Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ford says 2010 Taurus resale value up by whopping 39%]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/ford-says-2010-taurus-resale-value-up-by-whopping-39/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/ford-says-2010-taurus-resale-value-up-by-whopping-39/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/ford-says-2010-taurus-resale-value-up-by-whopping-39/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2010 Ford Taurus SEL - Click above for high-res image gallery

While most of the major mechanical systems of the Ford Taurus were unchanged from the 2009 to 2010 models, the all-new styling and interior has inspired people to more people to buy the shapelier four-door than its bland predecessor. Through the first seven months of 2010, sales of the Taurus have jumped by 116 percent, and apparently that newfound enthusiasm also extends to early secondhand sales of the big sedan.

According to Ford, average auction prices on used 2010 Tauruses are now 39 percent higher than comparable 2009 models. That's a jump of $7,100 and, as the Blue Oval dutifully points out, a $2,500 premium over a Toyota Avalon of the same vintage. The Taurus, like its crosstown rival, the Buick LaCrosse, clearly demonstrates the benefits of injecting a healthy dose of style and substance to a mainstream sedan. The volumes may not match the Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords of the world, but the design has inspired people to pay more, generating profits for their manufacturers. Check out Ford's official press release after the jump.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SEL


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford says 2010 Taurus resale value up by whopping 39%

Ford says 2010 Taurus resale value up by whopping 39% originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20102010 ford2010 ford taurus2010 ford taurus resale value2010Ford2010FordTaurus2010FordTaurusResaleValueFord resale valueford taurusford taurus resale valueFordResaleValueFordTaurusFordTaurusResaleValuetaurustaurus resale valueTaurus SELTaurusResaleValueTaurusSelTue, 17 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19596662/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/08/17/ford-says-2010-taurus-resale-value-up-by-whopping-39/19596662/article-detail.xml 19596662 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/001_2010taurusselreview_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/001_2010taurusselreview_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Conan O'Brien takes <i>60 Minutes</i> for a ride in his '92 Taurus SHO]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/video-conan-obrien-takes-60-minutes-for-a-ride-in-his/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/video-conan-obrien-takes-60-minutes-for-a-ride-in-his/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/video-conan-obrien-takes-60-minutes-for-a-ride-in-his/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Conan O'Brien SHO - Click above to watch the video after the jump

If you thought Jay Leno was the only late-night talk show host who was into cars, think again. Sure, Jay's got the garage full of priceless automobiles and regularly contributes to Octane magazine, but Letterman is part owner of an Indy racing team, and Conan's had his share of four-wheeled shenanigans.

If the Bugatti Veyron mouse shtick wasn't enough to convince you, have a look at the video after the jump. On a segment of the CBS news program 60 Minutes, Conan takes his interviewer around Los Angeles in a dirt-green 1992 Ford Taurus SHO. Check it out; it's worth a laugh of two.

[Source: RideLust]

Continue reading Video: Conan O'Brien takes 60 Minutes for a ride in his '92 Taurus SHO

Video: Conan O'Brien takes 60 Minutes for a ride in his '92 Taurus SHO originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 May 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>60 minutes60Minutescbsconanconan obrienConanObrienfordford taurusford taurus shoFordTaurusFordTaurusShotaurusMon, 03 May 2010 17:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19462307/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/03/video-conan-obrien-takes-60-minutes-for-a-ride-in-his/19462307/article-detail.xml 19462307 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/conan-sho_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/conan-sho.jpg <![CDATA[Hyundai Genesis sedan gets the police package getup]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/24/hyundai-genesis-sedan-gets-the-police-package-getup/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/24/hyundai-genesis-sedan-gets-the-police-package-getup/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/24/hyundai-genesis-sedan-gets-the-police-package-getup/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



This is interesting. As you cop-car fans well know, Ford recently introduced an all new Police Interceptor. After centuries decades of sticking with the body-on-frame, RWD Panther-platform Crown Victoria, Ford made the decision to go with the unit-bodied, front- or all-wheel drive Taurus chassis. They've beefed the full-size family hauler up to Herculean stature (claiming that it can withstand a 70 mph rear-end collision!) and by all accounts it should do just fine in the high speed pursuit biz. Still, to many officers and fans of the cars they drive, police cruisers should be driven via the rear wheels.

That said, check out this Hyundai. A Genesis sedan to be specific, all done up in Korean police livery. Looks good, no? Especially with the blue and red lights poking out from the grill. If you're wondering, the Genesis sedan has either a 3.8-liter V6 or a more muscular 4.6-liter "Tau" V8 up front. Both motors propel the rear wheels. For police duty, we'll go ahead and assume that Hyundai went with the more potent Tau option, as South Korean coppers will no doubt make use of the 375 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque (slight asterisk - that's on premium fuel. Should you opt for regular gas, the V8 makes "just" 368 hp and 324 lb-ft of torque).

True, like the Taurus, the Genesis sedan is still a unit body, meaning that officers in pursuit won't be able to drive over curbs at 50 mph without twisting the kimchi out of the structure. However, given the Genesis sedan's better than average handling characteristics, they should have little trouble driving around said curb, and thereby bringing the perp to justice that much more quickly. No word on a super-pursuit Genesis Coupe-based cop car. Tip of the confession-extracting sap hat to Nathan!

[Source: Chosun]

Hyundai Genesis sedan gets the police package getup originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FordFord TaurusFord Taurus Police INterceptorFordTaurusFordTaurusPoliceInterceptorHyundaiHyundai GenesisHyundai Genesis PoliceHyundai Genesis Police InterceptorHyundai Genesis SedanHyundaiGenesisHyundaiGenesisPoliceHyundaiGenesisPoliceInterceptorHyundaiGenesisSedanPolicePolice InterceptorPoliceInterceptorSouth KoreaSouthKoreaSat, 24 Apr 2010 12:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19450661/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/24/hyundai-genesis-sedan-gets-the-police-package-getup/19450661/article-detail.xml 19450661 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/genesiscop_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/genesiscop.jpg <![CDATA[Pics Aplenty: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor reports for duty]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/23/pics-aplenty-2012-ford-police-interceptor-reports-for-duty/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/23/pics-aplenty-2012-ford-police-interceptor-reports-for-duty/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/23/pics-aplenty-2012-ford-police-interceptor-reports-for-duty/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2012 Ford Police Interceptor - Click above for high-res image gallery

Last month, Ford pulled the cover off of its all-new 2012 Police Interceptor, the Taurus-based cop car that will be hitting the streets of America near the end of 2011. Now, we've had the chance to see the new cruiser in the flesh, and might we say, it'll look pretty menacing when it shows up in your rearview mirror.

