At a press preview last night here in New York City, home of the New York auto show, Ford's well-drilled squadron of executives and engineers used variations on the word "refinement" so often in describing the 2013 Taurus that we're strongly tempted not to use the word purely out of spite. If only the editorial budget had room for a new thesaurus!
But refined is exactly what the buffed-up Taurus is: fundamentally the same car it has been since its 2009 redesign but significantly evolved in ways both substantial and frivolous.
Changes range from innocuous interior nips and tucks and inevitable styling tweaks, to the availability of a new 237-horsepower, turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter "EcoBoost" four-cylinder that should have the big four-door EPA-rated as high as 31 mpg on the highway.
The most visually apparent change is a new trapezoidal front grille that leads to a more muscularly sculpted hood and flows back to a fresh deck lid, new taillights and standard dual exhaust on all models. Every 2013 Taurus variant looks more confident than before, but the model that benefits most is the high-performance SHO that fills its front trapezoid with "ebony black" mesh and gets a set of new, nearly gorgeous, painted and polished wheels. Finally the SHO gets some intimidating looks to go with the 365-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6.
Pay for the new SHO "Performance Package" and the suspension is retuned, the wheels grow to 20 inches in diameter inside more tenacious P245/45YR20 Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, the stability control gains a new Track mode that can be turned off, the final drive ratio shortens to 3.16:1, the electric power steering is recalibrated and the brakes get grippier pads with "track-tuned" calipers. Unfortunately, Ford hasn't finished those calipers in Brembo fashion, leaving the SHO without the visual wallop such well-finished brakes add to cars like the Cadillac CTS-V.
The trapezoidal grille in less potent Taurus models now includes a slick automatic opening and closing shutter system. When the Taurus is running cool, the shutters stay closed for better aerodynamics. When the radiator needs the airflow, the shutters open to let the atmosphere pass through. It's the same technology Ford already uses on the hyper-mileage Focus SFE.
Every 2013 Taurus will come with an electronic "torque vectoring" system that uses the slight application of braking to the outside front wheel to simulate the effect of a limited-slip differential. Whether or not it's actually as effective as an LSD is a question yet to be answered.
While the optional EcoBoost four will get the most attention, Ford has also fortified the standard 3.5-liter V6 with twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) to bump its output up to an "anticipated" 290 horsepower. That's 27 more than in the current 2011 Taurus and, Ford says, it will be accompanied by improved fuel economy, too. All Taurus models will continue to use various versions of a six-speed automatic transmission.
Inside, the Taurus interior is upgraded with new plastic surfaces that aren't just soft to the touch, but downright squishy. Push into some dash panels and your index finger will seemingly disappear almost to the first knuckle. Also fresh to the Taurus are available "multicontour" seats with built-in Active Motion massage technology to cut down on both driver fatigue and those thick monthly membership fees at Massage Envy.
As far as onboard electronics go, the 2013 Taurus gets the latest versions of Sync and the MyFord Touch onboard entertainment and comfort control systems. The twin technologies also enable Ford to break the record for using the greatest number of superscripted trademark and registration symbols in a single automotive press release. Well done, Ford press office.
Once Ford's most not-special and taken-for-granted sedan, the 2013 Taurus takes up its new position as flagship for the brand after this midcycle trip through the developmental sifter. Queen Crown Victoria is dead – or at least dying a prolonged, agonizing death. All hail the new monarch! All hail King Taurus!
The 2013 Taurus should go on sale in spring 2012 if civilization lasts that long.
