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2013 Ford Taurus

New Ford Taurus Delivers More Fuel Efficiency, Technology, Design Refinement and Even Better Driving Dynamics

•Ford Taurus is even more refined for the 2013 model year – with better fuel economy, more technology, enhanced design, improved craftsmanship and sharpened driving dynamics

•New Taurus expected to deliver best-in-class fuel efficiency – at least 31 mpg highway – with the new 2.0-liter EcoBoost™ engine, while delivering horsepower comparable to competitive, normally aspirated V6 offerings

•New Ford Taurus SHO sedan is sportiest model yet to wear SHO badge, offering unique, performance-inspired design, road manners to match – and even more differentiation in the Taurus lineup

NEW YORK, April 19, 2011 – The new Ford Taurus delivers more of what large sedan customers really want for the 2013 model year – with even better fuel economy, more technology, design refinement, improved craftsmanship and enhanced driving dynamics.

'We have significantly upgraded Ford's flagship sedan through obsessive attention to detail,' said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. 'The new Taurus builds on the transformation we achieved in the 2010 model. Delivering so many upgrades so soon further underscores Ford's leadership and commitment to delivering high-quality, fuel-efficient cars for our customers.'

Greener, yet powerful

A choice of new engines offers customers increased fuel efficiency, without compromising the responsive performance they want.

Taurus is the first car in Ford's North American lineup to offer the advanced 2.0-liter EcoBoost™ engine, combining a turbocharger with gasoline direct injection. It is expected to deliver best-in-class highway fuel economy of at least 31 mpg. Providing plenty of power, the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine will deliver an estimated 237 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque.

The standard Taurus 3.5-liter V6 is projected to deliver unsurpassed fuel efficiency among V6 segment competitors while still delivering increased performance from an anticipated 290 horsepower.

This is accomplished with the addition of twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT), enabling increased fuel economy while delivering 27 more horsepower, a reduction in part-throttle emissions and increased responsiveness.

Both engines are mated with unique six-speed automatic transmissions that offer optimized gear selection for off-the-line power delivery in lower gears, while benefiting fuel economy with higher gears that keep the engine turning efficiently at lower revolutions while cruising.

Each Taurus powertrain features additional technologies to help conserve fuel, such as:

•Low-tension front end accessory drive belt

•Smart battery management

•Aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff

•Variable-displacement air conditioning compressor

•Reduced friction lubricants

•Electric power-assisted steering (EPAS)

The team put special emphasis to fit all new Taurus models with EPAS to improve steering response by speeding up the steering ratio and rigidly mounting the steering rack to the subframe. The EPAS system also allows for a high degree of tuning by Ford vehicle dynamics engineers to optimize steering feel, pleasing enthusiast drivers and serving as a confidence builder for less-experienced drivers.

The Taurus interior keeps green with extensive use of recycled material in the cloth surfaces, in the headliner, and in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) control components. Taurus seat cushions are comprised of a high concentration of soy foam, significantly reducing petroleum-based substances.

Even smarter

America's most innovative full-size sedan gets even smarter with an array of even more class-leading technologies including SYNC® with MyFord Touch™, which replaces many traditional buttons, knobs and gauges with clear, colorful LCD screens and steering wheel-mounted five-way toggles. These screens can be personalized to display information relevant to each driver by using voice command, keeping the driver's eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

MyFord Touch is powered by a new version of Ford's award-winning SYNC system, combining voice control for vehicle functions, enabled Bluetooth® devices, MP3 players and a wide variety of external media.

The new Taurus also adds Ford's intuitive active park assist technology, making life simpler and more convenient for customers.

