wescoent Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 No way this Taurus is RWD. This is, without a doubt, the D3-2 Taurus, which is a MY2010. The current Taurus, while best-in-class in many ways, still shares far too much with the 2005 Five Hundred. Key points for the 2010 Taurus: -All-new interior and exterior design. Look for the design language of the Explorer America concept, namely, a mix of Kinetic and Red-White-Bold cues. -New corporate switchgear, radio, and climate controls (think Flex) -New powertrains. While the 3.5L V6 and 3.5L EcoBoost are a given, I would not be surprised to see a 2.0L EcoBoost in the mix as well. 275hp is nothing to sneeze at, and it would mean some substantial fuel economy boosts. -Sport model. With the 3.5L EcoBoost under the hood, a sport model almost goes without saying. As to its name... SHO seems like a possibility. --- The overall finished product will be far more glamorous and proud than the current model. Think more Chrysler 300C than Toyota Avalon. My question is.. what happens to the Sable? Ford is indeed sticking with the RWD BOF Platform Whom Shall Not Be Named until 2012. I heard that Mercury has been kicked out of the D3 sedan program, but at the same time, a well-designed Mercury Sable with 340hp (cough Marauder cough) could really cramp the 300C's style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark B. Morrow Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 It's good news. Mulally isn't the kind of guy to let things slip out unintentionally. That would be Nardelli's way. If the Sable doesn't make the cut for a Taurus based car, I would think that is the end for Mercury no matter what the official Ford line is. The Taurus X won't be needed if the difference between SUV/wagon is split between a new Explorer and the Flex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Why does it have to be the end of Mercury? I still say with Ford and Lincoln providing the volume then Mercury can still exist for lower volume, niche vehicles rather than rebadged Fords. Roadsters, convertibles, premium hybrids - there are a lot of roles Mercury can play without being killed off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford-150 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Why does it have to be the end of Mercury? I still say with Ford and Lincoln providing the volume then Mercury can still exist for lower volume, niche vehicles rather than rebadged Fords. Roadsters, convertibles, premium hybrids - there are a lot of roles Mercury can play without being killed off. yes i believe this could happen and it would be nice to see a new Cougar sports car and such, but to get there they need to stop making rebadges and i mean some of the most obvious re-badges ever it could be: Ford-parent company with vehicles for every role Lincoln-global luxury brand Mercury-i don't know, maybe the "fun" brand, but it will take a lot of work, and if they do kill it, i wouldn't miss it a whole lot but this new Taurus better be good because, i hate to say it but right now people look down at the Taurus as a fleet car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCK Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Also during the speech, Mulally said a new Ford Taurus, once the best-selling car in the U.S., is coming in 2009, although when asked about it later he said: "I probably said too much." This is big news. We knew about an all new Taurus, but next year is surprise! :happy feet: I was expecting next year as well. I have a good feeling about the new taurus..........the currrent vehicle is great............but it is so bland inside and out that Toyota could have trouble selling it. So take the fact that everything under the skin is great, add a hot new skin and I see it doing well. Add the fact that it needs to be advertised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark B. Morrow Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Why does it have to be the end of Mercury? I still say with Ford and Lincoln providing the volume then Mercury can still exist for lower volume, niche vehicles rather than rebadged Fords. Roadsters, convertibles, premium hybrids - there are a lot of roles Mercury can play without being killed off. I might agree if there was any inkling that the powers at Ford had a direction for Mercury other than the slightly upscale Ford division aimed at stylish women. If Ford would make a pronouncement that "We have plans to revive the Mercury Brand" instead of just denials of its demise, I might be more optimistic. Mercury could fill a void for lower volume niche cars, imports form Europe/Australia/S. America at completely different price points than Ford. I would like to see Mercury continue. I think there is potential for the brand. They have to choose to do something soon. If they don't and merely continue to kill off products one by one (Mountaineer and Sable ), Mercury will end up like Oldsmobile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I have a good feeling about the new taurus..........the currrent vehicle is great............but it is so bland inside and out that Toyota could have trouble selling it. Oh come on, Toyota had no trouble selling blandsville Camrys for the past decade or so. At least the Camry now doesn't look boring. Hear it's still boring as hell to drive though.... If Ford had a decent reputation and advertised the Taurus it would sell. That said, it's no wonder it's not selling worth a damn. It will take something more exciting to make people take notice of it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Oh come on, Toyota had no trouble selling blandsville Camrys for the past decade or so. At least the Camry now doesn't look boring. Hear it's still boring as hell to drive though.... If Ford had a decent reputation and advertised the Taurus it would sell. That said, it's no wonder it's not selling worth a damn. It will take something more exciting to make people take notice of it again. or...good looking......