The Demo Site

Mustang accessory wheels

Don't like the stock wheels on the new Mustang? No worries. Over at the Ford booth at this year's Detroit Auto Show, the 'Stang has its own little area dubbed "Mustang Alley" featuring a display of hoods employed through the years (pretty cool) and a "Mustang Garage" wall with the full lineup of accessory wheels available for the new pony. Ford Racing has offered a variety of wheels before, but this is something else entirely, as it seems Ford would like to redirect some of those aftermarket bucks right back into the coffers at Dearborn. Some of these are really good looking - the gold 20-inchers above look particularly great in person - and we've got the whole lineup posted in the gallery below. Click away.

2010 Ford Taurus

After Ford revealed the new 2010 Taurus this morning at the Detroit Auto Show, it sent out a press release with full pricing information for each model. As we mentioned earlier, the base price of Ford's new flagship sedan in SE trim is the same $25,995 as the 2009 model. For those looking for more toys in their car, Ford is still offering the SEL and Limited models at $27,995 and $31,995 respectively. The two upper trim levels can be had with paddle shifters for the 6-speed automatic, a first for the Taurus. We'll probably have to wait until closer to launch to find out how much goodies such as the cross traffic warning system, adaptive cruise control and collision mitigation will cost. The other big unknown remains the cost of the EcoBoost 3.5L V6 and its 350 hp. That's a Taurus we can't wait to try.

[Source: Ford]

2010 Ford Taurus

We exhaustively told you about the new 2010 Ford Taurus last night, but we've just seen the car in person, sat in it and left our fingerprints on all the shiny parts. Make no mistake, the new Taurus is an entirely different vehicle than the one it replaces, at least in terms of looks. It also feels like a more expensive car, with soft-touch materials, high quality plastics and creamy leather everywhere. While rear seat accommodations are commodious, front seat passengers will feel snug as a bug sitting on either side of the tall center console.

We also got a chance to see a Taurus SEL, which is one trim level below the Limited model that we've previously seen. Bathed in beige and wearing a different wheel design, even this more base level model looked rich and inviting with a light-and-dark two-tone interior.

Oh, and while we didn't manage to grab a pic, the trunk is large enough to fit at least five dead bodies. Just saying.

Check out our original reveal post on the 2010 Ford Taurus and our new gallery of high-res live images below. Video of the live reveal has been added after the jump.

2010 Shelby GT500

After an extensive talk about the Ford's efficiency-focused future, in which we'll all be driving battery-powered vehicles with charging points at every parking space, President of the Americas Mark Fields, resplendent in his signature mullet, introduced the very now, very $1.50-gas-friendly 2010 Shelby GT500. The new snakes burbled to life backstage as the EV presentation came to an end -- almost in defiance of the shiny happy green talk. Thoughts of a lithium ion-utopia were vaporized when Fields theatrically announced the arrival of "the best Mustang ever." On cue, a Torch Red GT500 coupe with white stripes and a Grabber Blue GT500 ragtop with red stripes roared into the arena. Carroll Shelby emerged from the red car, the Shelby/Ford Mutual Admiration Society was called to order, and a big hug was exchanged between Fields and the living legend, who just turned 86. With the pleasantries out of the way, the GT500s left trails of rubber as they made way for the star of Ford's show. Check out our new gallery of live shots below, which includes the Grabber Blue and Red Stripe number above, a color combo that Carroll reportedly picked out himself.

2010 Ford Taurus

Last month, Ford's President of the Americas Mark Fields remarked that it was going to be like 1986 all over again when the 2010 Ford Taurus arrives. The original Taurus that debuted during the Reagan Era was certainly groundbreaking, not only for its aerodynamic design that was unique in the mid-size sedan segment of the day, but also its tremendous value versus the competition. That car went on to become the best-selling passenger vehicle in the U.S. during the early '90s before a series of successively worse redesigns saw it fall from grace. It was sold uninterrupted for 21 years until late 2006 when the final one rolled off the assembly line at the company's assembly plant in Hapeville, GA. By that time, sales to the public had ceased and Ford was only selling the Taurus to fleets and rental companies, which had become the car's biggest customers as more and more families bought Camrys and Accords.

Then came Alan Mulally. Bill Ford Jr. replaced himself as CEO with Boeing's ex-head honcho and one of this Kansas-bred boy's first actions at the Blue Oval was to resurrect the Taurus name. Ford's new large sedan, the Five Hundred, wasn't selling well, and it was thought that slapping the Taurus name on it would help things. It didn't, and despite some substantive improvements to the car, the newly minted Taurus v2.0 earned a reputation for being a good but not great car that sold just enough to justify its existence.

The new 2010 Taurus has been completely redesigned, and Ford hopes all these changes to the exterior, interior, platform and powertrain will add up to a full-size car worthy of the Taurus name. Will it become the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. again? Not likely, but it will be a new halo car for the Ford brand that's crammed with all the best technology and state-of-the-art engines. Follow the jump to find out more.

2010 Ford EcoBoost Flex

Ford will finally bring the first of its EcoBoost engines to market in 2009, and one of the first few vehicles to get it will be the Flex. The 2010 Ford Flex will be offered with a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 that employs twin turbochargers and direction injection to achieve 355 horsepower (@ 5,700 rpm) and 350 lb-ft of torque (@ 3,500 rpm). Not only is the EcoBoost V6 powerful, but it's also relatively fuel efficient with MPG ratings of 22 on the highway and 18 combined in the Flex. Take note, however, as AWD is a requirement when ordering the EcoBoost engine on either the SEL or Limited models. And Ford's crossover isn't the only vehicle that will offer the EcoBoost V6, as the Lincoln MKS and new MKT full-size, three-row crossover will also offer the motor in 2009.

[Source: Ford]

On top of those new SYNC features we've already told you about, Ford showed off what its SYNC system might one day look like with configurable controls and a personal assistant "avatar" named Eva. The concept is meant to provide a more human interface with the vehicle to help drivers be safer and more efficient. Instead of the disembodied voice of KITT, Eva is an animated character on your instrument panel that converses with you in plain English. She's a little creepy, but chalk that up to the Uncanny Valley phenomenon.

Ford also says it will be taking SYNC to European markets in 2010 then to Asia Pacific and Australia.

Earlier today, Ford Executive VP Mark Fields also told us that his company is working with Best Buy to educate mobile phone customers about SYNC. CEO Alan Mulally (that's him in the red cardigan) went into more detail about the partnership later in his keynote speech at CES. Fields said sales reps in Best Buy's standalone mobile phone stores would educate customers on SYNC's new capabilities when paired with a Bluetooth-enabled smart phone and then point out what phones are compatible with Ford's infotainment system. Check out the video above, the gallery of Ford's big CES keynote below, and an official press release from the Blue Oval after the jump.