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Autoword:
Ford Taurus Brings Swagger Back to U.S. Automaker

Mark Maynard Another

MARK MAYNARD

Ford's Taurus is the recreation of the big family sedan that epitomized American car culture. The 2010 version is uniquely American in presence and style, but embraces global standards for safety, performance and quality.

There is much to like about this new and improved car with an old name. Taurus doesn't rely on look-alike cues from competitors. This big, brash sedan has a swagger of confidence that will turn the heads of consumers who had left the American brands behind.

While the look elicits positive comments from neighbors and colleagues, under the skin is a driver's car.

It can be enjoyed in the full fit of the seats, the secure cup holders or the simplicity of cabin controls that aren't tangled in a network of computer access. There are simple design favors, such as door exteriors that reach below the rocker panel, which allow an easier step into the seats without dirtying a pant cuff or stocking. At night, it is puddle lights in the outside mirrors and ambient lighting inside.

Slide into the front seats, and there is some history recalled in the "hoods" of the dual dashboard, like those from the Thunderbird and the first Mustangs. And there is just something that works so comfortably for the Taurus driver to plant one elbow on the padded center console as the right hand falls right to the shifter on the console. The forward lean of the center stack puts controls in plain sight and reach.

These features and technologies are not unique to Ford, but how they are packaged separates it from the imports. With a starting price of $26,000 and highway fuel economy of 28 mpg, even the standard model holds the line when pushed through a corner. The car has attitude and conveys a sense of control at the steering wheel and the right foot. That just can't be said for the experience behind the wheel of a Toyota Avalon or Honda Accord, no matter how hunky they may appear.

Those cars may be loved for their reliability, but they lack a chemistry that occurs naturally in the engineering of an American car, and particularly this Ford.

Taurus' elements of a pleasing environment and function are not simply dimensions punched into a computer program for a final design direction. The Taurus effect comes from engineers sitting in the seats, driving the car and deciding that "Yes, this is the way it should be."

Taurus is sold in SE, SEL, Limited and SHO models, in front- or all-wheel drive with six-speed automatic transmissions. The SE is the basic, government-grade business sedan but not without some notable standard equipment, such as remote locking, 17-inch alloy wheels and many power features. The wealth of Taurus begins at the midlevel models, which start at about $28,000. All-wheel-drive is available on SEL and above for $1,850 and standard on SHO. I recently tested a Limited ($32,000) and SHO, the higher-performance model, which was $43,875 with options.

The SHO isn't a muscle-bound performance sedan, but it handles well and seems well worth the price. It has 365-horsepower from a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost version of the standard 3.5-liter V-6. Even with power channeled through all-wheel drive, this is modern muscle that didn't leave me craving a V-8.

Fuel economy on premium fuel is a respectable 17 mpg city and 25 highway, which with a 19-gallon tank allows a long cruising range. The six-speed SelectShift automatic has steering wheel paddle shifters.

The SHO Performance Package, $995, adds a 3.16 final drive ratio, 20-inch wheels and Y-rated summer performance tires. Also available are performance brake pads, sport-tuned power-assisted steering and AdvanceTrac stability control that can be turned off.

Irresistible options on the test SHO were candy-apple red metallic paint ($295) and powerful, 12-speaker Sony audio system, which is part of a $2,000 package that adds a moonroof and heated-cooled seats.

The standard model has a 263-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 that runs on 87 octane fuel.

With a six-speed automatic transmission, the 4,015-pound front-drive model is EPA rated for 18 mpg city and 28 highway. Mid and uplevel models have the SelectShift automatic.
    T
aurus is longer than a BMW 7-series, but it has a shorter turning circle, 39.7 feet. With a 112.9-inch wheelbase, it is a smooth cruiser on the interstate, and there is a cavernous 20.1 cubic feet of trunk space for a couples' getaway weekend.

Taurus has some issues that will be easily forgiven. There are many technology options, some useful, some still to be worked out. The optional automatic high beams dim the brights for oncoming traffic, then switch back when the road is clear. The Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning is a good idea for those who have a difficult commute, but system alerts are strident. My first experience with the system at night put me in panic mode when the nuclear-like alert and flash of red light went off. The system in the test car developed a fault (there was a notice on the dashboard message system) and did not reset.

And there were other observations in my testing:

-- The nighttime gauge display appears crowded and busy with lighting.

-- Back-seat occupants can feel closed in by the formidable front seats.

-- There is no center rear head restraint and the tall center tunnel takes away footroom.

-- Front head restraints, which cannot be adjusted, do not fit all bodies comfortably. And because of them, headroom and head-angle comfort can be a problem for front-seat occupants who are taller than 6 feet, 4 inches, depending on whether they have long torsos or long legs.

-- Wide roof pillars at the rear window require the driver to double check over-the-shoulder views. The optional rearview camera will be a help in many parking situations.

Similar to how the energy crisis of the 1970s became the launch pad for import brands in the United States, the recent economic crisis has rocked even the strongest of those carmakers, who have adjusted their approach to this market and the vehicles they will sell here.

This can be a launch pad for the Detroit Three to move forward with creative and inspired products, such as Taurus, to reclaim market share and rebuild trust and tradition in the American brands.

Mark Maynard is driving in cyberspace at Mark.Maynard@uniontrib.com.
COPYRIGHT 2010 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE.
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Autoword: Ford Taurus Brings Swagger Back to U.S. Automaker

Mark Maynard Another

Autoword:
Ford Taurus Brings Swagger Back to U.S. Automaker