My My My, New Taurus?

http://money.cnn.com/video/#/video/news/2009/01/27/news.pvd.ford.taurus.cnnmoney

looks pretty nice, now lets see the SHO version with awd and a manual option with that 355hp ecoboost motor.

Thats a pretty neat looking car, from the angles they showed. I wonder how it drives?

Joey

looks nice, and now that it is the full size ford, i just wonder what is in store for the remaining Panther cars?

Not too shabby, but I wonder why they didnt show a better angle. And also, that dashboard/console is a Berkleying bohemoth. Doesnt leave much room if youre suited up. Looks like middle aged men again have the taurus to say "I have given up on a sports car" ...that is unless there is indeed AWD+boost in the future. In which case the focus better look out for its bigger brother in rally conditions...we can all hope right!

Looks Subaru Legacy-ish from the "My cameraman was laid off so I'll just leave the camera on the floor here" angle. Also why is the tranny tunnel so damn huge? You could fit a tractor transmission in there and have room left over for a mini-fridge.

It's not exactly a real track car. But it does drive nice relative to other recent large cars from here.... It won't be completely out of place, but I'd say it's more of a long distance cruiser, instead. Manual?? Sort of.

In terms of style, especially the interior, it's light years beyond the last Taurus/500. Much, much, much better.

The ecoboost sure makes it quick, though...

E-

if you're going to saddle it with an auto/manumatic, please at least make it awd in SHO form

Strizzo wrote: if you're going to saddle it with an auto/manumatic, please at least make it awd in SHO form

Basically, everything that's getting the new Ecoboost is AWD. So that's a given.

What I don't know will be the final trim/suspension package(s) for the SHO.

alfadriver wrote: Basically, everything that's getting the new Ecoboost is AWD. So that's a given. What I don't know will be the final trim/suspension package(s) for the SHO.

So, its a Mazdaspeed 6?

HiTempguy wrote:

alfadriver wrote: Basically, everything that's getting the new Ecoboost is AWD. So that's a given. What I don't know will be the final trim/suspension package(s) for the SHO.

So, its a Mazdaspeed 6?

No. Not even close.

It's a 2010 Taurus with the 350hp EcoBoost 3.5l V6. Much bigger car.

E-

It's not a Panther platform (which is the full-frame fullsize Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Town Car). It's a new mid-size FWD/AWD setup that's bigger than the old Taurus/500 or the new or old Mazda 6's. Think Avalon, Grand Prix, Impala, and the old 300M.

That dash and console is MASSIVE. You could cut like 6-8 inches out of the dash move the front seats forward and play tennis in the back.

it looks alot bigger in person. Saw it in detroit this last weekend. Seemed almost Crown Vic big...not that that is a bad thing.

I read that Ford is not positioning the Taurus as a family car. They know that families want Crossovers, Minivans and SUVs primarily. So I think Ford is doing the right thing in making the Taurus appeal to the driver. The cockpit is driver-oriented, there are some good engine choices, and the suspension promises to be decent. There is plenty of room to take your buddies golfing, and the look is sophisticated enough for middle management types. Not quite making enough to move up to a BMW or Mercedes, but wanting something more "grown up" than a Civic and more luxurious than an Altima. They are also making it uniquely American...not trying to be a Maxima or Camry. I like that.

To me the doors are so much taller than the windows that it just appears profoundly massive. Since my current cars are a Thunderbird SC and a CTS-V--big cars, certainly--I suppose I'm squarely in this car's target demographic but I'm not impressed at all, no matter what the powertrain options. I'll break ranks here and say that while it's not as ugly as its predecessor, it's still U-G-L-Y. I much prefer the Pontiac G8.

P71 wrote: It's not a Panther platform (which is the full-frame fullsize Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Town Car). It's a new mid-size FWD/AWD setup that's bigger than the old Taurus/500 or the new or old Mazda 6's. Think Avalon, Grand Prix, Impala, and the old 300M.

It's a derivatrive of the Taurus/500 platform. Exactly the same wheelbase, and basic size as the previous car. The Mazda 6 shares it's platform with the Fusion/Milan. (and Panther is still a body on frame platform- the ONLY car platform we have that is such)

But, yea- think Avalon, Imala, etc. Large family car.

I'm sure it will drive better than the previous car, which in of it self was a much better driver than the old DN101 Taurus. But, realistically, that's not saying a whole lot.

Most of our products are supposed to be geared toward more driver involvement, or at least better preception of the driving experience. And vs. a lot of our old cars, I really believe that it's happening. Not exactly a uuber drivers car, no, but much more entertaining than our competitors from Japan (Toyota and Honda- the base cars for the price).

