In January, Ford announced it would make the unprecedented move of redesigning its Taurus sedan after a year on the market, and today our spy photographers captured the best interior shots of the upcoming sedan to date.
The current Ford Taurus was unveiled in early 2007 as the 2008 Ford Five Hundred. It was then renamed to Taurus in an effort to take advantage of the nameplate’s strong mindshare. The car was “facelifted” to give it more style than the original 2005 Five Hundred. Unfortunately, the move was not enough to boost sales or public perception of the model.
As a result, Ford CEO Alan Mulally ordered a complete redesign. Less than six months ago, he told the press the 2010 Taurus would be “the one we should have made originally.”
Ford has decided to combine elements of its “Bold American” and European “Kinetic” design language for the 2010 model. While this isn’t Ford’s all-new design language (which will debut in several years), it is certainly a move in the right direction.
Although previous prototypes have been heavily clad in camouflage, an earlier image leak and our artist’s illustration show what the production Taurus will look like. The basic three-bar grille remains, but it has been grafted onto a trapezoidal opening. A similarly shaped inverted air intake sits below the grille. The headlights have some detailing similar to other American Ford products, but their shape is decidedly European.
The latest shots are of the hi-po model and are packing the 3.5L, twin turbo V6. We hear it should be good for around 350hp. It will be AWD only and will have Ford’s new SR1 (Shock Ratio 1) suspension used in the Lincoln MKS. Expect some special chrome accents on the front end, twin pipes out back and 20 inch wheels on all four corners.
While some think this super-sedan will wear the “SHO” nameplate, a few well-placed sources have told us to expect a euro-inspired “ST” badge. We should know for sure in early 2009.
While this prototype still has a Lincoln steering wheel, the rest of the interior for the Ford appears to be unique when compared to the MKS. We can see several details including an engine start/stop button, Sirius satellite radio, heated seats and a Sony sound system. Chrome ringed gauges and air vents are also clearly visible.
Is it a groundbreaking design? Not especially. Will it allow Ford to compete effectively against its Asian competition? Absolutely — and that’s what counts.
10/09, 12:29 PM
posted by:
A4
thats a pretty decent looking interior if you ask me
10/09, 12:37 PM
posted by:
nickkop
i would second that, although i would probably never buy one… but hey… still good news.. now i can rent a better quality car.. heheh
10/09, 12:41 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
This, Ford, is so much more decent than the rest of your lineup. The obnoxious three bar grill is toned down to look awesome, they finally didn’t connect the headlights to the grill which look awful on any car if you ask me, an interior that doesn’t resemble the 90’s, and the biggest of all the SHO/ST! (I would prefer ST because the SHO nameplate would not bring back good memories to most people).
10/09, 12:43 PM
posted by:
wiseassoffice
Ummm its a Lincoln interior bone heads… Check out the steering wheel.
10/09, 12:44 PM
posted by:
6ix
Isn’t that a Lincoln steering wheel?
10/09, 12:49 PM
posted by:
muttonchops
It’s a Ford bone head. Test mules often use a hodge podge of parts since tooling for specific parts may not be finished. Hence the Ford car with a Lincoln steering wheel. probably off the MKS which is the same platform.
10/09, 12:57 PM
posted by:
jmstang66
is it just me or is there a but ton o buttons on that center stack? looks a tad tacky to me
10/09, 12:58 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Read the article, kids. They say it’s a Lincoln steering wheel.
As a former owner of a ‘99 Taurus and its acres of shiny plastic, let me say this interior is a huge step forward. Now if I had one good thing to say about my old Taurus it was that for a mainstream domestic commuter coffin it handled very well, although mine had the 24V Duratec and the sport suspension. So, Ford, please don’t forget to put just as much attention into the chassis as you obviously have done with the interior.
10/09, 1:06 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Ummm wiseassoffice it’s a Taurus you bonehead. They do this to every car to trick people like you so that you don’t find out that they’re testing a certain car. It’s called a “mule.”
10/09, 1:07 PM
posted by:
A4
id certainly consider buying the SHO/ST version
10/09, 1:08 PM
posted by:
ricky_b
Steering wheel, vents and center console do look “borrowed” from the Lincoln MKS, but Ford does not have a three port dash on any current American products, so this is new. My biggest complaint with Lincolns (and all American Fords for that matter) is that they all had the same basic, boring, bland dash design. This one looks to be more contemporary in design. I’ll leave any more comments until we get real pictures. Don’t know if Ford has it in them to really pull off this new Taurus but it would be good for them and consumers if they did.
10/09, 2:56 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
WOW the in side of a car……..
Let me know when it comes with twin turbos, 6 speed manual, and under $35K….
10/09, 7:15 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Ford is getting it’s ass kicked, from $2 stock value, to Camaro, to F-150.
The EcoBoost engine is their last shot.
It’s gonna need to get 25MPG, with it’s power ratings, to move the market Ford’s way.
DrFill
10/09, 10:35 PM
posted by:
bigp
well it will best the 300c on every level
10/09, 11:04 PM
posted by:
manarc250
Great looking car. That being said i wouldn’t buy one simply because it will be named the ford Taurus. I associate that name with plasticy soulless automobiles. Hi I just bought a new Ford Taurus……everyone try that out see how it makes you feel. This car will be competing with Impala (yawn), Mazda 6, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry/Avalon, Nissan Maxima… It better be damn good.
10/12, 12:08 PM
posted by:
mwc5446
Great looking car, hope isn’t a complete look-at-like of the MKS. Surely they can get 25MPG + as my 1997 Taurus got that MPG. The Duratec was a good engine, and you still see a lot of those, but, the other engines were terrible.
Bringing the SHO back will be good too….as long as competitivness is there to match the SHO monaker. Come on Ford…you can do it!