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherminator98 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 or...good looking......... While it might not be a looker, it is an improvement over the 500...but as we've seen lately from Ford, it seems like they are taking more risks with styling and pushing things and so far they haven't screwed it up yet with future and upcoming products. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 or...good looking......... Well, by "exciting" I meant the styling execution as well. I wouldn't say the current Taurus is ugly per se, just dull dull dull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomaro Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Hear it's still boring as hell to drive though.... Except the V6 goes like hell. Its like driving my Mustang...goes like hell in a straight line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Well, by "exciting" I meant the styling execution as well. I wouldn't say the current Taurus is ugly per se, just dull dull dull. dull as an uncleaned window in a deserted barn...BIG time....hate to harp, but STYLING is what is the #1 hot button, at least initially, and if the next Taurus is the one that had Mullay sobbing in the corner than i for one can't wait! Just look at all the positive about the Verve...not much has been mentioned of the drivetrain........STYLING BOYZ, styling......bitching about the powertrains comes later..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Except the V6 goes like hell. Its like driving my Mustang...goes like hell in a straight line. Except a Mustang is actually fun to drive, even in a straight line (well, if it's a V8). If the Camry is anything like my mom's Avalon (which is rather peppy) it would still put you to sleep no matter how inspiring a drive you tried to take in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 If Ford would make a pronouncement that "We have plans to revive the Mercury Brand" instead of just denials of its demise, I might be more optimistic. They have to choose to do something soon. If they don't and merely continue to kill off products one by one (Mountaineer and Sable ), Mercury will end up like Oldsmobile. Interesting connection: GM announced that it was going to revive Oldsmobile. And then killed it. IMO, any 'revival' of Mercury would be a case of the cure being worse than the disease. Mercury, frankly, cannot justify, and does not need, a major investment in a revival. It simply does not, as a stable (excluding the Grand Marquis) albeit marginal brand, need to have its boat rocked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Interesting connection: GM announced that it was going to revive Oldsmobile.And then killed it. IMO, any 'revival' of Mercury would be a case of the cure being worse than the disease. Mercury, frankly, cannot justify, and does not need, a major investment in a revival. It simply does not, as a stable (excluding the Grand Marquis) albeit marginal brand, need to have its boat rocked. Well, I think the only sort of "revival" Mercury needs is some consistency. Changing tactics and marketing can be just as wasteful as changing products. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZanatWork Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Mercury obviously needs me at its helm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I hope BlueII can answer this: could this car be the "coming out party" for Moray Callum as head of design for Ford NA? Everyone has been talking about Horbury, but Callum (yes, he's Ian's younger brother) was brought in after his success at Mazda, and tasked with giving Ford NA a design identity. His hands are probably somewhat tied by the global aspect of products like the Verve and Focus, but the Taurus would be his chance to introduce something unique. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I hope BlueII can answer this: could this car be the "coming out party" for Moray Callum as head of design for Ford NA? Everyone has been talking about Horbury, but Callum (yes, he's Ian's younger brother) was brought in after his success at Mazda, and tasked with giving Ford NA a design identity. His hands are probably somewhat tied by the global aspect of products like the Verve and Focus, but the Taurus would be his chance to introduce something unique. Thoughts? Hmmm...very good question. I also wonder what's up with big brother Ian. Is he destined to jump ship with the sale of J-LR, or will Ford be able to keep him somehow? I think he's a brilliant designer. Would be a shame to see him leave the company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
