|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
 |
 |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
10-03-2009, 04:10 AM
|
||||
|
||||
First drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO
First drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO
 Ford's transformation has been extreme. Just a few years ago, it was a truck company that paid little more than lip service to the car side of its business. In a little over a year, Ford will have revamped its entire car portfolio. The latest versions of the Fusion and Mustang are already garnering praise. The new Fiesta and European Focus (hooray!) are slated to arrive next year, while the flagship Taurus is hitting showrooms now. The first thing that struck me about the new Taurus is its size. Riding on a long 2,868-millimetre wheelbase, there is a ton of space regardless of where one sits (the rear seat is limo-like) and a trunk that swallows 20.1 cubic feet of stuff. The good news is that the SHO's size does not hurt the car's comportment, either in how it handles on the highway or when schlepping through a busy mall. On the highway, the optional adaptive cruise control maintains a driver-adjustable distance behind the car ahead and acts as a collision warning system, while another gizmo (BLIS) alerts the driver if a vehicle slips into the blind spot. The backup camera, which appears in the rear-view mirror, eases the way into a parking space, and the cross-traffic monitoring system watches for cars when backing out. The leather-trimmed driver's seat with suede inserts is heated, cooled and fully articulated - there's even a built-in massage function. Combine this with the tilt and telescopic steering wheel and power-adjustable pedals and anyone of any stature can establish the correct driving position and set it into memory. The controls are logically placed. The rest of the cabin is crafted with the sort of precision expected of a car from Japan. The fit and finish is first class, the materials are rich and the audio system is to die for - the Sony unit belts out a tune as well as anything Lexus offers. Another of the SHO's impressive abilities is that it does not feel as large as its dimensions suggest. The sport-tuned suspension is firm enough to dial out body roll without being in the least harsh in the ride department. Throw in the oversized P245/45R20 tires and the SHO does a credible impersonation of a full-on sports car. Understeer is far enough out most will not encounter it, and when the brakes are hammered heading into a corner, there is little in the way of nosedive. The electrically assisted steering feels alive and, if things come unglued, Advance-Trac does its thing and keeps the driver pointed in the right direction. The keen handling would be little without the right sort of power. Here the SHO hits a homer - the turbocharged 3.5L EcoBoost V6 packs a hefty punch. Where the mortal Taurus has to make do with 263 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque, the SHO earns an extra 102 hp and 101 lb-ft of torque for a total of 365 and 350, respectively. There are two things worthy of note. First, as the torque turns up without the usual lag time and stays with the program until the stallions are at full gallop, there's no lull in the performance - the power curve runs from idle to redline. More importantly, the extra oomph comes without increasing fuel consumption. The SHO boasts the same city figure as the regular Taurus (12.3 litres/100 kilometres); at 8.0 L/100 km on the highway, it's 0.1 L/100 km thirstier: That's power without penalty. The lone quibble with the powertrain is found in the transmission. While it shifts impeccably and, with six ratios, works in perfect harmony with the engine, the fact the manual side only works when the shifter is in the manual position renders it redundant: The ability to downshift without moving the shifter lever is something expected of a good sports car. Ford is on a tear right now. The Fusion is the best hybrid on the road, the Fiesta is a delight and the European Focus (essentially the same car as the current Mazda3) promises to be a treat to drive. The new Taurus anchors things at the top end. It has the size without feeling ponderous and, in SHO guise, boasts enviable performance and tight handling. THE SPECS Type of vehicle: All-wheel-drive full-sized sedan Engine: Turbocharged 3.5L DOHC V6 Power: 365 hp @ 5,500 rpm; 350 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm Transmission: Six-speed manumatic Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS Tires: P245/45R20 Price: base/as tested: $29,999/$49,799 Destination charge: $1,350 Transport Canada fuel economy L/100 km: 12.3 city, 8.0 hwy. Standard features: Dual-zone automatic climate control with filtration, power locks, windows, sunroof and heated mirrors, Sony AM/FM/MP3/CD/DVD/Sirius satellite audio with 12 speakers and auxiliary input, Sync voice-activated communications and entertainment system, MyKey, leather eight-way heated/cooled driver/passenger seats with adjustable lumbar support and memory, heated outboard rear seats, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, message centre with compass and outside temperature, power rear sun shade, tire pressure monitoring, cross-traffic alert and blind spot monitoring, reverse-sensing system with backup camera.
__________________
Unauthorized decoding of encrypted signals from either domestic or foreign providers is against the law. >>>I personally do not, nor condone such activities<<<  
|
|
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 | Black&Silver | Automotive Talk | 2 | 08-30-2009 08:35 PM |
| Ford Explorer Help | apacheslayer | Automotive Talk | 0 | 07-30-2009 03:32 PM |
| Ford, Chrysler and GM's contributions after 9/11 | musky | World News | 1 | 07-07-2009 05:31 PM |
| Ford proves he is The Real Deal | Jrpca1 | Sports Room | 0 | 02-23-2008 05:57 PM |
Linear Mode
