Ford Motor Co. says it will build its own diesel engine to power the next generation of its F-Series Super Duty pickups, ending a bitter relationship with Navistar International Corp.

The new, 6.7-liter turbocharged diesel V-8 will be manufactured at Ford's Chihuahua Engine Plant in Mexico. It is slated to debut on the 2011 Super Duty next year and promises significantly improved torque, horsepower and fuel economy. And Ford says it has made sure the new motor can manage 250,000 miles without a major hiccup.

"This all-new diesel engine has been so extensively tested both in the lab and in the real world that we're confident we're giving our customers the most reliable and productive powertrain available today," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president in charge of global product developmentfor the Dearborn automaker.

Navistar has been the exclusive diesel engine supplier to Ford's Super Duty program since 1979. But the 6-liter engine it began shipping in 2003 led to a storm of quality complaints. Ford bought back thousands of trucks and ultimately sued Navistar to recoup warranty costs. The supplier blamed Ford for the problems and countersued.

Navistar began producing a new diesel for Ford in 2007 that addressed those quality issues. But Ford announced last year that it would sever its relationship with Navistar, once production of the current generation of trucks ends in 2010.

Now, it has designed, tested and is ready to build its own replacement engine.

Analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLP in Birmingham said the move makes sense.

"If you buy an engine from outside, that money leaves the company," he said. "Ford has gotten a lot of experience from its diesel joint-venture with PSA Peugeot Citroën in Europe. They should have the experience and capability to do it."

Ford's new motor will be ready in time to meet stringent new emissions requirements for diesels that take effect in 2011.

August 01, 2009
By Todd Lassa

With Lincoln the Ford Motor Company's only indulgence and badge-engineered Mercurys a couple years away, Henry Ford figured the full Ford division lineup had a car everyone from the working man to the upper-middle classes could need. From the coming B-segment Fiesta to the 2010 Taurus, Ford is returning to those roots.

FoMoCo's outsider chief executive officer and president, Alan Mulally, revived the Taurus name after he joined the company in 2006. The 1986-05 Toyota Camry-competitor had too much equity to throw away, so Mulally used the name to rebadge the slow-selling Avalon-competitor, the Five Hundred. He also pushed for shorter lifecycles; one of Ford's biggest problems was that it let fresh, successful models go stale before replacement. An extensive Taurus facelift quickly morphed into a major redesign. Designers had a clay model of the '10 Taurus by the summer of 2007. The board approved its final design in early spring 2008, no more than 18 months before it was to go on sale.

Before redesign work began, Ford unveiled the Interceptor, a V-8-powered concept built off a Mustang chassis, at the January 2007 North American International Auto Show. There's a bit of the Interceptor's rear quarter-panels in the new Taurus, and the taillamps connected by a thin, horizontal chrome strip are straight off the concept. You'll recognize the Interceptor's high beltline and cowl and low, squat, and fast roofline.
 
While the '10 Taurus carries over the 2009's Volvo-based platform and its near-crossover-level ride height, designers have lowered the roofline up to three inches in spots. The '10 Taurus also has an Interceptor-like "power-bulge" hood and a variation of the three-bar grille.

Then there's the dash-to-axle. Ford's program for a new rear-drive, independent rear-suspension platform to replace the decrepit Crown Victoria's began and ended with the Interceptor concept. Mulally slashed development budgets and cut employees, placing the Blue Oval in a much better position than GM and Chrysler. And so, the front-/all-wheel-drive, V-6-only Taurus replaces the RWD Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis. The Freestyle/Taurus X and Mercury Montego/Sable die after model year 2009.

Ford put some of that rear-drive development money into the interiors. Dashboard and interior door panels are thickly padded, as in the {{{Lincoln MKS}}}, and the ambient lighting in the interior door pockets and footwells, available in seven colors, is as trick as in any German luxury car. The Taurus' center stack expands out from a deep dash, cocooning the driver almost like a sporty car with a "cockpit"-style driver's seat.
That space-consuming center stack acknowledges that the full-size Taurus isn't a high-volume family sedan like the Fusion, and doesn't need to conserve every inch of interior space. There's also no mention in the Taurus' ample spec sheet of rear-seat TV screens for the kids.

The car comes with everything else: adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, BLIS blind-spot info system with cross-traffic alert and voice-activated navigation with Sirius Travel Link. Every Taurus except the base $25,995 SE, the fleet/rental car, comes with paddle shifters for the six-speed automatic. You hit the back of the steering-wheel-mounted paddle for upshifts and thumb the front of them for downshifts.

P235/55R-18 all-season tires on aluminum wheels are standard on our SEL tester, which starts at $27,995 and is the volume trim level. Also standard are supplemental park lamps, body-color dual-heated power mirrors, and Sirius satellite radio. Our black SEL was loaded, at $32,485 with leather, Multi-Contour front seats with Active Motion (stress-relieving air bladders), the top option group including Sync, a reverse sensing system, those ambient interior lights, "intelligent access" with push-button start, power-adjustable pedals, Sony 390-watt audio with 12 speakers, and P255/45R19 all-season tires on painted Sparkle Silver aluminum wheels.

About those Active Motion front seats. They massage your backside, not your back. Taurus designers and engineers believe they may be the first of their kind and are meant to keep the driver alert. They're the first of their kind for good reason, though. Kneading of the buttocks is a strange sensation -- we'll take the backrub.

The $31,995 Taurus Limited is just shy of matching the Lincoln MKS, with perforated, leather-trimmed seats (heated and cooled in front, heated in the rear) and lots more stuff. SEL and Limited models are available with all-wheel drive. Ford admits that Taurus nearly encroaches on MKS territory. The Lincoln features a higher-grade leather and has had many of the Taurus' advances "backfilled" into it. And FoMoCo believes few buyers will cross-shop the Lincoln and the Ford.