The 2012 Police Interceptor will be available with a 3.5-liter V6, in naturally aspirated and twin-turbo EcoBoost variants. The base engine will be available with front- or all-wheel drive, while the top-end models with the turbocharged engine will only use all-wheel drive. Naturally, six-speed automatics are standard across the board, but the shifter is now column-mounted, leaving more room along the center stack for the police-spec equipment.

Inside, Ford has stripped away a good deal of the Taurus interior to make it more livable for both officers and criminals. Up front, the seats have been re-contoured to provide space for the cop's utility belt, and in back, the doors now open a full 71 degrees, making ingress and egress easier for baddies. What's more, the space between the two front seats is the exact same spec as the outgoing Crown Vic, meaning police fleets can simply transfer their old equipment into the new cars.

We're pretty eager to see these new cruisers hit the roads (so long as they aren't tailing behind us). Furthermore, Ford has plans to create a utility-oriented Police Interceptor (read: Flex-based), so we'll look for that to debut later this year. Click through the gallery below to see high-res shots of the new Police Interceptor from all angles.


Gallery: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor


Photos by Steven J. Ewing / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Pics Aplenty: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor reports for duty originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 ford police interceptor2012FordPoliceInterceptorfordford police carford police cruiserford police interceptorFord TaurusFord Taurus Police InterceptorFordPoliceCarFordPoliceCruiserFordPoliceInterceptorFordTaurusFordTaurusPoliceInterceptorFri, 23 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19450877/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/23/pics-aplenty-2012-ford-police-interceptor-reports-for-duty/19450877/article-detail.xml 19450877 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/fordpoliceinterceptoropt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/fordpoliceinterceptoropt.jpg <![CDATA[Ford Gets An Earful: Five best and worst ideas from consumers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/16/ford-gets-an-earful-five-best-and-worst-ideas-from-consumers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/16/ford-gets-an-earful-five-best-and-worst-ideas-from-consumers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/16/ford-gets-an-earful-five-best-and-worst-ideas-from-consumers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Click above to peek inside the suggestion box

Ford has officially stirred up a mess of snakes by inviting consumers to submit their ideas on how to improve the company's vehicles to its website at TheFordStory.com. We've spent the better part of a day sifting through what the world has to say to Ford, and though we expected bucket loads of the web's own brand of vitriol, so far the comments were largely constructive.

We say "largely" because, as you know, the internet is still the home of LOL Cats and Chocolate Rain, and for every common sense suggestion on the site, there's one telling the company to offer an automatic pet feeder as an option. We wish we were kidding.

Ford has split its internet suggestion box into six categories ranging from performance and driving dynamics to safety, and while we dig ideas like trimming weight through the use of structural adhesives and the implementation of rear fog lights, a few themes rose above the rest to grab our attention. We've cataloged five we think Ford could do well to listen to, along with another five the company could skip all together.

Follow the jump to peek inside the suggestion box.

Continue reading Ford Gets An Earful: Five best and worst ideas from consumers

Ford Gets An Earful: Five best and worst ideas from consumers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BroncoDieselDiesel hybridDieselHybridF-150F100featuredFiestaFocusFordFord BroncoFord CommentsFord DieselFord F-150Ford F100Ford FiestaFord FocusFord FusionFord MustangFord RangerFord Suggestion BoxFord SuggestionsFord TaurusFordBroncoFordCommentsFordDieselFordF-150FordF100FordFiestaFordFocusFordFusionFordMustangFordRangerFordSuggestionBoxFordSuggestionsFordTaurusFusionhybridRangerTaurusFri, 16 Apr 2010 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19441957/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/16/ford-gets-an-earful-five-best-and-worst-ideas-from-consumers/19441957/article-detail.xml 19441957 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/208905827919e60328a4bopt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/208905827919e60328a4bopt.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #173 - with Jon Linkov from <i>Consumer Reports</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/autoblog-podcast-173-with-jon-linkov-from-consumer-reports/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/autoblog-podcast-173-with-jon-linkov-from-consumer-reports/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/autoblog-podcast-173-with-jon-linkov-from-consumer-reports/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports joins Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert and Dan Roth to talk about the New York Auto Show, offer insight into how CR rates autos, touch on the possible 16.4 million dollar fine for Toyota and consider the Renault/Nissan deal with Daimler that may happen this week. It's an hour and a half before we run out of steam. Enjoy!

Autoblog Podcast #173: with Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports



In the Autoblog Garage:

Nissan Cube
Subaru Legacy 2.5GT (long-term intro)
Volkswagen GTI
Infiniti G37
Jeep Patriot
Mercedes CL550 4Matic

News:
New York Auto Show
$16.4 million fine possible for Toyota
Renault/Nissan and Daimler lash-up

Hosts:
Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert, Dan Roth

Guest:
Jon Linkov of Consumer Reports

Runtime: 1:28:45

 Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
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Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #173 - with Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog podcastAutoblogPodcastconsumer reportsConsumerReportsfeaturedford taurusFordTaurusnew york auto showNewYorkAutoShownissan daimler partnershipNissanDaimlerPartnershippodcastrenaultnissan daimlerRenaultNissanAllianceRenaultnissanDaimlertoyota 16 million finetoyota finetoyota recallToyota16MillionFineToyotaFineToyotaRecallTue, 06 Apr 2010 16:45:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #173Autoblog01:28:45autoblog podcast; new york auto show; toyota fine; toyota recall; toyota 16 million; renaultnissan daimler; nissan daimler; consumer reports http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19428584/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/06/autoblog-podcast-173-with-jon-linkov-from-consumer-reports/19428584/article-detail.xml 19428584 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/autoblog-podcast-3_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/autoblog-podcast-3.jpg <![CDATA[Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/19/charting-the-five-ohs-next-gen-cop-car-comparo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/19/charting-the-five-ohs-next-gen-cop-car-comparo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/19/charting-the-five-ohs-next-gen-cop-car-comparo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It used to be that every full-line American automaker offered a version of its mainstream full-size sedan to make it appropriate for police duty. By the time 1996 rolled around, the Chevrolet Caprice, which was the last would-be competitor to the standard-setting Ford Crown Victoria, was discontinued, leaving the lucrative police market to the Blue Oval Boys.

