The 2010 Ford Taurus will likely have sharper styling than the current version, which is pictured here.

European style and likely higher mpg highlight a major redesign for Ford’s slow-selling large sedan. But will it be enough to kick-start demand in a crossover-crazy market?

What We Know About the 2010 Ford Taurus

A small, fuzzy image circulated on the Internet has let the bull of out the bag--the redesigned 2010 Ford Taurus, that is. Snapped surreptitiously, doubtless with a cell phone camera, the picture was posted in early April on several enthusiast Web sites (yes, even workaday cars have their fans), then removed at the speedy insistence of Ford lawyers. That fast crackdown led many to conclude that the photo car is, in fact, the next Taurus. And wouldn’t you know, the picture later went back online, a grainy but revealing styling-studio shot of a full-size mockup in front-three-quarter view.

No matter. Sources have been expecting a redesigned 2010 Ford Taurus, and though the spy photo leaves many questions unanswered, this slow-selling large sedan is overdue for a makeover. Fortunately for Ford, the revamp promises not only more visual pizzazz but greater fuel efficiency, both of which could do wonders for the company’s bottom line. In fact, Ford CEO Alan Mullaly says the redesigned Taurus is “the one we should have made originally.”

The current Taurus bowed for model-year 2005 as the Ford Five Hundred. A name-changing cosmetic and engineering update occurred for ’08, when the sibling Mercury Montego was similarly transformed to become a new Mercury Sable. The spy photo suggests the redesigned 2010 Ford Taurus is a reskinned version of the existing D3-platform design, thus continuing the basic architecture originated at Ford-owned Volvo. That’s suggested by crucial items that apparently carry over, especially the arched roofline, door sizes, and the shapes of the windshield and side windows.

Everything else is changed, if that photo is to be believed. For instance, the nose is higher and bolder, with a large three-bar trapezoidal grille and a mirror-image open intake below the bumper. Headlight clusters are slimmer and mount within scalloped fender setbacks instead of flush with the grille. The 2010 Ford Taurus also gets a “power dome” hood, a Volvo-like “shoulder” line running back from the headlights and under the windowsills, concave lower-bodysides, flared rocker panels, and revised rear-roof pillars that eliminate the current separate windows behind the doors. We haven’t yet seen the rear end, but we’re looking out for another spy photo.

Overall, it’s an extensive restyle that borrows much from Ford Europe’s latest Mondeo midsize sedan, whose sharp looks have contributed to strong sales, according to many analysts. The Mondeo, which uses a different architecture, was created under Ford Europe design chief Martin Smith, who’s lately produced a series of Euro-market sales winners and who may have had a hand in the 2010 Ford Taurus. For all the visual changes, though, dimensions appear to be little altered, and that’s good, because the Taurus is already one of the roomiest mainstream large sedans--the class leader, Ford claims.

There’s less hard news about technical developments for the 2010 Ford Taurus. However, Ford has lately been touting new high-efficiency “Eco-Boost” engines, so the updated Taurus should get at least one. That would likely be a turbocharged four-cylinder as a new base powerplant, supplementing a mildly massaged version of today’s 3.5-liter V6. The turbo-four would doubtless be tuned to strike the best possible balance between muscle and mileage, which in our mind suggests around 225 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. That could mean EPA fuel economy of around 21 mpg city and 30 highway with the six-speed automatic transmission that should be mandatory for both engines. Today’s V6 Taurus rates 18/28 with front-wheel drive, but that could go up a little, depending on how much massaging that engine gets. Optional all-wheel drive would presumably carry over along with the transmission, but its added weight implies the turbo-four may be limited to front-drive models.

Other underskin components should be tweaked but not replaced. They work well enough already, and Ford is short on funds for all-new hardware. Standard and optional equipment should remain much the same too, and for the same reasons.

The 2010 Ford Taurus may have some appealing surprises we don’t know about yet. But even with “just” thriftier engines and a stem-to-stern restyle, it looks like just the thing to help lift Ford’s fortunes. After all, this car has been around without major change for five years, a long time in the car business, so anything new should be a sales asset. Even so, the crossover-SUV sector remains the hottest part of the U.S. market, leaving all family sedans struggling for sales with that still-growing segment. Even the once-hot Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger have waned in popularity. Can the redesigned Taurus win over enough crossover intenders to make real money for beleaguered Ford? If it doesn’t, it won’t be for lack of trying.