Taurus also offers the following comfort and convenience technologies:

•New heated steering wheel adds to the comfort of the heated and cooled leather-trimmed seats

•Multicontour seats with Active Motion™, a Taurus class-exclusive offering, help to reduce driver and first-row passenger fatigue with a subtle rolling massage pattern

•Intelligent Access with push-button start, allowing the driver to enter the car and start the engine via push button simply by having the key fob in his or her possession

•Auto high beams employ a sensor to switch headlamps to high beam when no oncoming traffic is detected

•Rain-sensing wipers use an advanced optical sensor to detect the intensity of rain and/or snowfall to automatically adjust wiper speed

•Rear view camera activates when reverse gear is selected, projecting via the center stack-mounted 8-inch screen

•Rear window power sunshade, a luxury-class feature that shades the rear glass at the touch of a button, helping to keep the cabin cooler

In addition, Taurus is available with a wide variety of audio and navigation connectivity alternatives.

Packed with detail

Taurus quality begins with design refinement. Building on the completely reinvigorated 2010 model, the new Taurus features a more muscular hood. Larger wheels and tires fill out the wheel-well openings, giving Taurus an athletic stance. Rear quarter panels have been raised, enabling larger, full LED taillamps. Without increasing overall dimensions or vehicle weight, the new Taurus looks more streamlined, substantial and sporty.

Improved driving dynamics is a quality the driver will feel. Beyond the across-the-board transition to EPAS, the hard-mounted steering rack with a faster ratio, springs and dampers have been optimized to provide improved vehicle handling, combined with improved ride quality.

The new Taurus dynamics benefit from the addition of torque vectoring control. This feature uses a slight – virtually imperceptible to the driver – amount of braking force on the outside front wheel when accelerating through a corner. This minimal brake force provides an effect similar to a limited-slip differential. The result is a vehicle that feels smaller and more maneuverable, with more control when increasing speed through curves.

This innovative feature will please enthusiasts while serving as a confidence builder for less-seasoned drivers. Torque vectoring control – normally found in high-ticket sports cars – is a Taurus class-exclusive feature. In addition, this feature is standard.

The new Taurus adds curve control, a unique Ford braking control innovation aimed at slowing the vehicle, if it senses that a driver inadvertently enters a curve too quickly. With application of four-wheel smart braking, the vehicle can reduce speed by up to 10 mph in approximately one second.

Entering curves or on- and off-ramps too quickly contributes to more than 50,000 crashes each year in the U.S. Curve control is a Taurus class-exclusive offering.

Across the board, all new Taurus models will receive a larger brake master cylinder with revised booster tuning, resulting in a shorter pedal ratio and dramatically improved pedal feel. Brake friction material has been upgraded for improved fade resistance and performance.

Exterior craftsmanship for the new Taurus has been improved through the employment of digital pre-assembly. This advanced technology enables engineers to address potential issues in Taurus manufacturing while still in the online phase and ensures precise, uniform surface gaps and margins once series production is initiated. Taurus was benchmarked against Audi A6 for exterior fit and finish.

Inside, no detail went untouched. Taurus' interior craftsmanship is elevated through expanded use of soft-touch, high-quality materials inside the cabin. Upgraded materials across the instrument panel and throughout the center console are evidence of continuous improvement.

Additional improvements extend to cloth-wrapped A-, B- and C-pillars, flock-lined glovebox and console storage and new switchgear. This passionate attention to detail even reaches inside the trunk space, which is completely dressed.

NVH control has been enhanced in the new Taurus with the addition of A-pillar and cowl baffles and acoustic wheel-well liners to quiet road noise.

Safe Taurus

The new Taurus builds on a legacy of safety, as the current model earned an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick rating. The stiff Taurus structure contains much high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels, including boron.

Taurus features the Trinity front-crash architecture, named for the three elements that are designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from vehicle occupants. These components consist of an ultra-high-strength boron front beam to absorb initial impact force, boron 'shotgun rails' that transfer impact forces in a diagonal path to the roof panel, and a decoupling engine cradle within the front subframe to help prevent the powertrain from interfering with the cabin.

Taurus also features Side Protection And Cabin Enhancement (SPACE®) Architecture, a hydroformed cross-car beam embedded in the floor between the door frames to help provide additional strength on the sides of the vehicle. A rigid roof crossmember, side-impact door beams and boron B-pillar reinforcement also contribute to side-impact protection.

