the ads try to convey the level of quality and value offered by the big American sedan.

    One ad depicts an interior quietness test, with a roaring jet-powered dragster between the 2010 Taurus and the 2009 Acura RL. Ford claims the Taurus is 5% quieter.

    Another ad shows the Lexus LS460 and the Taurus following a gravel truck. The hail of stones badly chips both cars' paint jobs, but the superior protection offered by the... Acura and Lexus aren't the brands you'd normally think of when you think of Ford's competition, but those are exactly the targets of Ford's latest ad campaign for the new 2010 Taurus. Featuring a series of torture tests, the ads try to convey the level of quality and value offered by the big American sedan. One ad depicts an interior quietness test, with a roaring jet-powered dragster between the 2010 Taurus and the 2009 Acura RL. Ford claims the Taurus is 5% quieter. Another ad shows the Lexus LS460 and the Taurus following a gravel truck. The hail of stones badly chips both cars' paint jobs, but the superior protection offered by the high-tech paint job on the Taurus shows visible proof of the attention to detail paid by Ford for its new powerhouse sedan. Lexus and Acura responded with some confusion as to the purpose of the commercials, noting the different target markets of each vehicle, according to The Detroit News. That misses the point of the value comparison - something Taurus buyers are likely going to be quick to pick up on. The ads are rolling out now, but you can catch the gravel truck ad below, or the jet-dragster quietness test here.2010 Ford Taurus sedan2010 Ford Taurus Gravel Truck Ad Read More

  • Report: Ford looking to spawn three sedans from new platform

    Report: Ford looking to spawn three sedans from new platform July 12th, 2009 ByRalph Hanson Ralph Hanson, Author, July 12th, 2009 Ralph Hanson 11 Comments

    Report: Ford looking to spawn three sedans from new platform Ford’s future models are to share common vehicle platforms across the globe, a practice that is the keystone of CEO Alan Mulally’s strategy to help shed costs and turn around the fortunes of the company. The first of these new global cars has already been launched in the form of the compact Fiesta hatch and sedan, and this same practice of using a common platform for multiple markets will eventually filter across into Ford’s global sedan lineup as well.

    On the drawing board are the designs for the next-generation Taurus, Fusion and European Mondeo. Speaking with The Detroit News, an insider has revealed that Ford plans to... Ford’s future models are to share common vehicle platforms across the globe, a practice that is the keystone of CEO Alan Mulally’s strategy to help shed costs and turn around the fortunes of the company. The first of these new global cars has already been launched in the form of the compact Fiesta hatch and sedan, and this same practice of using a common platform for multiple markets will eventually filter across into Ford’s global sedan lineup as well. On the drawing board are the designs for the next-generation Taurus, Fusion and European Mondeo. Speaking with The Detroit News, an insider has revealed that Ford plans to develop a new front-wheel-drive midsize platform that will be used for all three of the aforementioned models, replacing three separate platforms in the process. The new platform would be an evolution of the European C/D-class platform that currently underpins several midsize models, such as the Mondeo. North American models like the Ford Fusion and Edge, which are currently built on the CD3 platform, would move to this new platform, but so would larger vehicles like the Taurus, which is currently manufactured on the D3 platform. The insider explained that the next-generation Taurus would be slightly smaller than the current model. The same would also be true for the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT, two crossover models also currently based on the D3 platform. Ford neither denied nor confirmed the news but said no final decision had been made. Read More

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