focus05 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I don't know. The more I think about Mercury, the more I think it just needs to go away. Scion is proving very difficult for Toyota to maintain because it doesn't have the volume to justify complete distinction, so now it overlaps mainline Toyota too much by sharing platforms, engines, transmissions and styling cues that used to be unique or at least separate in the U.S., and I think this is a recurring theme where brand B dilutes brand A - and brand A is the brand against which your entire company is measured. Lexus, for example, doesn't overlap Toyota, and Lincoln is diverging now against Ford, but Mercury is too much like Scion - and kind of just in the way. Without a drastically different product line, I don't know that it will be viable long-term. That means offering something that Ford mainline won't or can't for brand maintenance reasons or risk. A Ford/Lincoln model is becoming more and more attractive to me as a longer-term strategy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkarlo Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I have heard the X gos to pasture, really no need for it with Flex;s Edges, new Explorers? etc etc....too many products IMO. As for the Taurus, I think it was tuned more for comfort than handling, it isn't that bad, but it isn't that great in the twisties...but for a long distance freeway ride would be tough to find ( barring a Crown vic....oh my god i'm agrreeing w Moby!!!!!!!!!!!! ) a vehicle less fatiging... I dunno I see a lot of Freestyles/TXs here. I tink they may be poplar in some areas. If they put some $ into marketing them, they might get some better returns. Plus they totally cover the SUV/CUV market then. Especially if they sell LR. I don't think the TX uses up too many resources it is similar to the other CUVs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I dunno I see a lot of Freestyles/TXs here. I tink they may be poplar in some areas. If they put some $ into marketing them, they might get some better returns. Plus they totally cover the SUV/CUV market then. Especially if they sell LR. I don't think the TX uses up too many resources it is similar to the other CUVs. absolute flop here ( So Cal ).....no one even seems to stock them.....shame, kinda like the car, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 (edited) I hope BlueII can answer this: could this car be the "coming out party" for Moray Callum as head of design for Ford NA? Everyone has been talking about Horbury, but Callum (yes, he's Ian's younger brother) was brought in after his success at Mazda, and tasked with giving Ford NA a design identity. His hands are probably somewhat tied by the global aspect of products like the Verve and Focus, but the Taurus would be his chance to introduce something unique. Thoughts? The next Taurus? — That's a-Moray! :happy feet: Hope he becomes head of Ford styling, where he can be the Moray Wheel. Edited January 22, 2008 by Edstock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinb120 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 (edited) Well if this pans out...maybe this is the reason why? :shades: Toyota makes every effort to sell Corollas, even when the platform is over a decade old I would bet the big thing with the next Taurus is getting the new basic roofline from the MKS rather then the astrodome it has now, so it may not be that far off. The car is the most sophisticated and safest in class now, so why does it need anything radical like RWD?? We definitely sell more Taurus X's then sedans, but I do manage to see them on the roads quite often. Being that japanese competitors do very little for platform upgrades, the D3 is more then up to the task. The problem is the curent car is still 'behind', as the original styling was destined for 2003 but with no motor ended up getting squeezed out in 05(still with no motor) and in 07 finally came out as intended in 2003. Updating the roofline to allow for a less bulbus style on the body panels is really all the car needs with all the new powertrains here and in the immediate future. The roof sticks the car with a style it needs to get away from, and is the most expensive component to change. With tooling up for the MKS, its a pretty simple transition rather then having two completely different shells in the same family. Edited January 22, 2008 by kevinb120 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford-150 Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Toyota makes every effort to sell Corollas, even when the platform is over a decade old I would bet the big thing with the next Taurus is getting the new basic roofline from the MKS rather then the astrodome it has now, so it may not be that far off. The car is the most sophisticated and safest in class now, so why does it need anything radical like RWD?? We definitely sell more Taurus X's then sedans, but I do manage to see them on the roads quite often. it better not look too much like the MKS or the MKS will be looked at as just another re-badged Ford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Wonder if the Taurus will end up being our first glimpse of the global design language... Like I said earlier, this is what I want: As distinctive as the Fusion, as cohesive as the Mondeo. Hopefully, I'm not asking for too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts