TAURUS X MARKS THE SPOT FOR SAFETY, CONVENIENCE
08/01/2008
Ford
Named by Kelley Blue Book as one of the family-friendliest vehicles of 2008, the Ford Taurus X continues to please for 2009. This full-size crossover offers three rows of seating, a powerful 3.5-liter V-6 engine with six-speed automatic transmission, and a long list of standard safety equipment - including side curtain air bags and AdvanceTrac(R) electronic stability control. Innovative convenience features on the Taurus X include one-touch, flip-and-fold second-row seating and an available power rear liftgate.
"Taurus X offers a complete package and people are starting to take notice," says Kate Pearce, marketing manager for Taurus X. "It's a great-looking vehicle with a lot of cargo and passenger capacity that provides unparalleled safety for families on the go."
Bold exterior
The Taurus X offers a look unlike anything on the road. With a nostalgic nod to yesteryear's station wagon, Taurus X charges into tomorrow grille-first. The distinctive three-bar chrome nose is a rugged reminder that Taurus X is a member of the Ford family.
The popular Eddie Bauer branded series is back again for 2009. Ford's relationship with the Eddie Bauer brand over the last two decades has proven to be very popular with customers, with a nearly 40 percent take rate of the series on both the Ford Explorer and Expedition. The Eddie Bauer series includes a unique two-tone paint scheme, standard 18-inch, five-spoke aluminum wheels, wiper activated headlamps and an Eddie Bauer badge.
Brilliant interior
Customers shopping for a three-row crossover are looking for space and convenience features - and the 2009 Taurus X offers both in spades. Two applause-worthy features set Taurus X apart: one-touch, flip-and-fold second row seats that provide easy access to the third row and an available power rear liftgate. Controls for the power liftgate are located on the center console, rear cargo area and on the key fob.
Piling people into the Taurus X is a snap, whether the vehicle is purchased with the 6- or 7-passenger configuration. Stadium seating and best-in-class room for third-row passengers means a comfortable ride for all, whether it's three couples hitting the town for the evening or carpool kids coming home from school.
One-touch flip-and-fold seats provide effortless access to the third row - a must when young ones are climbing in. Families also have the option of equipping the second row with captain's chairs and no center console for convenient walk-through access.
Costco trips are a breeze thanks to a generous rear cargo area. Buy a bit more than you'd planned? Taurus X can handle it: With the second and third row folded flat, this vehicle offers 85.2 cu. ft. of cargo space behind the first row. With the front passenger seat folded flat, you can take home items as big as 9 feet long.
Additional family-friendly features include an available DVD player with a large, eight-inch screen for backseat passengers, as well as the exclusive Ford SYNC, the voice-activated, hands-free, in-car communications and entertainment system. Developed in collaboration with Microsoft, this innovative system fully integrates cell phones and MP3 players into the vehicle.
Powertrain delivers
Ford's 3.5-liter Duratec 35 V-6 engine delivers an estimated 260 horsepower. A six-speed-automatic gearbox that was developed in tandem with the Duratec 35 manages its power and delivers a sharp performance.
Even with impressive power and torque, the 2009 Taurus X posts respectable real-world fuel economy numbers of up to 24 mpg on the highway and TK mpg in the city.
This vehicle's available intelligent all-wheel-drive system incorporates an active, on-demand electro-mechanical center coupler to allocate a precise amount of torque from front to rear, up to 100 percent to either axle. This system can also anticipate wheel slip before it happens. Under heavy acceleration, for example, the system will proactively allocate torque to the rear wheels before the front wheels begin to slip.
X marks the spot for safety
The experts agree: Taurus X is on the money for safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2008 Taurus X a Top Safety Pick, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the vehicle its highest five-star rating for its performance in front- and side-impact tests. Every 2009 Taurus X has standard anti-lock brakes and AdvanceTrac(R) electronic stability control, a feature nearly 70 percent of car shoppers are interested in, according to Ford customer research.
The AdvanceTrac system can predict the vehicle's path using a sensor to detect and measure oversteer and yaw by monitoring the vehicle's speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When the system senses wheel slip or the loss of traction, the system reduces engine torque and applies braking where needed to keep the car tracking safely on its intended path.
The 2009 Taurus X features standard dual-stage driver and passenger front air bags, seat-deployed side air bags for driver and front passenger and Ford's Safety Canopy(TM) side curtain air bags for all three rows. The advance side air curtains feature roll-fold technology to enhance protection during an extended crash event. New reinforcements in the foot well area provide for better crash protection, while side impact protection is improved with pressurized crash sensors in the doors and redesigned interior door panels.
New for 2009 the SOS Post-Crash Alert system, which automatically flashes the turn signal lamps and pulses the vehicle horn immediately following an emergency to alert first responders of the need for help and the vehicle's location.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 229,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit our website at www.ford.com.