Ford Makes MyFordTouch Infotainment System Simpler, Faster: Video

Following a chorus of criticism of its MyFordTouch system, Ford has upgraded the software for the 2013 model year–and will make the upgrade available for all vehicles that have been sold with earlier versions.

The company is continuing to make MyFordTouch available on its lineup of new vehicles.

The latest Ford models to be offered with MyFordTouch are the 2013 Taurus and 2013

Flex–although it is not yet offered on the company’s best-selling model line, the F-Series pickup truck range.

It will also be available on the all-new Ford Escape compact crossover, which is to be unveiled to the public next week at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Faster responses, cleaner screens

The upgrade includes faster response for touch-screen inputs, better voice recognition, and compatibility with a wider range of mobile phones as well as tablets and Audible.com e-books.

2010 FORD TAURUS RESALE VALUE JUMPS 39 PERCENT

source: media.ford.com

• After one year in service, the hot-selling 2010 Ford Taurus is posting a resale value increase of 39 percent – or $7,100 – over the 2009 model
• Resale value of 2010 Ford Taurus now surpasses that of the 2010 Toyota Avalon by $2,500
• Key contributors to the residual value improvement are the design, quality, customer satisfaction and state-of-the-art technology offered with the 2010 Ford Taurus

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 16, 2010 – After one year in service, the hot-selling 2010 Ford Taurus is commanding impressive results at auction, posting an average 39 percent increase in resale value – or $7,100 – over the 2009 model.

The huge leap reflects the strong appeal of Ford’s full-size sedan, according to Rose Peng, manager, Global Lifecycle Analytics Department (GLAD).

Ford confirms EcoBoost for Explorer and F-150, three EcoBoost engines by end of 2010

source: egmCarTech

FoMoCo is kicking off this week of April 12th with the announcement that it will add three more EcoBoost engines by the end of 2010 and that by 2014, it plans to have 20 percent of Ford’s global vehicle nameplates with fuel-saving stop/start system. The Dearborn automaker said that by 2013 Ford expects to be producing approximately 1.5 million EcoBoost engines globally, about 200,000 more than originally expected.

“We are focused on sustainable technology solutions that can be used not for hundreds or thousands of cars, but for millions of cars, because that’s how Ford will truly make a difference,” said Barb Samardzich, Ford’s vice president of powertrain engineering.

The three new Ford EcoBoost engines will include:

• A 1.6L 4-cylinder that will be offered in the European C-MAX.
• A 2.0L 4-cylinder that will debut in the next-generation Ford Explorer and Ford Edge.
• A new 3.5L V6 for the F-150 – expected to deliver best-in-class fuel economy along with the power and towing capability of a V8.

The addition of the three new engines will increase the number of global nameplates with EcoBoost to 11. Currently, the company offers EcoBoost on the Ford Flex, Taurus SHO and Lincoln MKS andMKT.

2010 Ford Taurus secures Five Stars from NHTSA due to Car Safety Technology

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec., 2009 – The strong-selling new 2010 Ford Taurus has earned top five-star crash ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is seeing good consumer response to its suite of advanced crash-avoidance technologies.

The redesigned Ford flagship sedan previously earned a “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.

“The new Taurus is the Ford safety flagship with top safety ratings and advanced crash-protection and crash-avoidance technologies that you may not find in luxury vehicles that cost twice as much,” said Sue Cischke, group vice president for Ford Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “A stiffer body structure and new crash-avoidance technologies make the Taurus even safer.”

FORD TAURUS NAMED INTERNATIONAL CAR OF THE YEAR

Los Angeles, Dec. 2, 2009 – The 2010 Ford Taurus today was named International Car of the Year (ICOTY) at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The ICOTY award honors new-year model vehicles that foster an emotional connection with consumers. The all-new Ford Taurus was voted the winner of the 14th annual award by a panel of 19 automotive media from around the U.S. representing top newspapers, magazines and Web sites.

“This award is not centered on power and performance. It’s about how a car reflects our personalities, lifestyles and self-image and how well the automaker achieves that goal through the design and marketing of the vehicle,” said Courtney Caldwell, ICOTY’s creator and executive producer.

With its athletic, upscale design, the 2010 Ford Taurus combines class-leading technologies with confident, engaging driving dynamics. It features an impressive set of standard and available technologies that add convenience, connectivity, safety and value for customers, such as Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross Traffic Alert, MyKey™ parental programmability, Ford SYNC® and Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link™.

“Taurus is not just a car you need to get from point A to point B, it is a car you want to arrive in in style,” said Pei-Wen Hsu, Taurus marketing manager. “The new Taurus gives you a little blast of attitude and turns heads around every corner.”