2010 Ford Taurus
The 2010 Ford Taurus' styling draws inspiration from some of the company's European offerings, namely the popular Mondeo sedan. Despite the re-sculpting of the sheetmetal, the Taurus' dimensions are largely unchanged, meaning this should remain one of the roomiest sedans on the market. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models return.
CG Says... The
current Taurus and similar Mercury Sable have been sales duds since
the cars were introduced in 2005 as the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury
Montego. That's a shame because they're both capable and roomy sedans.
The overhaul for 2010 is certainly needed and should provide sales a
much-needed shot in the arm. |
The 2010 Ford Taurus goes on sale later this year. Pricing remains in line with the 2009 Taurus. The 2010 version will start at $25,995. Note that Mercury will not receive a version of this car--the Sable will be phased out after the 2009 model year.
2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost
Current Flex models are powered by a 262-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. The EcoBoost is also a 3.5-liter V6 but has a robust 355 horsepower. A 6-speed automatic transmission remains standard. This pairing, according to Ford, should be good for a highway fuel economy rating of 22 mpg with all-wheel drive, the same as the non-EcoBoost model.
Pricing was not announced, but Ford is pitching "affordable fuel economy" and as such, the Flex EcoBoost shouldn't command a significant price premium over the regular model. Sales are scheduled to start mid-calendar 2009.
2010 Shelby GT500 Mustang
The 2010 Shelby GT500 builds on what engineers learned in the development of the limited edition 2008 Shelby GT500KR ("King of the Road") Mustang. The engine is a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 that produces 540 horsepower, an increase of 40 from the 2007-2009 versions. A 6-speed manual is the sole transmission. Revised fifth and sixth gear ratios promise increased highway fuel economy. Different suspension tuning should mean sharper handling.
Available features include Ford's Sync voice-activated control for cell phones and MP3 players, as well as a voice-activated navigation system with real-time traffic alerts.
The 2010 Shelby GT500 is scheduled to go on sale in late spring, shortly after the updated 2010 Ford Mustang reaches showrooms.
For more information on hundreds of new cars of today and tomorrow, check out:
- Detroit Auto Show Home Page
- Consumer Guide's 2009 Auto Show coverage
- Consumer Guide New Car Reviews and Prices: Road test results, photos, specifications, and prices for hundreds of new cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs from the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide.
- Consumer Guide's 2009 Best Buys and Recommendeds: Our Best Buy and Recommended picks focus on overall vehicle value and take into account performance, economy, reliability, ease of use, comfort, and price.
- Future Cars: Check out what's just on the horizon.