All this cushiness and stuff translates into a rather sublime near-luxury drive. The chassis is smooth, and the car is extremely quiet. The driver's seat is stingy with bolstering, though, and it feels as if you're sitting on it, not in it. The ride height exacerbates the problem. Designed for aging baby boomers, you step directly into the car, not down into it. That's often a good thing, but the new Taurus pretty much retains the old Five Hundred/Taurus' ground clearance, ride height, and shoulder-line height, if not its roofline. This stance was designed to accommodate the Freestyle/Taurus X crossover, too, so you're nearly as high up as in a minivan or low crossover. Even with the lowered roofline, there's space enough to wear a hat, should you be so crass as to wear one indoors (no wonder FDR chose a Phaeton). The back seat is loaded with head, leg, and shoulder space for three adults.

No surprise then that this big family car takes fast corners with loads of tire-scrubbing understeer. Rebound damping is pretty firm though, and body roll is nicely controlled. The steering mostly feels precise with good weighting, if a bit too loose just off center, with a kind of bump-steer looseness when cornering on rough or highly crested roads. The 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 is a willing partner, delivering decent, smooth power. The six-speed's paddle-shifters are a bit slow. Best to let the tranny controller do its thing, except on steep roads.

At press time, Ford was awaiting EPA certification, but expects to match or better the '09 Taurus' 18/28 mpg with front drive. That's just one or two mpg better than full-size rear-drive cars like the Hyundai Genesis V-6 sedan (18/27) and aging Chrysler 300 3.5 (17/25). With the Taurus' tall overall height, it necessarily has to be a longer car in order to look like a long, sleek sedan, so it weighs within a couple pounds of its rear-drive competitors, wiping out FWD mass efficiency.

The 2010 Ford Taurus is by necessity a compromised redo. Unlike Ford's last such car, the 2008-10 Focus, the new Taurus is a good-looking compromise with subtle luxury, offering Great Recession consumers a lot of elegant kit for the money. It's the right kind of car for the times, a car our current president may want to be photographed driving, sans the cigarette holder.

The 1986 Taurus was so radical that Ford kept the car it was meant to replace, the prosaic, rear-drive LTD II, in production until the new family sedan caught on with buyers. Taurus snagged Motor Trend's 1986 Car of the Year award and set a standard for clean, modern sedans on the large end of the burgeoning midsize market. Toyota and Honda had good reason to envy the Taurus, which within a couple of years found itself competing with the hideaway-headlamp Accord for the title, best-selling car in America.

From the early 1990s, Japanese midsize cars got larger with every generation and were harder to distinguish from each other. Toyota's redesigned 1992 Camry entered the race, and by '93 the Japanese maker had to supplement U.S. production with boatloads of imports. For several years, the Taurus, Camry, and Accord traded first through third, each breaching the 400,000-unit level. They resorted to raising fleet sales and to generous late-December discounts. The Taurus' Hertz lot ubiquity even made popular culture when Patricia Arquette's character in "Flirting With Disaster" (1996) asked, "Does anybody actually own a white Taurus, or are they all rentals?

The '96 Taurus distinguished itself from Camry and Accord with "ovoid" styling. It wasn't a design the competition cared to copy and sales started to slip. Then Honda officially dropped out of the race, explaining it would no longer bring in expensive imports simply to beat Camry.

In 2005, Ford discontinued the midsize Taurus and then brought it back as a full-size model. Ford moved just 53,000 such Tauri last year, compared with 148,000 Fusions, the old Taurus' successor. In a disastrously slow year, without changing nameplates or market position, Honda sold 373,000 Accords and Toyota sold 437,000 Camrys.

Standing inside the General Motors Co. design dome here, it's hard to make sense of the critics' complaints that the domestic auto companies don't make relevant products.

At a recent event, Chevys lined the arena from the micro ride Spark to the super muscle Corvette. Some were current models. Others new ones to come. Most satisfied a market need. One or two designed and built to satisfy a government mandate or try and silence activists. Earlier, GM executives made a big pitch for Buick and unveiled a couple of new Cadillacs.

All were worthy of a test drive and particularly by those who constantly blather on about how spectacular the Asian automakers are at delivering good products and how ratty the Americans' are in the same regard.

Those who continue to push that agenda aren't paying attention, and as GM and Ford Motor Co. roll out new vehicles that turn heads and sip far less fuel, it's clear they're doing it simply because they enjoy the rant.

Big 3 can't rest on laurels

That's OK even if it is a bit tiring.

GM, Ford and Chrysler Group LLC executives need that push. They need to be challenged and they need to be reminded that consumers outside of Michigan don't default to domestic brands. Resting on one's laurels, as all have found out from years of complacency, only makes it easier for others to catch up and overtake the market.

All three companies (yes, Ford, too) still have a long way to go. They need to continue redesigning their products so they don't get stale. They need to keep cutting costs so they're not spending more then they take in, and most importantly they need to win back American consumers.

"We know there's a long way to go, but you still have to plan long-term strategy and we're doing that," GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens told me at the event in Warren.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally was equally as encouraged (though he always is) when I spoke with him on Monday.

"People are really excited about the product," he told me before teeing off at the Paul W. Smith golf tournament for Think Detroit PAL. "We're on track."

GM shows new flexibility

Evidence of wholesale change in Detroit's auto universe came Wednesday when GM unplugged its Buick compact crossover plan -- including the plug-in version -- within days of it getting widely panned by the public, media and analysts who got to see it in its early stages of development.

Seriously, they did.

This is the new GM. Not the one that steadfastly held on to eight brands and multiple overlap products within each. Or the company that insisted that bankruptcy wasn't an option, until it was the only option.

No matter. They turned a corner, fast.

And if they continue to do so before getting so far involved that they can't effectively back out, they have a chance.