The automotive industry took notice, and plans began in corporate board rooms to remedy that situation, and even a few new entrants - most notably Carbon Motors - sprung up with promising designs that eschewed the mainstream production-based sedan design.

In 2005, Dodge rolled out a factory police package for its full-size Charger sedan, and for the first time in a decade the Crown Victoria faced some stiff V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive competition. Then in 2009, Chevrolet announced that its new Zeta platform Caprice would be returning for the 2011 model year packing a strong 6.0-liter V8 of its own.

How would Ford answer this newly mounted competition? Would the aging Panther-based Crown Vic finally get an update? Nope. Instead, Ford just recently announced that it would soon offer a highly ruggedized version of its most recent Taurus sedan, optionally equipped with the stout 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine powering all four wheels as seen in the revived Taurus SHO.

We decided to see for ourselves how the three new competitors stacked up against the old guard Crown Vic on paper, and as you can see, there's little to separate each offering on the spec sheets. It should prove interesting to see how police agencies react to these choices, especially since reliability and durability will be mostly unknown factors for the first time in ages. See for yourself.

Ford Crown Vic Ford Taurus Dodge Charger Chevrolet Caprice
Availability Forever Late 2011 2005 - Present 2011
Type Four-door, body on frame Four-door, enhanced unibody Four-door, unibody Four-door, unibody
Engine 4.6L V8 3.5L V6
Twin-turbo 3.5L V6		 5.7L Hemi V8 6.0L V8
Power 250 horsepower 263 horsepower
365 horsepower		 368 horsepower 355 horsepower
Torque 297 lb-ft 249 lb-ft
350 lb-ft
 395 lb-ft 385 lb-ft
Fuel Economy 14 City / 21 Highway 18 City / 28 Highway (2010 Ford Taurus FWD)
17 City / 25 Highway (2010 Ford Taurus SHO AWD)
 16 City / 25 Highway 15 City / 24 Highway (2009 Pontiac G8 GT)
Driveline Rear-Wheel Front or All-Wheel Rear-Wheel Rear-Wheel
Shifter Column Column Column Console
Wheels 17-inch steel 18-inch steel 18-inch steel 18-inch steel
Brakes Four-Wheel Discs Four-Wheel Discs Four-Wheel Discs Four-Wheel Discs
Cop Brakes Y Y Y Y
Cop Suspension Y Y Y Y
Cop Cooling Y Y Y Y
Seats Front - Cloth
Rear - Vinyl Bench		 Front - Cloth
Rear - Vinyl Bench		 Front - Cloth
Rear - Cloth Bench		 Front - Cloth
Rear - Vinyl Bench
Interior Volume 106.4 Cubic Feet 102.3 Cubic Feet 104 Cubic Feet 112 Cubic Feet
Trunk Space 20.6 Cubic Feet 20.1 Cubic Feet 16.2 Cubic Feet 18 Cubic Feet
Special Features
 Overwhelming Ubiquity

Tough as nails

Capable of withstanding 75-mph rear impact		 Seats with downsized lateral bosters, cut-outs for utility belts

Ford SYNC

Safety Canopy(R) side-curtain air bag

Rollover protection system

Customizable steering-wheel switches

Rear doors swing 71-degrees

Capable of withstanding 75-mph rear impact

BLIS(R) (Blind Spot Information System)

Cross Traffic Alert

Rear View Camera System

Reverse Sensing System		 160-mph (certified) calibrated speedometer

AM/FM radio with CD player, changer controls, four speakers and clock with auxiliary audio input jack

Load-leveling, height-control shock absorbers

Independently switched red/white LED dome lamp		 Seats with downsized lateral boosters, cutouts for utility belts

In-dash touch-screen computer technology

Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature

Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevroletChevrolet Impalachevrolet impala policeChevroletImpalaChevroletImpalaPoliceChevy ImpalaChevy Impala Police Cruiserchevy impala ppvChevyImpalaChevyImpalaPoliceCruiserChevyImpalaPpvcop carcop carsCopCarCopCarsdodge chargerdodge charger cop carDodge Charger Police carDodgeChargerDodgeChargerCopCarDodgeChargerPoliceCarford crown vicford crown victoriaford policeford police carford police cruiserford police interceptorFord Police Interceptor Crown VictoriaFord TaurusFord Taurus Police Interceptorford taurus SHOFordCrownVicFordCrownVictoriaFordPoliceFordPoliceCarFordPoliceCruiserFordPoliceInterceptorFordPoliceInterceptorCrownVictoriaFordTaurusFordTaurusPoliceInterceptorFordTaurusShoImpalaimpala policeImpalaPolicepolice cameraspolice carspolice impalapolice interceptorpolice interceptorsPoliceCamerasPoliceCarsPoliceImpalaPoliceInterceptorPoliceInterceptorsFri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19407079/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/19/charting-the-five-ohs-next-gen-cop-car-comparo/19407079/article-detail.xml 19407079 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/police-badge-250_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/police-badge-250.jpg <![CDATA[Officially Official: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor unveiled, second utility model announced]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/police-interceptor-ford-unveiled/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/police-interceptor-ford-unveiled/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/police-interceptor-ford-unveiled/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2012 Ford Police Interceptor - Click above for image gallery

The Ford Crown Victoria has been the chariot of choice (well necessity really) for police officers and cabbies all over America since the demise of its numero uno competitor, the Chevrolet Caprice, back in the mid-'90s. The Crown Vic and its ancestors have been around with a minimum of mechanical changes since roughly the same time as the Model T, or at least it seems that way. However, in recent years the Crown Vic has been increasingly challenged by the Dodge Charger and Chevrolet Impala. Even more troubling for Ford is the impending arrival of a new rear-wheel-drive drive police car from Chevrolet based on the departed Pontiac G8.

