By Nauman Farooq

The Taurus has been one of the most successful sedans in Ford’s North American line-up, and for 2010 it hopes to continue with its success with the introduction of the new Taurus.

Ford wants buyers to look at the new Taurus as an “aspirational car”, a car luxury car buyers would want to own. To attract such buyers, Ford is claiming it will be the quietest car in its line-up.

However, this is not an all-new car, it rides on the same platform as the Lincoln MKS, which itself rides on a modified version of the current Taurus platform.

Ford Taurus (photo: Isaac Adams-Hands)

So it is more like “the emperor has new clothes” rather than an all-new effort. It even has the same engine as the current Taurus, a 3.5-liter, V6 producing 262 hp. The only transmission available will be a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters, for spirited driving!

The interior is where Ford seems to have spent most time with, it looks much better than that of any Taurus before and the quality of the fit and finish is superb. The exterior styling is also much improved, borrowing cues from Ford’s European market models.

The 2010 Taurus will go on sale this summer.