Ford Taurus 2010 launches in the Middle East

The highly acclaimed new Taurus has already been dubbed America's most innovative sedan, winning Edmunds.com's Technology Breakthrough Award and appearing as the official vehicle of the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show and last year's GITEX in Dubai. Techies, safety experts, drivers and critics have all put the Taurus in a class of its own.

The new Taurus was also named among the "Top 10 Family Cars for 2010," according to the editors of Kelley Blue Book's (kbb.com), who also recently awarded the new model the "Best Resale Value" accolade in the full-size car category, because it offered a great combination of value, technology and style all wrapped up into a very good price.

"There are far too many claims of 'a revolution' in motoring," said Hussein Murad, director of sales, Ford Middle East. "But when you look at the advances that have been made in the Taurus, you have to take a step back. These incredible features are normally something that could only ever have come with a luxury car and a luxury price tag. Taurus is a smart car in every sense. It is very much a case of innovation catering to the customer's needs rather than adding gimmicks."

In addition to the innovative Ford SYNC® that provides voice-activated telecommunications and entertainment connectivity, the Taurus also offers Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross Traffic Alert, cooled Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion™, and a second generation SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry Keypad.

Other class-exclusive features include:

• MyKey - a programmable feature that allows parents or fleet operators to limit top speed and audio volume and set speed alert chimes to encourage safer driving.

• Sony Audio System - a surround-sound system that delivers Dolby Digital 5.1 sound through 12 high-quality Sony speakers.

• Easy Fuel Capless Fuel Filler - a self-seal system without a traditional fuel cap. No lost, dangling or spinning caps. It seals automatically every time.

And safer driving is what has made the Taurus even more remarkable. Rather than sacrifice some of the factors that contribute to Ford's industry-leading safety record, much of the technology is based around it.

The new Taurus features crash-avoidance technologies, such as a segment-first, radar-based forward collision warning system that helps drivers avoid accidents. The system uses a radar sensor to detect moving vehicles ahead and provides a visual "heads-up" warning signal and an audible warning when slower-moving traffic is detected ahead.

The Taurus has been named as the Ford safety flagship and has earned top five-star crash ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and "Top Safety Pick" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Ford Motor Company has more IIHS "Top Safety Picks" and NHTSA five-star ratings than any other automaker.

Murad believes that safety should always walk hand in hand with motoring technology. "What Ford has achieved with the new 2010 Taurus is a unique experience coupled with unprecedented protection. The safety technologies that are available in the Taurus are barely available in vehicles twice its price. It is a fantastic achievement and great news for drivers, owners and passengers."

The new Taurus also features some of the industry's first side air bags that use pressure pulses from a side impact to deploy up to 30 percent faster than traditional air bags with acceleration-based sensors.

Other key safety features include:

• Side Protection and Cabin Enhancement (SPACE) Architecture is comprised of a hydroformed cross-car beam embedded in the floor between the door frames, providing additional strength in the side of the vehicle.

• Trinity Front Crash Architecture - a new body structure optimized for strength and stiffness. The energy-absorbing structure features octagonal front frame rails, engine cradle/front subframe and "shotgun" front structural members designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment.

• AdvanceTrac with ESC (Electronic Stability Control) constantly monitors road conditions and the driver's responses, using sensors to detect and measure the vehicle's oversteer and yaw to help detect and prevent potentially dangerous conditions.

"Consumers demand the latest on-the-go innovation in their cars and Ford vehicles are increasingly being built with cutting-edge technology that makes driving safer and more enjoyable. The Taurus is the perfect example of bringing premium features at an affordable price," added Murad.