At a private fleet sales event in Las Vegas today, Ford finally took the wraps off a new generation Police Interceptor model based on the 2010 Taurus. The new car has big shoes to fill as the Crown Vic has accounted for 70 percent of all police vehicle sales over the past five years. Read on for more on the new Police Interceptor.


Gallery: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor


[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor unveiled, second utility model announced

Officially Official: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor unveiled, second utility model announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20122012 ford police interceptor2012 ford taurus2012 ford taurus police interceptor2012FordPoliceInterceptor2012FordTaurus2012FordTaurusPoliceInterceptorfordford cop carford police carford police cruiserford police interceptorFord TaurusFordCopCarFordPoliceCarFordPoliceCruiserFordPoliceInterceptorFordTauruspolice interceptorPoliceInterceptortaurustaurus policetaurus police interceptortaurus shoTaurusPoliceTaurusPoliceInterceptorTaurusShoFri, 12 Mar 2010 12:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19394474/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/12/police-interceptor-ford-unveiled/19394474/article-detail.xml 19394474 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/screen-shot-2010-03-12-at-11.53.41-amopt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/screen-shot-2010-03-12-at-11.53.41-amopt.jpg <![CDATA[DetNews: New Ford Police Interceptor to be Taurus-based]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/11/detnews-new-ford-police-interceptor-to-be-taurus-based/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/11/detnews-new-ford-police-interceptor-to-be-taurus-based/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/11/detnews-new-ford-police-interceptor-to-be-taurus-based/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Will the new Police Interceptor be a toughened Taurus SHO? - click above for high-res image gallery

Just a quick note: The Detroit News is reporting that the next Ford Police Interceptor will be based on the same platform as the Taurus. For you platform geeks out there, that's the Ford D3 chassis that underpins everything from the the Lincoln MKS to the Volvo XC90 to the Ford Flex (though the Flex and the Lincoln MKT ride on a lengthened version called D4). Yesterday, we explained that a new Police Interceptor is showing up tomorrow (Friday, March 12) in Las Vegas and that it probably won't be riding on the Panther platform. Regardless, the concept will be unveiled at the Vegas Motor Speedway.

There's still no official word from Ford on the matter, however. However, if the new Interceptor is in fact Taurus-based, that means no rear-wheel drive Falcon in the United States. Which is a definite bummer. Also, while there are all-wheel drive variants of the D3 platform - and we think it's safe to assume that if the new Police Interceptor is D3-based it will be AWD - it lacks frame rails. Has Ford figured out a way to make a unibody car tough enough for police work? We shall see. And if the new PI is a Taurus, will it be based on a modified 365-horsepower SHO? We'd wager yes. Let's just hope they fit some bigger brakes for cop duty, eh?


Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO


[Source: The Detroit News]

DetNews: New Ford Police Interceptor to be Taurus-based originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>D3D3 PlatformD3PlatformD4D4 PlatformD4PlatformFalconFordFord Falconford police interceptorFord TaurusFord Taurus Police InterceptorFord Taurus SHOFordFalconFordPoliceInterceptorFordTaurusFordTaurusPoliceInterceptorFordTaurusSholaw enforcementLawEnforcementPanther PlatformPantherPlatformpolice carPolice InterceptorPoliceCarPoliceInterceptortaurus policeTaurusPoliceThu, 11 Mar 2010 16:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19395261/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/11/detnews-new-ford-police-interceptor-to-be-taurus-based/19395261/article-detail.xml 19395261 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/630pisho_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/630pisho.jpg <![CDATA[Rendered Speculation: Ford Taurus SHO wagon is the apple of our eye]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/09/rendered-speculation-ford-taurus-sho-wagon-is-the-apple-of-our/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/09/rendered-speculation-ford-taurus-sho-wagon-is-the-apple-of-our/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/09/rendered-speculation-ford-taurus-sho-wagon-is-the-apple-of-our/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Many of us who sit around the Autoblog campfire every day are fans of station wagons. We love cars and love the idea of having some extra utility without giving up the generally superior driving dynamics of cars versus SUVs or crossovers. We also like the idea - if not necessarily the execution - of the Ford Taurus SHO.

Being aware of that fact, one of our readers put his Photoshop skills to work and created the rendering you see here of a SHO wagon. Ford, of course, has never officially built an official SHO wagon - either with the current model or with its predecessors. Naturally, there have been some aftermarket and homebuilt conversions over the years, and even at least one that we know of that was built inside Dearborn.

Of course, building a wagon off of previous models was substantially easier because Ford actually marketed a wagon bodystyle in the first couple of Taurus iterations. Not so with today's massive-yet-handsome sedan. Judging by reader Josiah's rendering above, that's a real shame, because the 2010 Taurus could really put some of its continental bulk to good load-lugging effect with an estate variant. Unfortunately, we'll likely never see anything like this slick wagon produced. The closest we figure to get is an Ecoboost Flex, which isn't exactly a bad alternative. Thanks for the great rendering, Josiah!