General Motors Co., trying to build confidence in the marketplace after a stint in Bankruptcy Court, unveiled its two-year product plan today. The highlights:

Chevrolet: A new small car, the Spark, will be positioned below the Aveo. The Volt plug-in hybrid is scheduled to arrive in November 2010.

? Buick: GM will rebuild the lineup with two new crossovers and two sedans smaller than the 2010 LaCrosse.

? GMC: A subcompact crossover is under study.

? Cadillac: A small model below the CTS is planned, along with a flagship to replace the DTS and STS. The CTS and the small model will get coupe versions.
 
During its 39-day bankruptcy, GM struck deals to sell the Saab, Hummer and Saturn brands. Pontiac is being killed this year.

What follows is GM's model-by-model plan for the remaining four brands for the 2010-12 model years. It was compiled from GM's presentation today and from company, supplier and industry sources. It will be published as part of our annual future product series in the August 17 print edition of Automotive News.

Buick's game plan: more style and vehicles

Here are highlights of Buick's product plans for the 2010-12 model years.

? Small sedan: Buick will market a compact car built on GM's global compact front-drive Delta platform. The platform will be shared with the Chevrolet Cruze and other GM models. Buick's model will have unique sheet metal and be slightly longer than the Cruze.

GM probably will sell the small Buick first in China as a 2011 model. The U.S. version is expected to be assembled in North America and marketed as a 2012 model.

Regal: Buick is resurrecting the Regal name for its version of the Opel Insignia, which it will get as a 2011 model.

The Insignia, Regal and 2010 Buick LaCrosse are based on GM's new global mid-sized, fwd vehicle platform, but the Regal and Insignia are 6.9 inches shorter than the 196.9-inch LaCrosse. The Regal is expected to be priced several thousand dollars less than the LaCrosse and offered only with a four-cylinder engine. The Regal is critical because GM expects the car to be the brand's top seller.
 
LaCrosse: GM is hoping the redesigned 2010 LaCrosse sedan will do for Buick what the Malibu has done for Chevrolet: raise transaction prices and sales volume. LaCrosse sales begin this month. The LaCrosse was developed on GM's new global mid-sized fwd vehicle platform.

GM sees this car as a key to Buick's renaissance. Prices start at $27,835, including transportation, and top out over $40,000. The LaCrosse will be Buick's flagship sedan when the Lucerne is discontinued.

Lucerne: The Lucerne will be discontinued in the next year or two because of poor sales.

? Small crossover: GM will offer Buick a small crossover developed on its next-generation global Gamma platform. That platform will be shared by the redesigned Chevrolet Aveo and other vehicles. The crossover is expected to appear in the 2012 model year.

? Compact crossover: Buick will get a version of the Saturn Vue, with a restyled front that will make it look like a Buick. The car will debut next year as a 2011 model. A plug-in hybrid will be added in 2011.

? Enclave: GM plans to freshen the Enclave for the 2012 model year. The Enclave is not in line to get a hybrid version because GM cannot fit the powertrain into the current model.

Cadillac aims to sell small, medium and large luxury
Here are highlights of Cadillac's plans for the 2010-12 model years.
 
? Small Cadillac: A small, entry-level Cadillac is expected for the 2012 model year. The car would be developed on GM's new global, rear-drive Alpha vehicle platform and positioned below the CTS. A hybrid version is being considered.

? CTS: The CTS added a wagon this year, called the Sport Wagon. A coupe is coming in the 2010 model year.

The next-generation CTS will be smaller and lighter, debuting in the 2013 model year or later.

DTS: Production will end in 2010 or 2011.
? XTS sedan: The 2012 XTS sedan will replace the DTS and STS.

GM's new global mid-sized, fwd vehicle architecture will be adopted for Cadillac. That architecture is used for the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, Opel Insignia and other vehicles. The platform for the Cadillac model will be widened 2.0 inches. GM executives determined that the interior would be too narrow to compete with the BMW 7 series or other luxury sedans.

The XTS -- if the name is kept -- will be approximately the same size as the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan. All-wheel drive is expected to be optional or standard on the Cadillac; the final decision has not been made.

GM revealed a picture of the XTS at a dealer meeting. One dealer described it as "a smaller, more efficient package. It'll be glamorous and good value at the same time."

STS: Production is expected to end around 2011.

? Plug-in hybrid: GM unveiled the Converj concept at the Detroit auto show in January. It is uncertain whether the vehicle will go into production.

? SRX: The redesigned 2010 SRX is smaller than the previous generation, seating five instead of seven. Weight was reduced, and fuel economy was increased; a V-8 no longer is available. The 2010 SRX was developed on a blend of GM's fwd Theta and global mid-sized vehicle platforms, called Theta Premium. The previous SRX was rwd. A freshening is expected for the 2013 model year.

? Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT: The Escalade family's future is on hold until GM determines how the new corporate average fuel economy regulations will affect GM's full-sized GMT900 truck program. The current Escalade model line is likely to continue into the 2011 model year, maybe 2012.

GM's next-generation trucks could appear in the 2013 or 2014 model year. Which Cadillac models if any will remain on the full-sized truck architecture has not been decided.

One option under review is extending the front-wheel-drive Lambda vehicle platform to develop one or two Escalade models, possibly for the 2012 or 2013 model year.

Chevy promises attractive small cars, crossovers

Camaro: The 2010 Camaro landed in dealerships this spring. A convertible, originally intended as a 2011 model, was pushed back to the 2012 model year because of problems with the roof supplier and GM's cost constraints. Now that GM has some operating cash after emerging from bankruptcy, insiders say, it will try to pull the convertible back to the 2011 model year.

A Camaro freshening is expected for the 2014 or 2015 model year.

? Corvette: Production of the next-generation Corvette, internally called C7, is expected to start in April 2012 for the 2013 model year. The front-engine layout will be maintained.

