Ford announces heavily upgraded 2013 Taurus

Ford's

A revised 2013 Taurus enhances styling, improves interior quality, ups features, and offers 4-cylinder EcoBoost performance and fuel economy. (Photo: Ford)

2013 Taurus will feature a standard 3.5-litre V6 engine that uses a twin independent variable camshaft to deliver 290 horsepower. A 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine will be optional, and like the top-line Taurus SHO's V6 EcoBoost it makes use of a turbocharger and direct injection to benefit performance and fuel economy, resulting in a claimed 237 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque and 7.6 L/100km on the highway. Both engines will be paired to six-speed automatic transmissions.

Exterior updates of the 2013 Taurus include a more sculpted hood, larger wheels and tires, and revised bodywork which includes raised rear quarter panels.

Inside, the 2013 Taurus makes use of recycled material for cloth surfaces and the headliner while

Subtle detail changes improve rear end design. (Photo: Ford)

soy foam is used in the seat cushions. Ford says the upgraded Taurus features an increased use of soft-touch, high-quality materials in the cabin as well as upgraded materials for the instrument panel and centre console. Ford even used the more upscale Audi A6 as a target for the 2013 Taurus' fit and finish.

Technological innovations include MyFord Touch, which replaces traditional buttons, knobs and gauges with LCD screens and steering wheel controls. MyFord Touch works in conjunction with the SYNC voice-control system to enable voice control over Bluetooth devices, MP3 players and other vehicle functions. Furthermore, Electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) is claimed to improve steering

Ford updates an already impressive Taurus interior with yet more soft-touch plastics and high-grade materials. (Photo: Ford)

response by "speeding up the steering ratio."

The 2013 Taurus also has an available heated steering wheel and heated and cooled leather seats, while a rear window power sunshade can be added to its optional amenities. The car also boasts a rearview camera with an eight-inch screen, an increasingly popular feature on new vehicles.

Available safety features include, but are not limited to adaptive cruise control and curve control braking, which slows the car down if a driver has entered a curve too quickly. A collision warning system is offered and alerts drivers to slow moving traffic ahead and even pre-charges the brakes in order to help the car slow down. The 2013 Taurus

Optional Sony audio and impressive MyFord Touch interface to improve Ford flagship owner experience. (Photo: Ford)

also offers Ford's Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), which alerts drivers if a vehicle is in the Taurus' blind spot.

"We have significantly upgraded Ford's flagship sedan through obsessive attention to detail," said Ford's President of The Americas Mark Fields. "The new Taurus builds on the transformation we achieved in the 2010 model. Delivering so many upgrades so soon further underscores Ford's leadership and commitment to delivering high-quality, fuel-efficient cars for our customers."

The 2013 Ford Taurus is expected next year, and will surely pose a threat to its domestic, Asian and European rivals.©(Copyright Canadian Auto Press)]]>