[Source: JosiahLacolla.com]

Rendered Speculation: Ford Taurus SHO wagon is the apple of our eye originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordford tarus station wagonFord Taurusford taurus SHOford taurus sho wagonFordTarusStationWagonFordTaurusFordTaurusShoFordTaurusShoWagonrenderedrendered speculationrendered-speculationRenderedSpeculationrenderingShoSHO wagonShoWagonstation wagonStationWagonTaurustaurus SHOTaurusShoTue, 09 Mar 2010 11:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19388809/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/09/rendered-speculation-ford-taurus-sho-wagon-is-the-apple-of-our/19388809/article-detail.xml 19388809 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/showagonab-1268098627_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/showagonab-1268098627.jpg <![CDATA[Chicago 2010: Bad Timing Dept. - Prius <i>MotorWeek</i> Drivers' Choice winner; Toyota declines JDM award]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/11/chicago-2010-bad-timing-dept-prius-i-motorweek-i-drivers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/11/chicago-2010-bad-timing-dept-prius-i-motorweek-i-drivers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/11/chicago-2010-bad-timing-dept-prius-i-motorweek-i-drivers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


2010 Toyota Prius - MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award winner for Best of the Year

By February of each year, we are always right in the middle of awards season, and no, we're not talking about the Golden Globes, Grammys or Oscars. We are, of course, referring to Car and Truck of the Year awards, Ten Best lists and the like. A brace of trophies had already been handed out at the Detroit Auto Show and here at the Chicago Auto Show, a few more champions were crowned. As you might imagine, Toyota is usually an oft-mentioned brand during this time of year, but we figured this year might be a little different.

Coming on the heels of several high profile recall announcements by Toyota, one might expect the once-bulletproof Japanese carmaker to at least get more careful consideration when handing out the hardware. Well, even if they have gone through closer scrutiny, that hasn't stopped multiple outlets from still rewarding them for their products. Television show MotorWeek just announced their Drivers' Choice Award winners, and the Toyota Prius is their choice for best Eco-Friendly vehicle. It also claimed the title of Best of the Year overall, making it their top pick of the 2010 models.

Other category winners are listed below and there's a long press release after the jump that includes a statement by MotorWeek host and producer John Davis. While it was probably difficult to change their minds so late in the game, the statement by Davis explaining their rationale in choosing the Prius seems to have been written some time before Toyota started making so many headlines: "If you can only buy one car for your family, the 2010 Prius is the one," said Davis. "The Prius is a no-compromise vehicle that offers impressive efficiency, cutting edge technology, smart packaging and truly iconic styling."

While all of that might still apply, it's bad timing if nothing else to be handing out a top award to the Prius. In that spirit, Davis added an additional statement to clarify and defend the show's selection. In it he explained that while MotorWeek had two different Prius hybrids in their care for several months, nothing ever went wrong with them and that the show is confident that the problems will be satisfactorily addressed by Toyota.

MotorWeek was certainly not alone on that front however, as Toyota has recently been lauded by several other organizations as well. In Japan, for instance, Toyota was honored with a government energy efficiency award. Interestingly, the company chose to decline that award, though, saying that "the honor is not appropriate for a car hit by massive recalls," according to MSNBC.

Without further ado, here are the MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award winners:
  • Best Small Car: Mazda3
  • Best Family Sedan: Ford Taurus
  • Best Luxury Sedan: Buick LaCrosse
  • Best Small Utility: Chevrolet Equinox
  • Best Large Utility: Honda Pilot
  • Best Pickup Truck: Ram 1500/2500/3500
  • Best Eco-Friendly: Toyota Prius
  • Best Sport Sedan: BMW 3-Series
  • Best Sport Coupe: Chevrolet Camaro
  • Best Performance Car: Audi S4
  • Best Convertible: Nissan 370Z Roadster
  • Best Dream Machine: Audi R8 5.2 FSI/Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius


[Sources: Motorweek via EarthTimes, MSNBC]

Continue reading Chicago 2010: Bad Timing Dept. - Prius MotorWeek Drivers' Choice winner; Toyota declines JDM award

Chicago 2010: Bad Timing Dept. - Prius MotorWeek Drivers' Choice winner; Toyota declines JDM award originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Toyota2010 toyota prius2010Toyota2010ToyotaPrius3 series3-Series370 Z370Z3Seriesaudi r8 5.2 fsiAudi S4AudiR85.2FsiAudiS4bmw 3-seriesBmw3-seriesbuick lacrosseBuickLacrosseCamaroChevrolet CamaroChevrolet EquinoxChevroletCamaroChevroletEquinoxchicagochicago 2010Chicago Auto ShowChicago2010ChicagoAutoShowdodge ramDodgeRamEquinoxFord TaurusFordTaurushonda pilotHondaPilotLaCrossemazda3mercedes-benz sls amgMercedes-benzSlsAmgMotorWeekmotorweek drivers choice awardsMotorweekDriversChoiceAwardsNissan 370Z RoadsterNissan370zRoadsterpilotpriusprius recallPriusRecallR8RamRam 1500Ram 150025003500Ram1500Ram150025003500S4SLSSLS AMGSlsAmgtaurustoyotatoyota priustoyota recalltoyota recallsToyotaPriusToyotaRecallToyotaRecallsThu, 11 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19353728/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/11/chicago-2010-bad-timing-dept-prius-i-motorweek-i-drivers/19353728/article-detail.xml 19353728 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/prius2010rev000opt-1265891312_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/prius2010rev000opt-1265891312.jpg <![CDATA[Time Waster of the Day: Ford Taurus stars in online game "White Collar: Chasing the Shadow"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/21/time-waster-of-the-day-ford-taurus-stars-in-online-game-white/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/21/time-waster-of-the-day-ford-taurus-stars-in-online-game-white/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/21/time-waster-of-the-day-ford-taurus-stars-in-online-game-white/#commentsFiled under: , ,



About a year ago, Saab got 500,000 eyeballs on its 9-3 Convertible using an online game tied to the show "Burn Notice". Ford is now doing the online game dance with the USA Network - the very same channel that aired "Burn Notice" - this time based on its new show "White Collar." The vehicle of choice: the Taurus.

You'll be using that Taurus - which is actually black, not red - to chase The White Shadow, the evilest white collar criminal around. And you'll need a suite of Ford features to do it: SYNC, SecuriCode, Collision Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control, among others. The game will take seven weeks to solve, so you'll be spending a lot of time in your sedan, but every week five winners will get a White Collar "gentlemen's bag," and the grand prize winner will get a new Ford Taurus. That one will probably will be red.

