| Ford Taurus (sixth generation) | |
|---|---|
2010 Ford Taurus Limited
| |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | June 15, 2009–present |
| Assembly | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Designer | Earl Lucas (2007) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| Platform | Ford D3 platform |
| Related | Lincoln MKS Ford Taurus SHO Ford Explorer Lincoln MKT Ford Flex Volvo XC90 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.5 L Cyclone V6 263hp (2009 - 2011) 3.5 L Cyclone V6 288hp (2012 - present) 3.5 L EcoBoost V6 365hp (2009 - present) 2.0 L EcoBoost I4 240hp (2012 - present) |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 112.9 in (2,868 mm) |
| Length | 202.9 in (5,154 mm) |
| Width | 76.2 in (1,935 mm) |
| Height | 60.7 in (1,542 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,015 lb (1,821 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford Taurus (fifth generation) Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor |
Development and marketing
The preceding Ford fifth generation Taurus was a facelifted and mechanically enhanced Ford Five Hundred. While this did address several deficiencies of the Five Hundred, particularly the powertrain, it was still criticized for its handling and bland styling,with one reviewer describing it as a "SUV shaped like a sedan".
In 2008, Ford Motor Company's Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally stated that the new Taurus is "the one we should have built originally".
A leaked photo of a 1:1 scale design mock-up purported to be the 2010 Ford Taurus circulated on the Internet from message boards. Ford contemplated legal action against web sites which posted the photo and Ford attorneys asked site owners to remove the photo.
The U.S. Ford website showed videos comparing the 2010 Taurus to 2009 model year luxury sedans, including the flagships of several Japanese marques. One test showed that the Taurus' paint coat was more resistant to gravel chips than a Lexus LS460; another noted that the Taurus had a blind-spot detection sensor system that the Infiniti M45x lacked; the third showed the Taurus SHO outpacing the Audi A6 4.2 L V8 in straight-line acceleration; the last comparison said that Taurus' cabin was quieter than an Acura RL.
Sales for the sixth generation Taurus are projected to be around 50,000 to 75,000 annually, as Ford planned a lower volume to avoid steep discounts/incentives. Previous iterations of the Taurus, which were classified as midsize cars, had sold 400,000 vehicles per year at their peak in the 1990s.
Release
The 2010 Ford Taurus was unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall. In May 2009, the new Taurus debuted at three dealers in the Buffalo, Tampa, and Houston, respectively, to be put on display and to build anticipation for the release. The first dealer, West Herr Ford in Hamburg, New York, was chosen due to the successful unveiling of the redesigned Ford F-150 earlier that year.
The 2009 Taurus's counterparts, the Ford Taurus X and the Mercury Sable, ceased production in spring 2009 at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant. The sixth-generation Taurus' production started on June 15, 2009 for the 2010 model year. Unlike previous generations of the Taurus, the sixth-generation Taurus does not have a Sable counterpart from Mercury, as that marque was slowly phased out by 2011.
Reception
The Ford scored well in test drives, and the media was pleased with some of the new features available in the 2010 Ford Taurus.Some of these features include all wheel drive, cross traffic alert, collision warning, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.The Taurus shares the powertrain and many available technological options of the Lincoln MKS, which is built on the same platform and mechanical underpinnings, while having a starting MSRP of $10000 USD less than the MKS.
While its predecessor was criticized for dull styling, the new Taurus was described as "big and muscular" to draw attention, albeit "a love-it-or-hate-it affair". Motor Trend stated that "its broad stance, high sill line, slit headlamps, and technical grille give it a leopard look" which was considered handsome.
However, despite being praised for its exterior appearance, it was still criticized for its lack of interior room and reduced sight-lines despite its full-sized exterior dimensions, compared to the previous-generation Five Hundred/Taurus which was praised for its vast interior and greenhouse visibility; one reviewer remarked that while the "old Taurus' interior was cavernous; the new one just feels like a cavern". Edmunds noted that the eighth-generation Honda Accord (which competes in the mid-size category) had superior driving dynamics and a more efficient design that yielded almost as much interior space as the larger Taurus. Car and Driver described the Taurus as overweight and underpowered, with unresponsive braking and steering, while Motor Trend criticized a few aspects of the interior as evident cost-cutting.
While the Taurus SHO's EcoBoost V6 engine was praised, some reviewers suggested that it was more of a big engine option while offering a marginal improvement on driving dynamics, and less of a high-performance car (compared to similarly priced cars which are rear-wheel drive like the Pontiac G8 and Chrysler 300). Car and Driver was impressed with the Taurus SHO's overall performance, but sportiness was compromised with heavy curb weight, numb steering and smallish brakes.
Design and features
The design of the sixth-generation Ford Taurus was led by Chief Designer Earl Lucas. Many of the Taurus' design elements were influenced by the music that the design team listened to. According to Earl Lucas, "When you've got good music, it's amazing how many shapes come out".The sixth-generation Taurus also features a more aerodynamic version of the 3-Chrome Bar grille, and a rear end similar to that of the Ford Interceptor concept.
