2010 Ford Taurus

 2010 Ford Taurus Car Review by Lauren Fix, The Car Coach®

The first reaction from most people that see the new Ford Taurus is: “That’s the new Taurus – WOW”.  There is definitely a “WOW” factor with the Taurus.  I rarely say that about a sedan unless it’s something really unique.  But Ford really got the Taurus right – even better than the original 1986 model that sold like hot cakes.  This sedan is a head-turner that surprised me in many different ways.

This upscale, athletic, tech-savvy sedan delivers style that makes the competition look very “Plain Jane” (sorry Jane).  So what makes the Taurus so great?

Tech-savvy customers will find plenty to like about the new 2010 Taurus.
Adaptive Cruise Control – allows the driver to set the vehicle cruising speed while using radar technology to monitor traffic and automatically adjusts the speed to maintain a safe distance between vehicles.
Collision Warning – this system uses a radar sensor to detect moving vehicles ahead and provides a visual “heads-up” warning signal at the base of the windshield and an audible warning when slower moving traffic is detected ahead.
Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start – allows the driver to enter the car and start the engine by simply carrying the fob as they approach and enter the vehicle.
MyKey™ – allows parents to activate a restricted driving mode. MyKey features a Persistent Belt-Minder® with Audio Mute until safety belts are buckled, an earlier low-fuel warning, Blind Spot monitoring, Cross Traffic Alert and Forward Collision Warning. Speed restrictions on limiting top speed to 80 mph and speed chime warnings at 45, 55, or 65mph.  Great for new drivers.

Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler System – no fuel cap to tighten, just add fuel and close the door.

Blind Spot Information System – When an approaching vehicle enters the blind spot zone, an indicator alert warns the driver in the side view mirror.  Really nice on any vehicle.

Cross Traffic Alert – senses oncoming traffic when slowly backing out of a parking spot and warns when cross-traffic appears within three car widths.

Ford SYNC® – voice-activated communications and entertainment system, with 911 Assist™, Vehicle Health Report, GPS, connections to MP3, iPods, memory sticks and PDAs. SYNC’s 911 Assist will place a call to a local emergency operator in the event of an air bag deployment in an accident.

Voice-Activated Navigation System with SIRIUS® Travel Link™ – SIRIUS Travel Link, offers current weather and ski conditions, a five-day forecast, local fuel pricing by cost per gallon and brand, sports scores and movie listings.

Sony® Audio System – AM-FM, SIRIUS Satellite radio, CD, DVD audio and storage of up to 2,400 songs all with a 12-speaker premium audio system.
Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion™ – how about a massage!  An industry-exclusive– driver and passenger, six-way lumbar support and subtle rolling pattern massage. The bottom cushion features Active Motion technology, which provides light continuous movement, which helps a driver avoid back pain.

SAFETY
The new Taurus is equipped with a comprehensive package of active and passive safety features, including dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, side impact air bags and Safety Canopy®, a Ford exclusive protection system that features side curtain air bags that helps protect front and rear passengers in both rollover and side impact crashes.

AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control predicts the vehicle’s intended path, plus continuously monitoring vehicle speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When the system senses a loss of wheel traction, engine torque is reduced and braking is applied in conjunction with the standard Anti-lock Braking (ABS) system. The system also incorporates traction control to aid drivers when operating the vehicle on loose or slippery surfaces.

SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ is an integrated technology that automatically unlocks the doors and activates the emergency flashers in the event of an air bag deployment.

Power and Ride
The 2010 Taurus comes standard with Ford’s proven Duratec 3.5-liter V-6, generating 263 horsepower and 249 foot-pounds of torque all backed up by a six-speed Select Shift Automatic™ featuring racing-inspired shift control paddles mounted on the steering wheel.

The EPA says the MPG is expecting mileage ratings of:
18-city / 28 hwy for FWD,
17 city / 25 hwy for AWD.

When it comes to handling, the new Taurus is tuned to deliver a sporty and aggressive ride with optimized roll stiffness for cornering control, responsive steering with sharp turn-in and precision accuracy.  I was impressed with the overall ride balance between cornering and handling while providing a stable baseline for fine tuning all on 19- or 20-inch wheels.

Best of all there is an SHO option available for you sports car fans that want something fun to drive and still have one great car.

The New Taurus is built at Chicago Assembly Plant, a real American car.

The new 2010 Ford Taurus offer an all new upscale design, great driving dynamics, amazing technology and safety features at an impressive starting price of $25,000.  Believe it or not there are incentives already available.  More information is at www.ford.com