• Ford Taurus, the brand?s flagship product, defines what to expect from Ford?s future car portfolio: cutting-edge technology, benchmark driving dynamics, premier quality, advanced safety features and unsurpassed value
• Taurus offers more technology features ? 10 of them class-exclusive ? than more costly premium sedans price
• Taurus SHO returns with a 365-horsepower EcoBoost? V-6, all-wheel drive and paddle-shift six-speed SelectShift Automatic? gearbox

ASHEVILLE, N.C., June 15, 2009 ? The Ford Taurus ? the car that changed America?s view of sedans ? is all-new for 2010, with an expressive design, impeccable driving dynamics, class-leading technologies and unsurpassed value.

?This new sedan completely redefines expectations of what Taurus stands for ? and what Ford is capable of delivering ? quality, fuel-efficient vehicles featuring the latest technologies and head-turning design,? said Mark Fields, president of The Americas.

Available this summer, the 2010 Taurus will start at $25,995 ? the same as the 2009 model ? but with more class-leading features, new technologies and craftsmanship that rivals premium-priced sedans. Taurus available technologies ? 10 of which cannot be found on any other cars in its segment ? deliver on consumer needs and wants by enhancing the driving experience.

These class-exclusive technologies include:

• Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support
• BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert
• MyKey?
• SecuriCode? Keyless Entry Keypad
• Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS® Travel Link?
• Ford SYNC® with Traffic, Directions and Information
• Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion?
• Easy Fuel? Capless Fuel-Filler
• 3.5L EcoBoost? Twin Turbo Engine with Direct Injection
• Sony® Surround Sound System

Powerful Design
Taurus? exterior design is sculpted and athletic, making the new car even more upscale. Inside, the forward-leaning centerstack and sporty driver-oriented interior have been created with unbroken lines, reflecting attention to detail. Precision craftsmanship is reflected in high-quality interior materials, as well as exterior panel margins comparable to costly German sedans.

Impeccable Driving Dynamics
Matching its more athletic looks, the new Taurus features sporty driving dynamics. Handling reflects Ford DNA, combining responsive steering and road-holding with comfortable, compliant ride qualities.

Standard is Ford?s award-winning Duratec® 3.5-liter V-6 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, delivering impressive power and fuel economy and available in front- or all-wheel drive. The Taurus SHO has a twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost? V-6, delivering the power of a V-8, without compromise to its V-6 fuel efficiency. The SHO transfers its 365 horsepower and 350 ft.-lbs. of torque through a 6-speed SelectShift Automatic? gearbox, featuring steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and all-wheel drive.

Taurus chassis tuning has been enhanced with increased roll stiffness and more responsive steering. A new rear suspension configuration improves ride quality, adds agility, saves weight and enables use of 19- and 20-inch wheels and tires.

Taurus driving dynamics, driveline performance and fuel efficiency combine to provide sedan buyers with exceptional value.

Safety Sustained
Taurus safety begins with a body structure optimized for strength and stiffness. The energy-absorbing front structure features octagonal front frame rails, tunnel rails and ?shotgun? front structural members designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment.

Also included are dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, side impact air bags and Safety Canopy® with rollover sensor ? a Ford exclusive protection system featuring side curtain air bags that help protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollover and side impact crashes.

* article courtsey of www.ford.com

• Ford brand's quality continues to improve faster than the overall industry
• Ford brand's initial quality improved for the eighth consecutive year
• Ford F-150, Mustang, Edge and Mercury Sable were quality leaders in their respective vehicle segments
• F-250/F-350 Super-Duty manufacturing plant, Kentucky Truck in Louisville, was awarded a Bronze Plant Quality Award

DEARBORN, June 22, 2009 ? Ford Motor Company recorded another strong improvement in J.D. Power and Associates' 2009 Initial Quality Study, putting the Ford and Mercury brands among the best in the industry, placing the Ford and Mercury brands among the study's top ten brands scoring highest in initial quality.

The Ford brand, which continues to outpace the overall industry's quality improvement, now has posted eight consecutive years of gains in the closely watched quality study based on consumer evaluations after the first three months of new-vehicle ownership. Overall, the Ford brand improved by 10 points over last year's study.

"It is gratifying to see our commitment to quality paying off," said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president, Global Quality. "Ford has demonstrated consistent and continuous quality improvement and we won't be satisfied until Ford is the industry's global quality leader."

Some of Ford's most popular nameplates received top honors for their respective segment, including Ford F-150, Mustang, Edge and Mercury Sable.

J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study is based on responses from 80,930 new 2009 model-year vehicle owners after they have driven their new vehicles for three months. It measures problems per 100 vehicles and was based on November through February registrations.

"The Blue Oval is becoming synonymous with high quality with customers," Fowler said. "We're not only dramatically reducing defects, we are delivering the long-term durability and the superior craftsmanship that today's customers demand."

* article courtsey of www.ford.com