Ford introduces updated Taurus at New York
At the ongoing New York International Auto Show, Ford is introducing updates of the Taurus for the 2013 model year. Specific to the North American market, the Taurus is a full-sized sedan slightly larger in size but completely unrelated to the Mondeo. The sixth generation Taurus was introduced in June 2009.
The 2013 model year update sees the Taurus receiving Ford’s 2.0-litre Ecoboost engine lining up alongside a pair of 3.5-litre V6 powerplants. All three are mated with 6-speed torque converter autos tailored specifically for the respective engines. Standard drivetrain is front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option.
Having seen wide use in Ford’s European models as well as Volvo models, the turbocharged direct injection 2.0-litre Ecoboost makes its first appearance in the American market, endowing the Taurus with a class-best fuel consumption of 31 mpg (7.6 l/100km). For its application in the Taurus, Ford quotes output values of 237hp and 339Nm, the latter served from 1,750 to 4,000rpm.
The naturally aspirated version of the 3.5-litre V6, equipped with Ford’s Twin independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT), produces 290hp and 346Nm, only marginally more than the 2.0. To aid fuel economy, the engine is equipped with aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff, which restricts fuel flow under closed-throttle situations.
The other V6 motor is the fully tricked out twin-turbo Ecoboost version with 365hp and 475Nm at its disposal powering the high-performance Taurus SHO. To match its sporty positioning, the Taurus SHO comes with all-wheel drive along and torque vectoring along with uprated brakes and suspension.
Ford offers the Taurus with a long list of equipment that includes heated steering wheel, heated and cooled leather seats, Multicontour seats with Active Motion, Intelligent Access with push-button start, auto high beams, rain-sensing wipers, reverse camera, and rear window power sunshade. These are in addition to the MyFord Touch driver interface system with 8″ LCD touchscreen and voice command.
The list of safety gear is populated by a host of terms that sound distinctly Volvo-ish, not surprising when you consider the past intimate connections between the two firms. Adaptive cruise control, collision warning with brake support, and Blind Spot Information System ring a bell? In its pre-facelift form, the Taurus is already a Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick; enhanced airbags with optimized tethering and venting to specifically tailor deployment force to occupant size, position and seat belt status would certainly do no harm to that rating.
Ford is also extremely bullish about the overall quality of the new Taurus. There is no hesitation on the part of its PR team to use the term ‘craftsmanship’ in its literature to describe its build. There will be increased usage of soft touch materials and cloth-linings to ensure a premium feel at every end of the cabin, even at corners where you don’t usually stick your fingers to.
To give you an idea of the standards Ford were looking at, here’s what Chris Atkinson, exterior craftsmanship leader, had to say, “Our team is committed to continuously improving the Taurus, and in developing the new car we’ve continued to benchmark up-class competitors such as Audi A6.”
Some standards he has.
KON
Pictures: Official Ford release.