? Volt: GM's plug-in hybrid is on target for a November 2010 launch. GM plans to build only 200 to 400 cars in November and December 2010, as 2011 models. The production target for 2011 is about 10,000 Volts. A price approaching $45,000 is estimated.

A plug-in hybrid can charge its battery from the power grid, reducing the need for gasoline.

The Volt will share a fwd vehicle platform with the Chevrolet Cruze and Orlando and other GM vehicles.

? HHR: GM will discontinue the retro-styled wagon at the end of the 2011 model year.

GM is closing the Shreveport, La., plant that assembles the Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups in 2012. Sales have been disappointing for both vehicles. The Colorado and Canyon redesigns originally had been expected for the 2012 model year.

? Silverado 1500: GM put its full-sized pickup and SUV plans on hold when gasoline prices soared in the summer of 2008. Later, the tougher CAFE regulations were announced. GM's full-sized truck plans are expected to be made final in six to nine months. The delay means the next-generation pickups likely will be pushed back to 2013.

? Silverado 2500, 3500: The re-engineered heavy-duty pickups have been pushed back from the 2011 model year to the 2012 model year or later. One issue is how "heavy duty" will be defined in the new CAFE regulations.

? Express: No significant changes are expected in the next three years.

? Orlando: The 2012 Orlando is a small, seven-passenger crossover developed on the same platform as the Chevrolet Cruze. The Orlando will be powered by a four-cylinder engine and priced less than the Equinox.

? Equinox: The Equinox was restyled and re-engineered for the 2010 model year. Sales began in June. The previous generation offered only a V-6 engine, but the redesigned Equinox comes with a 2.4-liter, direct-injection, four-cylinder engine. The V-6 is optional. GM is counting on the more fuel-efficient engine to be a key selling point.

A freshening is expected for the 2013 model year.

? Traverse: No major changes are planned for the 2010-12 model years.

? Tahoe, Suburban: The full-sized SUVs were scheduled to be restyled and re-engineered for the 2012 model year. But GM put its full-sized SUV and pickup plans on hold when gasoline prices soared in the summer of 2008 and light-truck sales plummeted. Since then, the higher corporate average fuel economy regulations were announced, requiring an automaker's fleet average to be 35.5 mpg by 2016.

GM's plans for full-sized truck are expected to be made final in six to nine months. The next-generation trucks may appear in the 2013 or 2014 model year.

Several plans are being considered. The Tahoe may be dropped, or the next generation might be developed on the lighter fwd Lambda platform. The platform is used for the Chevrolet Traverse and three other crossovers.

The Suburban could survive sharing the Silverado platform because the SUV is used for a variety of commercial applications.

? Mid-sized pickup: A mid-sized, all-wheel-drive pickup developed on the fwd Lambda platform might replace the Avalanche. The vehicle would target Honda Ridgeline shoppers who need towing capacity but do not need a big body-on-frame truck. Timing has not been determined.

? Avalanche: The Avalanche will be killed by the 2013 model year because of poor sales, those familiar with GM's plans say. Through June, GM sold just 7,130 Avalanches, down 61.0 percent from 2008.

? Colorado: A global compact pickup platform is being developed by GM do Brasil. It is unclear whether GM will sell a pickup from that platform here as an import, will assemble it in North America or will abandon the compact pickup segment in the United States.

Dan Neil of the LA Times reviewed the 2010 Buick LaCrosse (in dealerships now) and said:

"GM's first new car since it emerged from bankruptcy is as good as or better than the ES350 in every way, and is actually desirable.  Fighter pilots call it "target fixation" when you become so focused on a single adversary that you lose situational awareness and fly into something large and obvious, like the ground. Buick's 2010 LaCrosse -- a near-luxury, mid-size-to-large sedan -- was built to put the cross-hairs on a single bogie, the Lexus ES350, and I'll tell you right now, it blows the Lexus out of the sky. Pow. Parachute. Smoking crater.

"Oh, you can quibble over one detail or another. The LaCrosse's roof A-pillars are huge and make it hard to look through a corner on a tight, two-lane road (it's also possible to lose sight of pedestrians in crosswalks). There are moments that the cabin, with its Aqua Velva-blue ambient lighting, thick chrome instrument bezels, luminous LCD screens and spread of glowing buttons, looks like the flight deck of some drug- addled dirigible.

"But no fair appraisal of this car can conclude anything but that the Buick is as good as or better than the Lexus in every way: It's as dead quiet, as thoughtfully designed, as this-minute in its technology. My top-of-the-line CXS had a 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 under the scalloped hood, a six-speed Aisin automatic transmission, continuously variable suspension damping with Sport mode, Harman/Kardon sound system, touch-screen navigation and adaptive headlamps. Out the door at $39,195.

"And yet with all of the semiconductor circuitry, servos, gadgets and displays, the LaCrosse feels deeply, foundationally sound. All is hushed and serene. Everything is damped. The whole car feels packed in ermine. It is an American Lexus."

Ford's 2010 Taurus Might Be Just That
by Rex Roy | AOL Autos
Posted: Jul, 21 2009

 In a time before four-door pickups, SUVs, minivans, and crossovers, families drove sedans. History's most famous out of production sedan names include Nova, Dart, LTD, Cutlass, Fury, Fairlane, Volare, and Valiant. A name that has just returned to the forefront of the automotive world is Taurus.

With a roomy interior, a powerful V-6 engine, 28 mpg on the highway, and a standard price tag starting around $26,000, this sedan will put a new shine on the sedan category. The new Taurus is so good that it may even attract current truck, SUV, and drivers in a way no other current sedan can.

From your reaction to stories that AOL Autos has already published about the 2010 Ford Taurus, we know that American drivers are interested in this all-new sedan. Read on for an in-depth look at this popular car, its features and competitors. And we won't neglect driving impressions.