You can find the press release after the jump, or you can get straight to playing by clicking the link below.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Time Waster of the Day: Ford Taurus stars in online game "White Collar: Chasing the Shadow"

Time Waster of the Day: Ford Taurus stars in online game "White Collar: Chasing the Shadow" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Ford Mustang2010 ford taurus2010 Taurus2010FordMustang2010FordTaurus2010Taurusfordford taurusFordTaurusonline gamesOnline GamingOnlineGamesOnlineGamingsynctaurususa networkUsaNetworkwhite collarWhiteCollarThu, 21 Jan 2010 15:35:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19325565/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/01/21/time-waster-of-the-day-ford-taurus-stars-in-online-game-white/19325565/article-detail.xml 19325565 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/fordtaurusshadow_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/fordtaurusshadow.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Ford dealers say Kuga should be named Escape in U.S. - Do you agree? [w/POLL]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/30/report-ford-dealers-say-kuga-should-be-named-escape-in-u-s-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/30/report-ford-dealers-say-kuga-should-be-named-escape-in-u-s-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/30/report-ford-dealers-say-kuga-should-be-named-escape-in-u-s-d/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2008 Ford Kuga in front, possible 2011 Ford Kuga out back - click above for high-res image gallery

Here's the skinny: Ford's current Escape is heading the way of the dodo bird. In its place will be the Kuga, a much less dowdy looking compact CUV that should compete nicely with the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson. The European designed 2011 Kuga will be built here in the United States at a Louisville, Kentucky plant. All this we already know and have known for some time now.

What we don't know is what Ford will call the Kuga when it goes on sale here in 2011. Kuga is obviously one option, but so, apparently, is Escape. According to Wards Auto, Ford's domestic dealers are pushing for Escape. "I believe the Escape is a great vehicle with a great reputation and that it would be a big mistake to kill the Escape name," says one San Diego based dealer.

Others point back to Ford's decision to drop the Taurus name in favor of Five Hundred - part of the brand's strange decision to make all cars start with the letter "F" (Focus, Fusion, Five Hundred - though the Mustang never became Fustang) and all SUVs and crossovers start with the letter "E" (Edge, Escape, Explorer, Expedition, Excursion). Though, of course, reverting back to Five Hundred was supposed to drum up some long lost brand equity/nostalgia, which is the first thing CEO Alan Mulally did when he changed Five Hundred back to Taurus. Very complicated stuff, no?

So, Kuga or Escape? While there are many good arguments for Escape, here's one for Kuga - Ford's One World strategy. Simply put, rather than having one Focus for Europe and one for North America, Ford is working toward offering one global vehicle per a given segment - and that's it. And naming one car one thing for one market and one car another for another is essentially a monkey wrench in the plan. What should Ford do, and more importantly what will they do? Place your vote in our poll below and leave any further thoughts in Comments.


View Poll


Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Ford Kuga


[Source: Wards Auto]

Report: Ford dealers say Kuga should be named Escape in U.S. - Do you agree? [w/POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 Ford Escape2011 Ford Kuga2011FordEscape2011FordKugablue ovalBlueOvalcar namescar namingCarNamesCarNamingEscapeFive HundredFiveHundredFordFord EscapeFord Five HundredFord KugaFord TaurusFordEscapeFordFiveHundredFordKugaFordTaurusKugaTaurusWed, 30 Dec 2009 15:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19298376/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/12/30/report-ford-dealers-say-kuga-should-be-named-escape-in-u-s-d/19298376/article-detail.xml 19298376 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/630kuga_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/630kuga.jpg <![CDATA[<i>USA Today</i> counts down decade's most improved looking vehicles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/29/usa-today-counts-down-decades-most-improved-looking-vehi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/29/usa-today-counts-down-decades-most-improved-looking-vehi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/29/usa-today-counts-down-decades-most-improved-looking-vehi/#commentsFiled under:

Hey good lookin' - Click above for high-res image gallery

USA Today looked at cars on sale between 2000 and 2009 and ranked them in order of most improved. Before you get hot and heavy in the comments, let us remind you that they are only talking about the way the cars look. Not how they perform. Trust us, there will be plenty for you to get angry about as is.

We noticed that there were a few cars USA Today left off the list that the vehicular brain trust here at the blog about autos thinks are very much improved. The Ford Taurus being one example. Sure, the new Taurus is large, but the old Taurus (aka Ford 500) was a bulbous bore.

But our real choice is the Maserati Gran Turismo, especially as the last generation Maser GT looked, well, lousy. Or at least like something Maserati might have sold when Chrysler owned them. That said, take a peek at the gallery, and discuss USA Today's list amongst yourselves.


Gallery: USA Today's 10 Most Improved Looking Cars

Chevy MalibuFord MustangToyota PriusHyundai SonatoNissan Altima

[Source: USA Today]

USA Today counts down decade's most improved looking vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cadillac CTSCadillac CTS CoupeCadillacCtsCadillacCtsCoupeFord TaurusFordTaurusMaserati Gran TurismoMaseratiGranTurismoTop 10Top10USA TodayUsaTodayTue, 29 Dec 2009 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19297130/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/12/29/usa-today-counts-down-decades-most-improved-looking-vehi/19297130/article-detail.xml 19297130 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/630usa_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/630usa.jpg <![CDATA[REPORT: Ford altering Taurus model mix to build more SEL, SHO models]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/22/report-ford-altering-taurus-model-mix-to-build-more-sel-sho-mo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/22/report-ford-altering-taurus-model-mix-to-build-more-sel-sho-mo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/22/report-ford-altering-taurus-model-mix-to-build-more-sel-sho-mo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2010 Ford Taurus SHO - Click above for high-res image gallery

When a new model hits the market, auto manufacturers typically release higher-option models out of the gate to maximize early profits. In short, if you're jonesin' to get into an all-new product, you often pay a content premium to be one of the first to get said new car or truck. In a good market, that makes sense, but since 2009 has been a sales disaster for automakers, it was understandable that Ford chose to make more lower-spec 2010 Tauruses than normal. Despite the challenging financial climate, as it turns out, many dealers are clamoring for more high content models.