In the new Taurus, airbag restraints have been enhanced with optimized tethering and venting to specifically tailor deployment force to occupant size, position and seat belt status. In addition, Taurus features the Safety Canopy® with rollover sensor.

In the event of an airbag deployment, Taurus provides an SOS Post-Crash Alert System™, and features AdvanceTrac® with Electronic Stability Control.

In addition, Taurus offers a complement of driver-aid technologies, such as:

•Adaptive cruise control employing radar technology to monitor traffic up to 600 feet ahead, automatically adjusting Taurus speed to help maintain a safe distance

•Collision warning with brake support, enabled by adaptive cruise control, provides a 'heads-up' visual warning combined with an audio signal to alert the driver to slower moving traffic ahead. The system also pre-charges the brakes to aid stopping

•Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) is designed to alert the driver if another vehicle is driving within a potential blind spot

•Cross-traffic alert, enabled by BLIS, senses and warns the driver of oncoming traffic from either direction when the Taurus is backing out of a driveway or parking space

•MyKey® owner controls feature allows parents or fleet administrators to activate restricted driving modes. MyKey can limit top speeds and audio volume, provides earlier warnings and prevents deactivation of stability control systems. A new MyKey feature can prevent access to blocked satellite radio content

The new Taurus will be manufactured at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant.

by Ford

by Ford

2013 FORD TAURUS EPA-CERTIFIED AT CLASS-LEADING 32 MPG WITH NEW 2.0-LITER ECOBOOST ENGINE

•EPA fuel economy ratings confirm the 2013 Ford Taurus 2.0-liter EcoBoost® delivers a class-leading 32 mpg on the highway

•Highly efficient new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine helps Taurus top competitors including Chevrolet Impala, Chrysler 300 and Toyota Avalon

•Across segments and powertrain alternatives, Taurus 2.0-liter EcoBoost achieves a higher combined fuel economy rating than Mercedes-Benz E350 Bluetec diesel and Porsche Panamera S Hybrid. It also beats V6 versions of Honda Accord and Toyota Camry while delivering comparable power

•Three Taurus engine offerings provide customers the power of choice in selecting the full-size sedan that best suits their needs – without sacrificing performance for fuel economy

DEARBORN, Mich., June 26, 2012 – The 2013 Ford Taurus, the Blue Oval's technology and performance flagship sedan, is now certified by the EPA as the class leader in large sedan city and highway fuel economy.

The Taurus' new 2.0-liter EcoBoost®four-cylinder engine is certified at 32 mpg highway – better than the 2012 Chrysler 300, Chevrolet Impala, Dodge Charger and Toyota Avalon.

The all-new Taurus demonstrates fuel economy isn't limited to compact car sizes. All three engine options for the 2013 model have now been certified at 25 mpg or higher in EPA highway estimates.

'Ford understands people want fuel-efficient vehicles but don't want to sacrifice power, cargo space or convenience preferences to get them,' said Raj Nair, vice president of Engineering for Global Product Development. 'Taurus fuel economy showcases Ford's success in developing smaller yet more powerful engines for its larger vehicles.'

Taurus offers comfort, convenience and technology comparable to premium German sport sedans, while beating their diesel and hybrid variants for fuel economy. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost helps Taurus deliver a 26-mpg combined EPA rating, higher than Mercedes-Benz E350 Bluetec diesel and Porsche Panamera S Hybrid.

Compared to smaller vehicles, Taurus 2.0-liter bests V6 models of Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, with comparable power.

Power of choice

The Taurus base 3.5-liter V6 engine also has been updated for 2013 with twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT), adding 25 horsepower plus 1 mpg city and 2 mpg highway in EPA estimates – compared to the previous Taurus base V6.

The 2013 Taurus SHO (Super High Output) high-performance sport sedan continues to feature a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine producing 365 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque, while still delivering 25 mpg on the highway.

