ASHEVILLE, N.C., June 15, 2009 – The 2010 Taurus takes craftsmanship and attention to detail to a whole new level.

Outside, Taurus quality is evident in body panel gap margins that rival costly German sedans. This improved craftsmanship is the result of the expanded use of computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering during the Taurus development cycle.

“The digital tools we now use in the design phase and the product development process are so sophisticated that we can design, refine, test and assemble the Taurus in the virtual realm,” said Pete Reyes, Taurus chief engineer. “We can delay going to ‘hard tooling’, which improves quality, speeds development time, and saves money. It’s a win-win-win.”

A stiffer Taurus body structure also contributes to the quality a customer can see, but also enhances the driving experience the driver can feel.

On the inside, Taurus quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail are direct results of three factors:

• Technology
• Improved materials
• Assembly methodology

“The door panels are a terrific example of technology adding to Taurus craftsmanship,” said Lon Zaback, interior design manager. “With our supplier partner, we’ve developed a cost-effective method to give each of the interior door panels, within a Taurus, a hand-crafted appeal, a unique texture and a signature all its own.”

While each door in a Taurus interior has the same designed appearance, this unique process gives each interior panel a “fingerprint”. The concept of “mass customization” means that a customer – looking closely – will see minute textural differences between each door in their Taurus – as if each one was hand-wrapped individually.

Improved materials, in all types of interior surfaces, are softer to the touch. Improved padding, backing up these softer surfaces, allow for significantly improved Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) control levels.

“A softer, sculpted surface says quality,” said Zaback. “A quieter ride reinforces that quality.”

Another element of attention to detail in the Taurus interior design is the reduction of gaps between panels. An improved assembly process makes this craftsmanship possible. The center console is assembled into the vehicle which creates an integrated look, rather than being a sub-assembly created elsewhere and added as a complete unit.

“Notice how the instrument panel flows down the centerstack, then right into the integrated center console. The continuous surfaces and lack of panel gaps reduce visual clutter and impart a sense of seamless craftsmanship to the customer,” added Zaback.

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Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 205,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.