For Will- all things considered- it's ok to not like the looks. At least it's not as ordinary as previous designs, yes?

Eric

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-ford-taurus-sho-spy-shots-1/

fastEddie wrote: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-ford-taurus-sho-spy-shots-1/

Pretty average looks for a modern car - in other words, a fat ugly cow. I think they showed it from the crappy angle before because it only let you see the front fascia, which is the only tolerable part of the car.

front end looks a bit jaguar XF-ish, which is good, the back end looks somewhat camry-ish, which is either OK or bad depending on who you are.

also i doubt the car is being built to cater to ppl who don't want to own any car less than 15 years old.

I like it. Not something I would buy (too big) but I think it looks pretty promising for the market it's supposed to serve. I'm guessing it will be popular with police forces, too, which should make P71 fans happy.

I think Ford's been on a roll lately, and I hope it's very successful for them.

alfadriver wrote: For Will- all things considered- it's ok to not like the looks. At least it's not as ordinary as previous designs, yes? Eric

Alfadriver, I notice you say "our products." Do you work for Ford? At any rate, yes, while I don't like the car's looks, it's an improvement over previous models. But wow this new car looks big. Why can't we get something more 3-series-esque from Ford, both in terms of size and overall feel? Put that Ecoboost V6 in something smaller!

I'm a Ford guy at heart: I've owned 5 T-Birds but I had to buy the CTS-V because Ford wasn't making anything like it. Where is Ford's answer to that car, or the G35, or the GTO? Show me an honest to goodness midsized Fairlane, Cougar or even a Lincoln with a manual transmission, RWD and Ford might get me back as a customer. Bring me something from FPV Australia, at least. One caveat: if you can't make it at least close to 3500 pounds or below don't bother.

Will, have you seen the new Fusion? At the NAIAS last week, I thought the new Fusion looked like a smaller version of the new Taurus.

I sure hope all the haters go tell everyone how much it sucks without ever driving it.

GameboyRMH wrote:

fastEddie wrote: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-ford-taurus-sho-spy-shots-1/

Pretty average looks for a modern car - in other words, a fat ugly cow. I think they showed it from the crappy angle before because it only let you see the front fascia, which is the only tolerable part of the car.

I disagree. Despite the alarmingly high beltline, I think it's a very pleasing shape--bordering on muscular. It may not be overly distinctive, but I still think their designers created a pleasing, relevant design.

The interior looks excellent. They've come a long way.

This is the kind of stuff Ford needs to be doing. Now let's see something equally appealing in a smaller car.

AngryCorvair wrote: Will, have you seen the new Fusion? At the NAIAS last week, I thought the new Fusion looked like a smaller version of the new Taurus. I sure hope all the haters go tell everyone how much it sucks without ever driving it.

I just looked at some pics of the Fusion and although I'm not crazy about it I think that car looks better than the Taurus. I think my primary objection to this Taurus is the very tall sides. For the same reason I don't care for the styling on the Chrysler LX platform cars.

If your hater comment was addressed at me, I'm not trying to come off as one. I'm not saying the Taurus is a bad car at all, I just don't care for the styling. While I won't buy one for that reason, I hope others who like the styling more than I do and are in the market give it a real chance.

Will wrote:

alfadriver wrote: For Will- all things considered- it's ok to not like the looks. At least it's not as ordinary as previous designs, yes? Eric

Alfadriver, I notice you say "our products." Do you work for Ford? At any rate, yes, while I don't like the car's looks, it's an improvement over previous models. But wow this new car looks big. Why can't we get something more 3-series-esque from Ford, both in terms of size and overall feel? Put that Ecoboost V6 in something smaller! I'm a Ford guy at heart: I've owned 5 T-Birds but I had to buy the CTS-V because Ford wasn't making anything like it. Where is Ford's answer to that car, or the G35, or the GTO? Show me an honest to goodness midsized Fairlane, Cougar or even a Lincoln with a manual transmission, RWD and Ford might get me back as a customer. Bring me something from FPV Australia, at least. One caveat: if you can't make it at least close to 3500 pounds or below don't bother.

Not only do I work for Ford, I've been working on EcoBoost for the last 3 years (read the thread "what I've been doing for the last three years" thread).

BTW, I do find it amusing how you want a sub 3500lb car, when you own a CTS-V, and reference the G35 and GTO. Yea, neither of those are heavy...

I can't answer the other questions, as I can't speak for Ford marketing or planning.

Eric