The new Taurus also features Ford Sync, push-button start, heated front and rear seats, crash avoidance system, and a lane-changing blind spot warning system. Also new for the Taurus is Ford's new Multi-Contour Seats, which feature air cushions that pad the driver and passenger’s entire back, including three for lumbar support, four for lateral support and four for the seat pad. The bottom cushion features Active Motion technology, which provides a subtle continuous massage, designed to lessen back pain on long trips. The 2010 Taurus was the first vehicle to use the Multi-Contour Seats.
Variants and trim levels
The sixth generation Ford Taurus was sold in three trim levels, SE, SEL, and Limited.
The base SE model, designed for rental and fleet use, came stock with a 3.5 L 24-valve DOHC Duratec V6 engine, six-speed automatic transmission, manual tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio and cruise control functions, an AM/FM stereo with a single CD player, clock, MP3 capability, and six speakers, Ford's MyKey system, and AdvanceTrac electronic stability control.
The mid-range SEL trim level had the same engine, with a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission featuring paddle activation, dual-zone electronic automatic termperature control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, Sirius satellite radio, and a perimeter anti-theft alarm.
The top-of-the-line Limited model featured perforated leather-trim bucket seats, ambient lighting with choices of seven different colors, SYNC voice-activated communication and entertainment system, a premium AM/FM radio with a six-disc in-dash CD changer, chrome-accented, heated mirrors with memory and security approach lamps, a reverse sensing system and rear view camera.
Taurus SHO
The 2010 Taurus SHO was unveiled at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. It went on sale in summer 2009, with a base MSRP of $37,995 (including destination fees).
The SHO includes a 3.5 L EcoBoost V6 engine rated at 272 kW (370 PS; 365 hp) at 5500 rpm and 475 N·m (350 lb·ft) of torque at 3500 rpm, a SelectShift 6-speed automatic transmission with control paddles mounted on the steering wheel, torque sensing all-wheel drive, sport-tuned suspension and steering, 19" alloy wheels with Goodyear Eagle tires (Michelin high-performance tires on the optional 20" wheels), a decklid-mounted spoiler, twin chrome exhaust tips, and SHO-specific parking lamp bezels.
The SHO Performance Package includes upgraded brake pads, recalibrated electronic power-assisted steering for improved responsiveness, a "Sport Mode" setting for the Electronic Stability Control, a shorter 3.16 to 1 final drive ratio for faster acceleration, and summer-compound 20" Goodyear Eagle F1 performance tires with premium painted wheels.0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) time is rated at 5.2 seconds.
Police Interceptor Sedan
When the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI) ended production in late 2011, a variant of the sixth-generation Taurus was offered to police forces in early 2012 as a 2013 model. Ford is referring to the new police car simply as the "Police Interceptor Sedan", rather than a Taurus. It is available with both engines of the civilian Taurus: the 3.5 L CycloneV6 producing 263 hp (196 kW; 267 PS), and the 3.5 L EcoBoost V6 from the SHO rated at 272 kW (370 PS; 365 hp). The Cyclone V6 & EcoBoost versions feature all-wheel drive, like the SHO. The Police Interceptor includes much of Ford's latest safety technology, such as Blind Spot Information System, rear view camera, reverse sensing system, and electronic stability control. Ford states the Police Interceptor Sedan will match the safety record of the CVPI, and have desirable CVPI features unavailable on the Taurus like a column-shifted automatic added back in.Police officers have criticized the lack of room in the Police Interceptor Sedan compared to the Crown Victoria.
2013 refresh
The 2013 refresh of the Taurus was unveiled at the 2011 New York Auto Show and bears cosmetic changes, new engines and new technology. The most obvious change at first glance is the new front fascia incorporating sharper angles very similar to the recent facelift of the Ford Territory in Australia.
Changes to the rear of the car were minor with the only noticeable change being new taillights and dual exhaust tips (only the SHO has true dual exhaust while the other trim levels use a single exhaust that splits under the car). While the interior remains mostly unchanged, the Taurus now incorporates the MyFord Touch system which means a new head unit with 8" touch screen, steering wheel and interactive gauge cluster. Other features new to the 2013 Taurus include a heated steering wheel, and an all new Sony sound system featuring HD Radio and iTunes Tagging. Additional interior features include Multicontour seats with Active Motion (massage), push-button start, auto high beams and a rear view camera.
The engines available on the face lifted Taurus are an 2.0 L EcoBoost engine with 240 hp (179 kW; 243 PS) and 366 N·m (270 lb·ft) of torque while achieving 22/32/26 mpg. The standard engine is the 3.5 Duratec with 288 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque while achieving 19/23/29 mpg. On SHO models there is a 3.5 L turbocharged V6 272 kW (370 PS; 365 hp) of power and 475 N·m (350 lb·ft) of torque. This engine is paired with six-speed high capacity 6F55 SelectShift Automatic.
The 2013 Taurus SHO's European rivals are the Volvo S60 T6 R-Design, the BMW 550i (F10), the Mercedes E550 (W213), and the Porsche Panamera 4S.
It became available at dealerships starting in March 2012 and this generation had become the First Generation and arrived in the Middle East for the 2013 model year and replaced the Ford Crown Victoria which had ended at the very end of its 2012 model year.
There are no major changes for the 2014 Ford Taurus, save for new wheel designs and minor tweaks to standard and optional equipment. A lane-keeping assist feature has been added to the Driver Assist package.
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