Meet The New No-Bull Taurus
The original Ford Taurus stampeded onto American streets as a 1986 model. The effect was seismic. The original was so good, it not only became the best-selling car in America, Hollywood took notice and used it as the basis for Robo Cop's patrol car (Now there's an endorsement!).

As the Taurus changed over the years, its horns were never as sharp. In its final years it went lame, becoming a pariah of rental car and municipal fleets. Finally, in 2007 the old bull was put out to pasture.

Under the leadership of Ford CEO Alan Mulally, the Taurus name returned, branded over top of the Five Hundred in 2008. The market reacted with a yawn because the freshening of the Five Hundred was far from being a full eight-second ride in the rodeo ring. Buyers knew the 2008 Taurus was little more than an ol'switcheroo.

But Mulally was on to something. He knew that Ford could open its gates again and let loose a winner. The 2010 Ford Taurus proves he was right.

Sizing Up The Bull
The 2010 Taurus is the new standard for full-size sedans, just as the 1986 Taurus set the standard for mid-size cars in its era. The 2010 edition is smaller than the traditional rear-wheel-drive Crown Victoria, and about the same size as the 2009 Taurus, Toyota Avalon, Chevrolet Impala, Chrysler 300, and Audi A8. Interior roominess is generally comparable between these vehicles, but the 2010 Taurus offers a cavernous trunk with over 20-cubic feet of easy-to-fill room.

While it is technically accurate to say that the 2010 Taurus is derived from the 2009 edition, it is inaccurate to characterize the transformation as a casual refresh or minor update. The only major components that are carried over include the front suspension, parts of the body structure, and the efficient 263-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission (18 mpg city, 28 mpg highway). Most other mechanical components are new, including the design of the rear suspension that was lifted and retuned from the 2009 Lincoln MKS luxury sedan. (If you're going to share components between vehicles within a company, this is a good way to do it.)

The styling of this mainstream sedan is powerful. The giant VW Passat looks of the previous Taurus/Five Hundred model is gone, ditched in favor of a squared-off design that clearly says, "I'm an American, not a German wannabe." The roof is lower and the lines are pleasingly angular.

Inside, the five-passenger Taurus is clearly driver-focused. Up front, there are defined areas for the driver and front passenger. The instrument cluster presents information to the driver in three, deeply recessed gauges. Day or night, the readouts are easy to see. The way the dash slope away from the occupants gives the interior a feeling of openness. If you can't get comfortable using the power seat, adjustable pedals, and the tilt/telescopic steering column, you must be a very oddly shaped person, indeed.

In the rear seating area, the Taurus is wide enough to sit three across. With the front seats in their rear-most position (for a driver well over six-feet), room is tight for those in the rear, but with the front seat adjusted for a 6-foot driver, an average adult male riding in back enjoys plenty of space in front of his knees. The rear seat backs fold down to open up a truly huge cargo area, expanding the already large capacity of the trunk.

A large touch screen occupies the top of the center console on models with the optional navigation system. The touch screen is easy to use, even for Luddites. This brings up the point that Ford is using the 2010 Taurus to bring high-technology to the masses. Safety features like stability control, ABS, traction control, and six airbags are standard. So is the SOS post-crash alert system. After an impact that causes airbags to deploy, the SOS system unlocks all doors, turns on the hazard flashers, and sounds the horn.

Beyond these expected features, the Taurus also provides SecuriCode; a keyless entry system with a key pad on the driver-side B-pillar, and MyKey; a feature that lets parents program a specific key fob with restricted vehicle function, such as maximum speed and maximum radio volume. While this list is solid, it's the options on the 2010 Taurus that are unusual for a mainstream American sedan. 

A shopper would be hard pressed to find these options available on an Audi, BMW, or Lexus, let alone a Chevy or Toyota with a starting price of $25,995. Call it a democratization of high technology. If you plan on test driving a new Taurus, give yourself some time to learn about and test these new technologies.

Saddling Up The Bull
From the driver's point of view, the 2010 Taurus is simply a winner. The dynamics are more engaging than a Toyota Avalon but still smooth and refined. The engine produces 263 horsepower, which is plenty to move this full-size sedan off the line smartly. Acceleration is smooth and plentiful. Mileage is acceptable for such a large vehicle, at 18 mpg city, 28 mpg highway for the front-wheel-drive models. Adding all-wheel drive subtracts 1 and 3 mpg.

The ride characteristics are sportier than you might expect from a big sedan. The Taurus feels taut but not high-strung. It's responsive without being the twitchy. Though there is some body roll, it is not objectionable. The steering is direct and precise, and provides plenty of feedback. Driving the 2010 Taurus feels natural and intuitive. Even though it's not quite equal of a Lexus LS 460, the interior is quiet and vibration free. Bumps and road acne are filtered out by the suspension, sub-frame isolators between the suspension and the body, and well-placed insulation.

The Meanest Bull In The Corral
If you're looking for more excitement, the performance-oriented Taurus SHO is available. The Super High Output edition of the 2010 Taurus is a serious performance machine at a starting price of about $38,000. It takes a sharp eye to distinguish between the SHO and the other Taurus models, the SE, SEL, and Limited. Look for the small spoiler on the trunk and the larger 19-inch aluminum wheels and wide high-performance tires.

Thanks to Ford's new EcoBoost technology, the SHO's exclusive twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine with direct fuel injection produces a staggering 365 horsepower. Ford engineers tell us that if the top speed were not limited to 133 mph, the SHO could hit over 160 mph with all of that power. Drivers averse to getting tickets will enjoy the engine's acceleration up to highway speeds and its ability to effortlessly pass traffic on two-lane roads.