But what of the sedan’s crossover platform-mate, the former Freestyle wagon? We hear the Taurus X, another slow-seller, will be replaced after model-year 2009 by a new-think Ford Explorer with crossover-type unibody construction and styling drawn from the recent Explorer America concept. In case you were wondering...

A Notable Feature of the 2010 Ford Taurus

We’ve not heard of any gee-whiz features for the 2010 Ford Taurus, nor do we expect any. After all, family sedans must appeal to a broad and thus somewhat conservative audience, so they’re not known for technical innovation or avant-garde styling. But as we said, Ford may spring some surprises here. In any case, we’ll be monitoring rumors and hard news as they become available, so keep checking back with us.

Buying Advice for the 2010 Ford Taurus

The large-car segment will see a lot of design turnover around model-year 2011. Sources expect heavily reworked versions of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger, an all-new Toyota Avalon, and the first rear-drive big Buick sedan in over a decade, possibly named Invicta. That’s a lot of fresh competition, so the redesigned Taurus must be very good just to be in the hunt. We think it likely will be a contender, but do check all the other choices. And don’t forget to scout larger midsize sedans like the Chevrolet Malibu and Honda Accord, which can offer almost the same interior room and perhaps better fuel economy for a little less money.

2010 Ford Taurus Release Date: There’s talk of sales beginning in fall 2009 after a formal debut at next January’s Detroit Auto Show. A summertime launch is an outside possibility.

2010 Ford Taurus First Test Drive: The above timing suggests media previews would be held in early summer of ’09.

2010 Ford Taurus Prices: Ford will certainly try to hold the price line on all its upcoming models--how else to get customers back into showrooms--and it has the means in newly instituted cost controls, a money-saving labor contract, and other measures. Still, inflation is again rearing its ugly head and commodities prices keep going up, so some sticker swelling is inevitable. We’d guess the before-options range will run from around $25,500 for an entry-level four-cylinder model to near $32,000 for a V6 version with all-wheel drive.

For more inside information on hundreds of new cars of today and tomorrow, check out:

• 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.
• Ford: Read Consumer Guide's full reports, including ratings, prices, specifications, and fuel economy.
• Large Cars: The 2010 Ford Taurus will compete in the large car class. Here's Consumer Guide's roundup of all the large cars on sale today.
• 2008 Consumer Guide Best Buy and Recommended Award Winners:
  Check out which cars won our Best Buy and Recommended awards for 2008.
• Future Cars: Step into the automotive showroom of tomorrow with reviews, analysis, pictures, prices, and preliminary specifications on scores of vehicles that will be appearing next year and beyond.

2010 Ford Taurus Preliminary Specifications

The 2010 Ford Taurus should be powered by a choice of either a turbocharged four-cylinder or a V6. The current model is pictured here.

The Basics

Vehicle Type: large car

Drivetrain

Drive wheels: front, all

Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, 3.5-liter V6

Horsepower: 225 (4-cylinder), 260 (V6)

Torque: 230 pound-feet (4-cylinder), 255 (V6)

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Dimensions (CG estimates)

Wheelbase: 112.9 inches

Length: 200.4 inches

Width: 74.5 inches

Height: 61.5 inches

Base curb weight: 3600 pounds

For more inside information on hundreds of new cars of today and tomorrow, check out:

• 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.
• Ford: Read Consumer Guide's full reports, including ratings, prices, specifications, and fuel economy.
• Large Cars: The 2010 Ford Taurus will compete in the large car class. Here's Consumer Guide's roundup of all the large cars on sale today.
• 2008 Consumer Guide Best Buy and Recommended Award Winners:
  Check out which cars won our Best Buy and Recommended awards for 2008.
• Future Cars: Step into the automotive showroom of tomorrow with reviews, analysis, pictures, prices, and preliminary specifications on scores of vehicles that will be appearing next year and beyond.