Automotive News is reporting that dealers are short on SEL and SHO variants of the new Taurus. Marketing chief Jim Farley reportedly told a group of reporters at a press event that the situation was "a problem for our dealers." Overall inventory of the Taurus is solid, with the typical dealer holding a 60-70 day supply of the plus-sized sedans - but some dealers have reportedly waited up to 80 days for certain custom orders.

Given how much more upscale the 2010 model is over the last model, this can be seen as a victory of sorts for the Blue Oval, as it wasn't clear that consumers would welcome back the Taurus nameplate on any car, much less one with loftier aspirations and price tags. That said, all is not puppy dogs and ice cream - Taurus sales are down 22 percent year-over-year (selling 38,361 units through November), although whether that is because of the economy or the car itself remains up for discussion.

Ford dealers are reportedly also running short on F-150 Double Cab models as market demand was misjudged by product planners.

One vehicle that may help Ford to pick the right mix out of the gate is the Fiesta. Ford has gained over 80,000 hand-raisers for what will soon be the Blue Oval's smallest US vehicle and the "Fiesta Movement" has helped the automaker get a lot more data on what kinds of variants customers expect. If the Fiesta launch goes as planned, we're thinking Ford will take similar steps to market other products in the future.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

REPORT: Ford altering Taurus model mix to build more SEL, SHO models originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 taurus2010Taurusford taurusFordTaurusmarket demandMarketDemandselshotaurus demandtaurus shoTaurusDemandTaurusShoTue, 22 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19289418/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/12/22/report-ford-altering-taurus-model-mix-to-build-more-sel-sho-mo/19289418/article-detail.xml 19289418 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/taurusshoreview_04_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/taurusshoreview_04_opt.jpg <![CDATA[LA 2009: Ford Taurus and Volvo XC60 named International Car and Truck of the Year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/ford-taurus-and-volvo-xc60-named-international-car-and-truck-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/ford-taurus-and-volvo-xc60-named-international-car-and-truck-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/ford-taurus-and-volvo-xc60-named-international-car-and-truck-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ford Taurus and Volvo VX60 named International Car of the Year - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hold onto your hats folks, because while magazine award ceremonies appear to be just about finished, the auto show trophies are just starting to be handed out. This time, it's the International Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show, and we've got two winners from within the Ford empire. The Ford Taurus took top car honors while the Volvo XC60 won as the best truck. Both vehicles have been well received by the press and early returns from customers appear to be positive, too. While the Taurus is outselling its bland and unexciting predecessor, the XC60 has helped Volvo achieve six consecutive months of year-over-year sales increases.

ICOTY creator and executive producer Courtney Caldwell claims that the winners aren't chosen based on performance, but instead on how the vehicles "reflect our personalities, lifestyles and self-image and how well the automaker achieves that goal through the design and marketing of the vehicle." Uh-huh. And while the ICoTY award isn't exactly one of the big-name trophies for the mantle, a win is a win, and both Ford and Volvo are proud recipients of the accolades. Hit the jump to read over the press releases from Ford and Volvo.


Gallery: LA 2009 COTY: 2010 Ford Taurus and 2010 Volvo XC60


[Sources: Ford, Volvo]

Continue reading LA 2009: Ford Taurus and Volvo XC60 named International Car and Truck of the Year

LA 2009: Ford Taurus and Volvo XC60 named International Car and Truck of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 ford taurus2010 volvo xc602010FordTaurus2010VolvoXc60ford taurusFordTaurusicotyicoty awardIcotyAwardinternational car of the yearInternationalCarOfTheYearla 2009la auto showLA Auto Show 2009La2009LaAutoShowLaAutoShow2009volvo xc60VolvoXc60Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19263065/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/12/03/ford-taurus-and-volvo-xc60-named-international-car-and-truck-of/19263065/article-detail.xml 19263065 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/13-volvo-xc60-ford-taurus_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/13-volvo-xc60-ford-taurus_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Ford EcoBoost Engines see high take rate, customers see higher transaction prices]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/ford-ecoboost-engines-see-high-take-rate-customers-see-higher-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/ford-ecoboost-engines-see-high-take-rate-customers-see-higher-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/ford-ecoboost-engines-see-high-take-rate-customers-see-higher-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2010 Lincoln MKT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford has been pushing its EcoBoost engines hard since they came out of the gate, with almost as many commercials touting its twin-turbo technology as we've seen all other Blue Oval spots combined. And all that marketing mojo appears to be paying off, as the Ford Motor Company has told The Detroit News that EcoBoost has really taken off on the showroom floor.

Ford just started offering EcoBoost in July, but the early returns show that customers are very interested in Ford's promise of V8 performance with V6 fuel economy. Lincoln MKS sales have been 30 percent EcoBoost, while the Taurus SHO is currently accounting for 20 percent off all sales of Ford's new large sedan. The MKT has only been on the market for a month, but early returns show that over 40 percent of customers want 355 horsepower in their giant crossover. The Ford Flex is seeing a 13 percent EcoBoost take rate, nearly double the expected 8 percent figure.

In fact, Ford says all four EcoBoost-equipped vehicles are exceeding expectations to date, and the engine tech also appears to be bringing in conquest customers at an accelerated rate. For example, an impressive 44 percent of Taurus buyers come from another OEM, while the number jumps to 54 percent with the EcoBoost-equipped Taurus SHO. The MKT has a similar 10 percent conquest boost courtesy of turbo power. And those conquest wins at the dealership also add to Ford's bottom line, as EcoBoost-equipped vehicles carry a $5,000 to $10,000 MSRP bump versus their naturally aspirated counterparts.

While the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine looks like an early success, the real turbo test comes when other, higher volume EcoBoost engines hit the market. Some future boosted Ford engines will come in 2.0-liter and 1.6-liter displacements, and the DetNews is reporting that a much smaller, 1.0-liter three-cylinder version is on the way for applications like the new Fiesta and Focus. Engines as small as 1.0-liter are sure to be an efficiency boon for the Blue Oval, with potential paybacks in the high 40 MPG range in the EPA highway cycle.

