Detroit: A New Taurus from Ford: Re-do of a classic best seller

Paddling shifting... in a Taurus? Yes, in the new SEL and Limited series models of the 2010 Taurus. And this is cool - a capless fuel filler system. The self-sealing system means no fuel cap is required. And that means no stinky, smelly gas or road scum ever touches your hand because you don't have to unscrew a cap. Maybe that's a girl thing, but I like it. Sometimes eau de Octane is not what one wants to wear.

The Taurus designers understand another motorists' pet peeve.

A driving incivility high on the annoyance list is a brake check by the inattentive driver on the road ahead who suddenly realizes the cars in front of him are slowing. Adaptive cruise control in the new Ford Taurus may help prevent those annoyances by automatically adjusting speed and maintaining a safe distance with out knee-jerk reactions.

Adaptive cruise control is one of the many tech goodies inside the new Taurus. Plug-ins for I-pods or MP3s, collision warning with brake support, intelligent access with push-button start, rain sensing wipers and a keyless entry keypad are some of the goodies included.

Not that any of these technologies is revolutionary. But consider the $25,000 price point, that's not too bad.

Design-wise, you see the lines are crisp and sharp; not quite as fluid and wiggly as the old Taurus. Several engine configurations will soon be available. The car uses a two-speed fuel pump and Aggressive Deceleration Fuel Shut-off Technology to increase fuel economy. Coming soon, those engine options will include Ford's advanced Eco-Boost™ 3.5 liter V-6.

Ford managed to bring this car to market 12 months sooner by implementing a new Global Product Development System, using CAD and digital pre-assembly modeling. When designers on one continent are sleeping, others are working, creating a fluid, constant march toward completion.