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The upcoming launch of the new Ford Taurus and Fusion sedans is "critical" to the success of Ford Motor Co., according to Ford Americas President Mark Fields, who also acknowledged that the company cannot get enough batteries to meet demand for its hybrid cars and sport utility vehicles.
Blue Oval counting on Taurus, Fusion for success | detnews.com | The Detroit News (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081229/AUTO01/812290329/1148 - broken link)
From what I've read so far, the new Taurus will share components or be based upon the European Ford Mondeo. Haven't found details on how much they share in common but what photos I have seen kind of remind me of the Toyota Avalon (new model). The Mazda6 recently went slightly larger and more atheletic looking. Since the Ford Fusion is based on the Mazda6 (previous model) it stands to reason that the new Fusion will also be bigger if still based upon the Mazda6. The current Taurus isn't a bad car but it's such a big yawn.
From what I can tell by that picture, the new Taurus looks very similar to the current Camry.
My biggest concern with Ford is that they're using the "Duratec" V6 in all of their cars now. I don't know about the Duratecs now, but the 2.5 version in the late 90's Contours were crap. I hate to say it, but American car makers have never been very good at designing DOHC engines, OHV engines have always been their specialty.
There's no doubt they have improved, I'm just saying domestic companies can't afford any more disasters like the Quad 4, the Chrysler 2.7, the Ford Duratec 2.5, or that awful 3.4 DOHC V6 GM temporarily used in the Lumina and Grand Prix.
The upcoming launch of the new Ford Taurus and Fusion sedans is "critical" to the success of Ford Motor Co...........
This has been covered before, but I think Ford is totally throwing away their best chance of "success" by refusing to sell their 65 MPG diesel-powered Fiesta ECOnetic in North America. They cite a reluctance of US drivers to buy diesel as the reason, but to me that is simply lazy marketing - taking the low-lying fruit, as it were - instead of getting to work and by exceptional sales techniques carving out their own market niche. Its suspiciously as if they are somehow beholden to the petroleum industry to continue the US reliance on gasoline as the dominant fuel.
For several years modern automotive diesels have been more powerful, quieter and almost odor free, but it seems Ford would rather continue selling gasoline fueled clunkers than be on the leading edge of a major market shift. Better to be "one of the guys" than a rock star, I guess. Maybe they will survive. Maybe they won't.
It looks like a nicely styled car from what I can tell. I think a V8 should be an option in the Taurus since its now the "big" Ford, now that Crown Victoria is gone. The Chevrolet Impala has a V8 option.
Since the Crown Vic is gone (is it?) does anyone think that police departments will start going with the Taurus? Our local squad is now using the latest generation Impalas, Intrepids and a couple of Jeep Cherokees left. Some others are the last generation Impala and I have even seen a couple of mid 90s Caprices still on the squad, but these are detective cars.
Just got my new issue of Car and Driver in the mail... they picked the Fusion as their fave hybrid sedan (compared to the Malibu, Camry, and Altima). They stated the Fusion had "superb quality". Here comes Ford back into the game! Their verdict of the Fusion: "Ford hits one out of the park and into the ionosphere."
Their ranking (in order):
4. Malibu
3. Altima
2. Camry
1. Fusion
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