This power is managed by a standard all-wheel-drive system that is tuned for safety, traction, and performance. The result is a stable, responsive feel that delivers impressive, drama-free performance. Mileage for the SHO is identical to the non-turbo AWD Taurus models, 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway. This strikes us as amazing due to the engine's additional 102 horsepower.

Inside, all 2010 Taurus SHOs have leather-trimmed seats with suede inserts, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle-shifters. The drive begins by pressing the ignition. The engine fires immediately. It's quiet. Put the drive selector into A or M depending on whether you want to use the paddle shifters or not. In Auto, the heavy-duty six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and without fuss. The SHO cruises quietly and offers no telltales about its performance potential. Wind and tire noise at get-a-ticket speeds are subdued. The overall feeling is that of a refined European sport sedan.

But if you slam the throttle open, the big Ford sedan rockets forward. There is no turbo lag. The engine's turbos are so small, that almost any time the engine is running, the blowers are ready to produce instant turbo boost. Modern engine electronics give the SHO 350 lb-ft torque from 1500 revs on up to near the horsepower peak (5,250 rpm). The torque curve really isn't a curve, it's a broad, flat plateau that results in effortless acceleration at any speed.

The SHO's chassis remains rock-solid under full power, helped by the distribution of torque to all four corners. Expect to hit 60 mph from a standstill in under six seconds, and with AWD, you'll never have to worry about wasting time because of spinning tires. The SHO's transmission shifts quickly, and according to its engineers, it changes gears faster than the automatic in a BMW 335i.

Some performance cars can punish their occupants, but the Taurus SHO doesn't. The ride is only slightly stiffer than the standard Taurus models. Hustling through a corner, the 2010 Taurus SHO leans a little before it takes a bite into the pavement. Once set, the feeling is balanced. There is a bit of understeer (push) and absolutely no oversteer (the feeling that the car is going to spin out trunk first). When pushed very hard, the front tires begin to squeal, a warning Ford engineers designed in as an audible warning that the car is getting close to its limit.

Rounding Up The Competition
Compared to other full-size sedans and the larger mid-size four-doors, the 2010 Ford Taurus is happy to lock horns with any challenger. Its styling is more distinctive than the Toyota Avalon or the Chevrolet Impala. The classy Chrysler 300 still looks good after all these years, but its profile is no longer fresh.

The Taurus's standard V-6 matches the competition in power and economy, while the SHO's EcoBoost V-6 engine squares off positively against the V-8 equipped Impala and 300 models. For those who want the added traction and all-weather safety of AWD, it is not offered by Toyota or Chevrolet in their mainstream sedans.

Optional technology clearly separates the new Taurus from its in-class competitors, but be careful as you check the option boxes because the cost for going high-tech can add up quickly and erase the Taurus's value positioning.

Conclusion
This new car proves that Ford's engineers and designers hadn't forgotten what a Taurus could be. CEO Mulally was correct in knowing that his team could breed another winner.

Just as things were decades ago, when sedans were the mainstay of family transportation, the 2010 Ford Taurus provides a compelling reason for families to once again consider a sedan.


Whizz Bang: Some of the new options on the 2010 Ford Taurus

Adaptive Cruise Control: it maintains a set speed, but also keeps a driver-defined distance from vehicles ahead, and will use active braking when necessary to slow the Taurus to maintain that distance.

Collision Warning: audible and visual alerts warn a distracted driver about a potential frontal collision and pre-arms the brakes to provide full power when the driver hits the brake pedal.

Blind Spot Monitoring: Keeps an electronic eye on a driver's blind spots and warns drivers using an orange icon in the mirror and on the digital IP readout.

Cross Traffic Alert: Helps drivers detects oncoming traffic approaching the vehicle from the side while reversing out of a parking space.

SYNC: a voice-control technology that enables drivers to speak commands to the audio system and any connected devices such as a phone or MP3 player.

Travel Link: a sophisticated suite of subscription services that provide real-time weather, traffic and shopping information - Multi-Contour seats; Seven air bladders constantly change pressure to keep those in front feeling alert and more refreshed during long drives.

Click to View the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study^SM (IQS)

The Buick nameplate ranks highest in a tie among all 37 industry nameplates in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study SM (VDS). Since 2003, Buick has ranked among the top 10 nameplates in this study,which evaluates owner-reported problems after 3 years of new-vehicle ownership. For this study, owner-reported problems are measured using a designation of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower PP100 score indicating a higher level of dependability. As shown in the name plate ranking chart to the right, Buick?s score of 122 PP100 is 28% above the industry average of 170 PP100.The 2009 VDS evaluates a total of 245 models industry-wide. Both Buick LaCrosse and Buick Lucerne are among the top five models in the entire industry in long-term dependability?LaCrosse is No. 5 and Lucerne is No. 4.

Buick LaCrosse
In the midsize car segment, comprised of 18 models,competition for buyer attention is fierce and hard won. According to owner feedback as reported in this study, Buick LaCrosse is the ?Most Dependable Midsize Car.? With a score of 101 PP100, LaCrosse performs 34%better than the segment average. The LaCrosse ranks No. 5 among all 245 models for long-term dependability.

Buick Lucerne
In the large car segment, Buick Lucerne ranks No.2 with a score of 97 PP100 or 34% above the segment average. Compared with all models rankedin the study, Lucerne is No. 4 in long-term dependability.

Click here for the The Power Report - J.D Power and Associates 2009 Special Report on Buick

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported the automaker had more vehicles than any other manufacturer on its list of safest vehicles sold today.

The IIHS reported that Ford had 16 of the top-rated vehicles, followed by Honda with 13. General Motors and Toyota each had eight vehicles on the list.

Buick Enclave

2008-09 Buick Enclave: good performance in front, side, and rear tests and standard electronic stability control

 

Frontal offset test results Overall ratings shown; follow links for test details and component scores 2008-09 models Technical measurements (driver-side occupant compartment intrusion and driver injury) for large SUVs

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Side impact test results Overall ratings shown; follow links for test details and component scores 2008-09 models with standard side airbags Technical measurements (structure, driver injury, and passenger injury) for large SUVs

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Rear crash protection/head restraint ratings See results for all Buick models

Buick Enclave

2008-09 Buick Enclave: good performance in front, side, and rear tests and standard electronic stability control

 

Frontal offset test results Overall ratings shown; follow links for test details and component scores 2008-09 models Technical measurements (driver-side occupant compartment intrusion and driver injury) for large SUVs

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Side impact test results Overall ratings shown; follow links for test details and component scores 2008-09 models with standard side airbags Technical measurements (structure, driver injury, and passenger injury) for large SUVs

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Rear crash protection/head restraint ratings See results for all Buick models

GMC Acadia

2008-09 GMC Acadia: good performance in front, side, and rear tests and standard electronic stability control

 

Frontal offset test results Overall ratings shown; follow links for test details and component scores 2007-09 models Technical measurements (driver-side occupant compartment intrusion and driver injury) for large SUVs

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Side impact test results Overall ratings shown; follow links for test details and component scores 2007-09 models with standard side airbags Technical measurements (structure, driver injury, and passenger injury) for large SUVs

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Rear crash protection/head restraint ratings See results for all GMC models

Legend for vehicle ratings: =Good =Acceptable =Marginal =Poor

Finally ready for the big time.

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Buick says its upcoming Regal sedan, a reworked Opel from Europe, will be positioned below the brand's redesigned sedan, the 2010 LaCrosse.

The Regal is part of Buick's plan to add several models over the next 24 months and attract buyers who also consider Lexus and Acura.

The Regal, nearly a clone of the Opel Insignia, goes on sale late next year or early in 2011. The Insignia, Regal and the 2010 LaCrosse are based on a new mid-sized global vehicle platform.

The LaCrosse will be positioned "as GM's most premium large car," says Dave McIntyre, LaCrosse product marketing manager. LaCrosse sticker prices will range from just under $28,000 into the low $40s. A four-cylinder and two V-6 engines will be offered. Shipments to dealers begin next month.

The Lucerne, Buick's current top sedan, is expected to be discontinued in the next year or two.

The Regal will be priced several thousand dollars less than the LaCrosse, says Roger Knoebel, manager of vehicle performance integration.

Buick is touting the LaCrosse's quiet ride -- created in part by acoustic laminated glass, premium absorption material under the car and a perimeter seal for the hood. Those extras will be absent from the Regal, Knoebel says.

The wheelbase for the Insignia and Regal is 107.7 inches, four inches shorter than the LaCrosse's. The overall length is 6.9 inches shorter than the LaCrosse's.

GM had planned to rebadge the Opel Insignia as a Saturn Aura. When that plan was canceled, Buick took the car as the Regal.

The Insignia is available as a sedan, five-door hatchback and wagon. It is unclear which versions will become Regals. Last October, the Regal sedan and hatchback went on sale in China with four-cylinder engines.

·         The 2011 Ford Mustang V-6 sets a new record by averaging 48.5 mpg on a track while completing 1,457 laps with an average speed of 43.9 mph

·         Mustang is powered by a new 3.7-liter V-6 engine that uses advanced engineering and technology to deliver great performance and fuel economy 

·         More than 51,000 entries were received for the Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge with 22 entries guessing the winning number of laps

·         A team of five drivers, including four Ford Mustang engineers and Ford NASCAR star David Ragan, drove the Mustang during its record run

 BRISTOL, TN., June 24, 2010 - The 2011 Ford Mustang, which made history when it became the first car ever to deliver more than 30 mpg and 305 horsepower, has set a new record by running 1,457 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway while averaging 48.5 mpg.

 The Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge was designed to demonstrate that a stock production Mustang V-6 could run 1,000 laps and 533 miles on a single of tank of fuel.  With the aid of fuel efficient driving techniques by Ford engineers, the Mustang far surpassed its goal of 1,000 laps.

 "To see a Mustang post average fuel economy of 48.5 mpg while running at Bristol is impressive," said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer.  "The new V-6 engine along with the advanced six-speed transmission in the car is a key element in delivering both fuel economy and performance for Mustang."

Ford is committed to being a fuel economy leader in every segment it competes in and Mustang's class-leading fuel economy along with other Ford fuel economy leaders like the Ford Fiesta, Fusion Hybrid and new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, America's most fuel efficient luxury sedan.

 The Challenge team, which included NASCAR star David Ragan and four Ford Mustang engineers, completed the challenge in 17 hours and 40 minutes, showing off the 2011 Mustang V-6's class-leading fuel economy by averaging 48.5 mpg over the course of the 776.5 miles logged during the Challenge.  That distance is more than the two complete NASCAR Sprint Cup events that take place in Bristol every year.

Ragan pushed the Mustang past the 1,000-lap mark at 7:26 p.m., 12 hours and 26 minutes into the Challenge, but the car wasn't close to being out of fuel.   Mustang engineer Seong Park was behind the wheel when it finally came to a halt (on the backstretch) of the famed NASCAR track at 12:41 a.m. local time.

Other Mustang Challenge team drivers included Tom Barnes, Jonathan Mehl, Carl Ek, who along with Park each took one-hour driving stints during the event, which took place at the world's fastest half-mile track.

