Back when it was introduced in 1985 as a 1986 model, the original Taurus was nothing less than a watershed family car. Forward-thinking with advanced aerodynamics and a vehicle platform to match, it was a car the likes of which Detroit had never produced and mainstream America had never had the opportunity to buy. The surging Japanese imports sat up and took notice, as did U.S. consumers and the automotive press, both of which fell in love with the distinctive "jelly bean" sedan. Taurus was a smash hit both critically and in terms of sales, but unfortunately, America's warm cockles didn't last.
While the second-generation model (introduced for 1992) didn't do much to alter the love affair, subsequent models clouded the Taurus' brand identity and found Ford floundering about trying to determine what consumers wanted out of a mid-sized sedan. In the case of the guppy-mouthed 1996 model, that floundering bordered on literal, as the Jack Telnack designed third-generation Taurus drew ire for its fish-like avant-garde styling and form-over-function utility.
The long-serving 2000-2007 model year updo that followed corrected some of the third-generation Taurus' oversights (i.e. limited trunk space and rear seat headroom), but by then, the Japanese had plus-sized their own offerings and turned up the wicks on their powertrains, all but confining the Taurus to also-ran status. That model would wither away and retreat into fleet-only status in the U.S. in 2006, at which point, the Blue Oval decided to supplant the Taurus with two distinct models – the smaller Fusion and the full-size Five Hundred. The latter was high riding and particularly capacious, yet the ultimately milquetoast sedan didn't connect with consumers or pundits. Thinking that the model's lackluster market response might have had something to do with the unfamiliar name, Ford would in turn exhume the Taurus moniker and slap it on the rump of a tweaked Five Hundred for 2007. It was an expedient fix, and the market recognized this move for what it was.
To sum up how Taurus went from America's hope to America's rental lots, the Blue Oval took it from an ahead-of-its-time, streamlined mid-size flagship to an oddly ovoid and unloved design statement, to a behind-the-curve, emergency badge-engineered full-size car. Along the way, there have been an array of wagons, a couple of notable high-performance SHO variants (and one forgettable one), but there has never been a Taurus quite like this new model.
Impressive new duds
One thing becomes immediately clear from the moment you clap eyes on the new variant – despite being based on the same D3 platform as the outgoing Five Hundred/Taurus sleeping pill, this is a radically different and altogether more confident and cohesive design. Oh, some might take issue with the mildly fussy three-bar grille treatment, but to put it simply, this new Taurus is ripped. Check out the bold sheet metal creases at the beltline and in the rocker panels; the strong U-form chamfering in the hood that's echoed in the trunk lid; the piercing, assertive headlamps and the 427 Concept-like rump.
This is a big car with a sizeable rear overhang (at 202.9 inches overall – it's exactly seven inches larger than a Hyundai Genesis), and it could very easily have looked lumpen or slab-sided and larded-upon like its predecessor. Instead, the Taurus' appearance is crisp and assertive, very much the proverbial linebacker in a tailored suit. Even the door mirrors are compellingly and purposefully sculpted. While the new design looks handsome in every color we've seen, it truly stands out in shades like Ingot Silver and Gold Leaf; colors that yield greater definition than darker shades (Like our Tuxedo Black tester) that cover up some of the more inspired surface details.
Inside, the Taurus' modernization story continues, with a T-shaped double-hooded instrument panel that features a dramatic swept-back waterfall center console bisecting driver and passenger. All controls fall readily and logically to hand, the switchgear looks and feels good to the touch, and the ice blue backlit gauges are easy-to-read. Every 2010 Taurus steering wheel is wrapped in leather regardless of model trim, and the dashboard and door cap materials are well grained and have more give to the touch than anything in recent memory.
We could have done without the fake wood inlays, but as far as trim goes, they're a reasonable facsimile of dead tree and they don't detract from the cabin's premium ambience. The gear selector is gratuitously outsized for smaller hands, but its aesthetic keeps with the designers' wish to move the Taurus away from rental-car wallflower to broad-shouldered leading man. Whether you've stepped into an SE, SEL, or top-shelf Limited model, this is a solid, mature environment that's light years ahead of the 2009 model. Indeed, this Taurus possesses a better-executed cabin than we've seen in some luxury cars costing in excess of $10,000 more.
We can't leave our discussion of the interior without talking about some of the available niceties on this new Taurus. Judging by the presentations we sat through at the car's launch event, the Dearborn team is justifiably proud of the bumper crop of available technologies that they've crammed into their new baby. In light of its modest price point, the Taurus should be a shoo-in "Tech Car of the Year" candidate for the boys and gals over at CNET.
Not only can you get Ford's voice-activated navigation system with Sirius Travel Link (in our estimation, probably the best such system in the business – irrespective of price), but you can also get such luxury features as a gangbusters Sony Dolby 5.1 surround system with the usual connectivity options (aux, USB) plus Sirius satellite radio, Bluetooth and DVD audio, as well as a ten gig hard drive for music and image storage. There are available heated and cooled "Multi-Contoured" seats with "Active Motion" massaging, an optional power rear sunshade like on your neighbor's BMW, switchable ambient lighting, power memory pedals, and so on. And even if you don't plump for the nav system, if you opt for Sync, you can still get audible turn-by-turn directions using a paired Bluetooth phone. We tried this system and found it to be less satisfying to use than the full-on nav interface, but it's a welcome low-cost alternative and a nice safety net if you get lost.
Safety First
While the Taurus has plenty of creature comforts, there's also a raft of safety features available, including adaptive cruise control, a collision warning system that pre-charges the brakes, a blind spot information system and even cross-traffic alert to make sure the path is clear when backing out of parking spots. Our SEL tester wasn't equipped with these features, so we'll have to wait to pass judgment on their utility.
One noteworthy safety feature is Ford's new MyKey system that allows parents to alter the vehicle's performance parameters and set warnings to effectively mandate safer driving for the youngins. For instance, adults can use the system to lock out the traction-control defeat button (no smoky burnouts for Junior), impose a top speed of 80 mph (no street racing for Junior), lower the maximum volume of the stereo (no stoplight concerts for Junior), and it can even be programmed to activate the belt-minder chime incessantly and keep the stereo muted until the front seat occupants are buckled (no crash ejection seat for Junior). Kids may not like these features, but we're betting that a host of parents will. Aside from the big-mother safety features, the Taurus can also be fitted with conveniences like rain-sensing wipers, auto-high beam headlamps, and capless fuel filling.
A seriously refined and comfy cruiser
If you've noticed that we have yet to touch on our actual driving impressions, that's because any thoughts of them almost get lost in the sea of options and tech that Taurus has on offer. It isn't because the car's dynamic behavior is unpleasant or disappointing, mind you – this Ford is, in fact, overwhelmingly competent. It's just that the car's actual performance abilities seem almost incidental to what is, for all intents and purposes, a luxury cruiser – an epic road-trip sedan. Like most of its potential competition, the Taurus is a machine that coddles occupants with vast equipment levels and a luxurious ride, not a sports sedan that goads one into clipping apexes en-route to the grocery store.
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