The next vehicles to receive EcoBoost will reportedly be the F-150 and Ford Explorer toward the end of next year. Ford is hoping to push the engine tech on 90 percent of its models within the next few years, with up to 1.3M global EcoBoost sales.

[Source: Detroit News]

Ford EcoBoost Engines see high take rate, customers see higher transaction prices originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 ford flex2010 taurus sho2010FordFlex2010TaurusShodirect-injectionecoboostecoboost salesEcoboostSalesford taurusFordTauruslincoln mkslincoln mktLincolnMksLincolnMktturboturbochargingtwin-turboFri, 13 Nov 2009 11:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19236243/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/11/13/ford-ecoboost-engines-see-high-take-rate-customers-see-higher-t/19236243/article-detail.xml 19236243 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/lincolnmktecoboostfd_01_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/lincolnmktecoboostfd_01_opt.jpg <![CDATA[VIDEO: Ford press conference yields surprise $650 car announcement]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/video-ford-press-conference-yields-surprise-650-car-announceme/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/video-ford-press-conference-yields-surprise-650-car-announceme/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/video-ford-press-conference-yields-surprise-650-car-announceme/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ford makes surprise $650 car announcement - click above image to watch the video

Between the hysteria of this week's SEMA Show and Chrysler's never-ending (and partially baffling) revelations yesterday, a shocking announcement by Ford Motor Company has been nearly drowned out. But rest assured, your Autoblog team never rests (even after huffing down 9,000 calories apiece at Vegas' Wynn Buffet!) and have tracked down this astounding piece of news. Ford has taken a long, hard look at the state of the American automotive scene and has decided to do the (almost) unthinkable - sell us a car for $650.

Now, there are no doubt naysayers amongst you that will point to a $650 Ford and cry, "Malarkey!" And with good reason. After all, under cutting the Tata Nano by a full $1,350 is no easy feat. However, times are tough. And with a nearly 10% national unemployment rate, a $650 car makes sound, economic sense. But don't take our word for it. Make the jump to watch Ford VP Daniel Grossman introduce Ford's new entry level car.

[Source: O-SPAN6]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ford press conference yields surprise $650 car announcement

VIDEO: Ford press conference yields surprise $650 car announcement originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheap carCheapCarFordFord TaurusFordTaurusPrimusTata nanoTataNanoTaurusThe OnionTheOnionused carsUsedCarsworlds cheapest carWorldsCheapestCarFri, 06 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19225913/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/11/06/video-ford-press-conference-yields-surprise-650-car-announceme/19225913/article-detail.xml 19225913 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/fordleader_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/fordleader.jpg <![CDATA[SEMA 2009: Ford Taurus puts on a good SHO]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/sema-2009-ford-taurus-puts-on-a-good-sho/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/sema-2009-ford-taurus-puts-on-a-good-sho/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/sema-2009-ford-taurus-puts-on-a-good-sho/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Ford Taurus Concepts at the 2009 SEMA Show - Click above for high-res image gallery

We didn't expect much from Ford's new fulls-size four-door at this year's SEMA show, but the quartet of Taurus Concepts were actually pretty impressive. The design lends itself better to customization than we might've thought, and we wouldn't be surprised to see quite a few owners personalizing the look of their cars.

The favorite Taurus around the Autoblog camp seemed to be the SHO built by Mobsteel with its sinister Jet Black paint, subtle body kit, and a 400 horsepower version of the EcoBoost V6. We also (surprisingly) liked the one built by Funkmaster Flex, along with the clean and simple SHO from MRT-Direct. You can see all four cars in our gallery of live photos below.


Gallery: SEMA 2009: Ford Taurus Concepts


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

SEMA 2009: Ford Taurus puts on a good SHO originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Ford Taurus2010 Ford Taurus SHO2010FordTaurus2010FordTaurusShoFordFord TaurusFord Taurus SHOFordTaurusFordTaurusShoMobsteelMRT-DirectSEMASEMA 2009Sema showSema2009SemaShowSHOTaurusTaurus SHOTaurusShoFri, 06 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19224945/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/11/06/sema-2009-ford-taurus-puts-on-a-good-sho/19224945/article-detail.xml 19224945 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/taurussema09_lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/taurussema09_lead.jpg <![CDATA[VIDEO: SHO vs. SHO on <i>The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/30/taurus-sho-conan-obrien-the-tonight-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/30/taurus-sho-conan-obrien-the-tonight-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/30/taurus-sho-conan-obrien-the-tonight-show/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


SHO vs. SHO - Click above to watch video after the jump

As we reported yesterday, the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO made a guest appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien last night. The comic host still owns and drives his beloved 1992 SHO, claiming it's the finest car ever built, so Ford invited him to Galpin Motors in Los Angeles to check out the new one. Amy Marentic from Ford is his tour guide and does a great job keeping up with the jokes, at one point refusing to massage Conan's neck where the multi-contoured massaging seats won't reach.

After trying out the new SHO, Conan shows Amy what's up with a tour of his own 1992 SHO - "The Beast" - that's parked right beside. We won't ruin all the laughs for you, suffice it to say that Ford got some sweet product placement in a skit that makes you chuckle more than it tries to sell you a car. Follow the jump to watch old SHO vs. new SHO for yourself.

[Source: NBC]

Continue reading VIDEO: SHO vs. SHO on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

VIDEO: SHO vs. SHO on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 ford taurus sho2010FordTaurusShoconan o-brienConanO-brienfordford taurusford taurus shoFordTaurusFordTaurusShoshotaurustaurus shoTaurusShothe tonight showTheTonightShowFri, 30 Oct 2009 12:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19216779/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/30/taurus-sho-conan-obrien-the-tonight-show/19216779/article-detail.xml 19216779 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/oldshonewsho_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/oldshonewsho_opt.jpg -1 2