Note to Ford: Your new Taurus is gorgeous. If you can get enough fannies in this machine for test drives you¹ll sell a blue million of them.

Earlier this week, the blue-oval company posted a $1 billion third-quarter profit during the worst car recession in a generation. With 2010 Taurus now in the pipeline, Ford¹s roll might be just beginning.

STYLING: Born in 1986, the Taurus became the best-selling car in America in the early 1990s. But it got long in the tooth and by the middle of this decade had become the quintessential rental fleet sedan. Ford ended production of the Taurus in 2006, and the successful Fusion became Ford¹s mid-size entry. The short-lived Ford 500 (later rebadged the Taurus for old time¹s sake) became the company¹s dowdy, full-sized sedan. Always somehow less than the sum of its parts, the Ford 500/Taurus needed a facelift. The new Taurus is a masterpiece of complimentary lines and modern interior architecture. Our tester from Marshal Mize Ford, an Ingot Silver Metallic sedan in Limited trim, highlights the classy design of the car, competes with the likes of Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS: Settling into the heated and cooled leather seats in the Taurus Limited is a bit like climbing into the cockpit of a private jet.

The center stack sweeps away dramatically, tapering into a handsome padded dash. Despite the size of this car, the front seats actually feel snug. The Taurus Limited is powered by a 3.5-liter, six-cylinder engine that makes an ample 263 horsepower. Driving dynamics are impressive. A special sound-deadening windshield keeps the cabin hushed so the optional 12-speaker Sony audio system can do its stuff. The Limited trim includes 19-inch chrome wheels, heated and cooled front seats, ambient lighting and a reverse sensing system.

BOTTOM LINE: At about $35,890, our optioned-out 2010 Taurus Limited tester is a lot of car for the money. The well-equipped SEL model is available for thousands less for value-minded customers. At the top end, a twin-turbo powered Taurus SHO version is available for serious driving enthusiasts.

TEST DRIVE:Model tested: 2010 Ford Taurus Limited

Engine: 3.5L six-cylinder, 263hp

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Fuel economy: 18 mpg city,

27 mpg highway

Base price: $31,170

Price as tested: $35,890

Comments

Posted comments do not represent the opinions of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Profanities, slurs and libelous remarks are prohibited. To view complete guidelines for submitting content, comments and feedback, click here.

Quick Search for Cars

Your Stuff