EcoBoost engines are fundamental to Ford's strategy of providing technologically advanced, high-output, smaller-displacement powertrains that deliver exceptional fuel economy and uncompromised performance for millions of drivers around the world.

The 2013 Taurus demonstrates to consumers there is no need to trade power, performance, comfort or convenience to achieve savings at the gas pump.

Integrated efficiencies

Each Taurus powertrain features additional technologies to help conserve fuel, such as:

•Low-tension front-end accessory drive belt

•Smart battery management

•Aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff

•Variable-displacement air conditioning compressor

•Reduced friction lubricants

•Electric power-assisted steering (EPAS)

All new Taurus models now come with EPAS, helping improve steering response by rigidly mounting the steering rack to the subframe. The EPAS system allows for a high degree of tuning by Ford vehicle dynamics engineers to optimize steering feel, plus it saves fuel and provides drivers with enhanced feedback.

Additionally, fuel economy in the 2013 Taurus is enhanced by a class-exclusive Active Grille Shutter System. Positioned between the grille opening and radiator, the shutters are controlled by the engine's control module. Shutter slats automatically open and close to maintain the ideal operating temperatures and optimize vehicle aerodynamics.

The 2013 Taurus range is built at Ford's Chicago Assembly facility and will begin arriving in dealerships later this summer.

by Ford

by Ford

Introduced in December 1985 as a 1986 model, Ford unveiled the Taurus with its smooth, jellybean-like body. One of the slickest vehicles in the world, the Taurus had an aerodynamic drag coefficient of only 0.29. Instantaneously winning over thousands of fans, the Taurus was a huge success. The name Taurus came from the Latin word meaning ‘bull'. During its 20 years of production, Ford sold nearly 7 million Taurus's throughout its lifetime. Most Taurus's were built in either Chicago, Illinois and in Atlanta, Georgia.

A bold new step in US automobile design, this was the first time in many decades that an American manufacturer was building a world class car. Inspired by successful European designs, which were making huge steps in the US premium sedan market, Ford took a huge gamble in basing its main profits on this vehicle.

Weighing in around 3,200lbs, the front-wheel-drive midsize Taurus rode on a 106-inch wheelbase. All models except the LX featured the base engine, a four cylinder of 2.5 liters and 90 horsepower. Most buyers chose the optional 3.0-liter V6 that put out an impressive 140 horsepower. Transmission options were either a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic, while the V6 only came with a four-speed automatic gearbox.

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In 1988 a larger 3.8-liter V6 engine became optional for all Taurus's and all Sables. Rated at the same horsepower as the standard 3.0-liter V6, the bigger engine produced more torque and was better off-the-line response, which was helpful in drag races.

Ford introduced the Taurus SHO in1989, which was a special treat for driving enthusiasts. Featuring a 220-horsepower, 24-valve, 3.0-liter Yamaha engine along with a sport suspension package, the SHO was a magnificent vehicle. Continuing with the serious, performance-oriented theme of the vehicle, the interior featured a 140-mph speedometer, an 8,000-rpm tachometer with a 7,000-rpm redline, aggressive side bolsters on the front bucket seats along with a console which featured a five-speed manual gearshift as no automatic transmission was available for the SHO. Reaching 0-60 mph in only seven seconds, the SHO received four-wheel disc brakes along with upgraded handling.

The Taurus received a driver's side airbag in 1990 along with a revised instrument panel. Antilock brakes were newly optional on sedans only, and a compact disc player. The three-speed unit that was formerly mated to the 3.0-liter V6 was replaced with a four-speed automatic.

The following year a much-need boost in power was made to the four cylinder engine, bumping it from 90 horsepower to 115. No increase in its output, but the 3.0-liter V6 received sequential fuel injection. The SHO also received a few updates as well that included larger 16-inch tires and wheels while the manual gearbox and clutch were modified for smoother operation.