 "When we hit 1,000 laps we still had a quarter of a tank of gas left," said David Ragan, driver of the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing, and the man who drove the 2011 V-6 Mustang past the 1,000 lap mark. "The last driving stint before I passed 1,000 laps I was averaging 43.7 miles a gallon and that is unbelievable. These guys have run the distance of more than two Sprint Cup races at Bristol and they still have fuel left. Congratulations to everyone behind the Mustang and to everyone at Ford, because this 2011 Mustang V-6 is really something special."
A team of Ford engineers prepared for the challenge by implementing fuel efficient driving tips like minimizing the use of air conditioning, steady and consistent driving, avoiding sudden stops/starts and by keeping the RPMs low.  The engine in the Mustang is powered by a lightweight, all-aluminum 3.7-liter dual-overhead-cam (DOHC) V-6 engine that uses advanced engineering to deliver its combination of power and economy. Twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) adjusts the valve train in microseconds depending on driver inputs, further contributing to the engine's overall efficiency.  The Mustang used in the challenge is a stock production vehicle that can be purchased through a Ford dealer.

"This is beyond our wildest dreams," said Tom Barnes, the lead engineer for the Ford Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge. "There have been a lot of people who have done a lot of things in preparing this 2011 Mustang V-6 to run the Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge and have the success we have had today. It was great when we went past the 1,000 lap mark with David, but nobody could ever imagine that we still had five hours ahead of us. This is a fantastic feeling and it shows again what a great car the 2011 Mustang V-6 is."
More than 51,000 consumers registered their guesses for the event at www.mustang1000lapchallenge.com.   One lucky consumer that correctly guessed 1,457 laps will be randomly drawn from all correct entries and will win their own 2011 Mustang V-6.

SAN JOSE, CA - Starting today, participating Chevrolet dealers in launch markets will begin taking customer orders for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the industry's first electric vehicle with extended-range capability.
 
Chevrolet is so confident in the overall value of the Volt that the brand will offer a lease program on the Volt with a monthly payment as low as $350 for 36 months at Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price with $2,500 due at lease signing, including security deposit based on current conditions, which could vary at time of delivery. The benefit of the $7,500 tax credit is included in the reduced lease payment, with the tax credit going to the lessor.  The Volt's MSRP will start at $41,000 ($33,500 net of the full federal tax credit, which ranges from $0-$7,500) including a destination freight charge of $720. Customer deliveries of the Chevrolet Volt are scheduled to begin in launch markets late this year with initial production limited.
 
"The Chevrolet Volt will be the best vehicle in its class?because it's in a class by itself," said Joel Ewanick, vice president of U.S. marketing for General Motors, who made the announcement at the Plug-In 2010 conference. "No other automaker offers an electrically driven vehicle that can be your everyday driver, to take you wherever, whenever. The Volt will be packed with premium content and innovation, standard."
 
The Volt will be initially available to Chevrolet customers in California, New York, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, New Jersey and the Washington D.C. area. To be among the first to purchase a Volt, customers can visit their nearest participating Chevrolet Volt dealer. A Volt dealer locator will be available later today at http://www.getmyvolt.com. The dealer will begin the order process, which will be followed up by contact from a dedicated Volt advisor who will be available to answer any questions and keep the customer apprised of the progress of their order. For customers needing general Volt information, Chevrolet will have a team of Volt advisors available to answer questions starting today at 1-888-VOLT-4-YOU (1-888-865-8496).
 
The Chevrolet Volt is the only electric vehicle that can operate under a range of weather climates and driving conditions with little concern of being stranded by a depleted battery. Volt has a total driving range of about 340 miles and is powered by electricity at all times. For up to the first 40 miles, the Volt drives gas- and tailpipe-emissions-free using electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt's battery runs low, a gas powered range-extending engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 300 miles on a full tank.
 
Depending on their tax situation, Volt owners can qualify for up to $7,500 in U.S. Federal income tax credit, as well as other potential state and local tax credits, depending on location. Owners in certain states may qualify for the added convenience of High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane access.  
 
While the Chevrolet Volt will come standard with a 120-volt charge cord that will provide owners with the ability to charge their Volt directly from a standard home electrical outlet, a total of 4,400 Volt buyers in launch markets could be eligible for a free 240-volt charging station, including home installation.  The installations are part of a program developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to install approximately 15,000 240-volt home charging stations across the U.S.
 
Technologies Keep Volt Customers Connected
 
When it comes to advanced technology, Volt customers are on the leading edge. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt has standard technology features that link and entertain in innovative ways, starting with standard seven-inch touch screen navigation and an energy-efficient Bose premium audio system.
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The Volt is the first GM vehicle to offer five years of OnStar Directions and Connections service, which includes Automatic Crash Response, stolen vehicle assistance and connected navigation, all standard.  Volt will expand on OnStar's foundation of leading-edge safety and security technology through the introduction of an OnStar-enabled mobile app that connects the vehicle to the owner's smartphone.
 
"We wanted to make the Volt ownership experience unlike anything we've done at Chevrolet, because the Volt is unlike any vehicle we've offered," said Tony DiSalle, director of Chevrolet Volt product marketing. "We want customers to fully enjoy the Volt lifestyle by providing unprecedented connectivity to their vehicle through the Volt mobile app."
 
Unprecedented Warranties Bring Value and Peace of Mind
 
Volt owners will be provided outstanding battery and vehicle limited warranties. The Volt's 16-kWh lithium-ion battery is covered by an industry-leading transferable warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles. In addition, Chevrolet will provide:
 
·         3-year / 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage
·         5-year / 100,000-mile roadside assistance and courtesy transportation
·         5-year/100,000-mile limited gas engine coverage
·         6-year/100,000-mile corrosion protection coverage 
 
 
The Volt also has an array of standard safety features, including eight air bags -- dual-stage frontal, side-impact, knee, and roof-rail side-impact-and StabiliTrak electronic stability control with Traction Control.  The Volt is constructed of 80 percent high-strength steel for additional safety and protection.
 
Chevrolet will also provide customer assistance via a Volt advisor available 24/7 by phone or Internet. Dealers will also provide on-site dedicated Volt service and sales experts who will be able to address inquiries.