A larger 3.2-liter version of the DOHC V6 was introduced in 1993 and came with automatic SHOs. Though peak horsepower was the same as the 3.0 motor, more torque down low offset the fitment of the auto gearbox. The SHO also received a decklid spoiler with integrated stop lamp along with chrome dual exhaust outlets. To make the Taurus even more competitive in the tough sportscar market segment, more standard equipment that included AC and a rear window defroster were added to lower-line models.

Every year the Taurus took the title of 'Best-Selling Car in America' from 1992 through 1995. Many changes were introduced for the 1996 Taurus. Under the hood was a new ‘Duratec' 24-valve, DOHC V6 with 200 horsepower. The 3.0-liter V6 gained an additional 5 horsepower bumping it up to 145 horses. The SHO also now had V8 power, a Yamaha-engineered, 3.4-liter, 32-valve unit that pushed 235 horsepower to the front wheels. The SHO no longer had a manual gearbox, along with all other Taurus's as now all vehicles featured an electronically controlled, four-speed automatic transmission handled gear changes. Despite of all of these controversial design changes, the Taurus continued with its 'Best-Selling Car in America' streak for yet another year.

For 1997 engineering was on everyone's mind as a variety of changes occurred for the 3.0-liter V6, and the Taurus didn't lag behind. The V6 motor was modified to run cleaner and even received California's low-emission vehicle status as a result. Along with standard gasoline-fueled version, the 3.0 offered two 'flexible fuel' options. One option allowed the engine to run on mainly methanol while the other ran on mostly ethanol.

The standard engine for the LX and SE models was once again the 145-horsepower V6 in 1998. The SE featured an optional Sport group that put the 200-horsepower Duratec V6 in the engine bay along with a spoiler on the trunk lid. The grille was slightly updated as a horizontal bar was inserted into the ‘mouth', and the orange taillights were replaced with clear lenses. The second generation airbags were replaced with more safe ones that were designed to reduce the chance of airbag related injuries; this debuted on the 1998 models.

For 1999 models safety was the big selling point as both the Taurus and the Sable received the government's highest rating for frontal crash tests. The largest selling point in the sportscar market was that both the sedan and wagon body styles garnered five stars for driver and passenger sides in the frontal impact test.

The following year a set of 3.0-liter V6 engines remained as the source of propulsion. The base version featured 155 horsepower and a higher-output 24-valve twincam unit that produced 200 horsepower. A four-speed automatic sends the power to the front wheels either way. The SHO was discontinued in 2000.

For 2000 the Taurus received yet another redesign as it minimized some of the oval design elements from the 1996 model. A taller roof over the rear-passenger space was featured in the redesign to increase passenger headroom that was sacrificed by the tapered '96 design. Making the vehicle more functional, the taller and roomier trunk also added points.

The interior of the 2000 model was completely replaced for a much more conservative design. A few elements of the interior were kept from the 1996 model, such as the integrated control console which combined the sound system and climate controls into one panel. To appeal to a broader, non-sporting audience, the suspension was also softened. The four-wheel disc brakes along with many other features were eliminated to reduce the price and increase profitability.

For 2002 the Taurus now included extra equipment on every trim level that included a CD player and power driver's seat on the SE, a power moonroof or leather interior on the SES. Both of these luxury options were found on the SEL. Optional on all models now were side airbags and traction control.

The Taurus received minor cosmetic changes to both the front and rear fascias, including an eggcrate grille for 2004. A new instrument cluster and steering wheel were installed for this same year.

Unfortunately the Taurus's days were numbers and for 2005 very little changes were made. Ford replaced the Taurus in commercial markets with the 2005 Ford Five Hundred after facing slumping sales. In January of 2005 the Taurus wagon was discontinued and replaced in the lineup by the crossover Ford Freestyle. Ford stopped selling the Taurus to the public in 2005. Still sold to the Canadian market, the model year 2006 Taurus is sold exclusively to rental fleets, such as The Hertz Corporation. In August 2006, the vehicle ceased production as a 2007 model year vehicle as Ford closed the Atlanta plant.

by Jessican Donaldson