It recently benefited from a $43-million transformation. Together with an impressive fast-banked track, it now boasts a 43-acre vehicle dynamics area, a 12-acre asphalt wet pad, a 2.5-mile steering and handling course, and even a 4,000-foot straightaway. What better place to allow us to experience first-hand the company's 2008 product range.
The event was superbly staged to allow us journalists to rotate through a series of modules, all of which had been designed for us to experience their '08 offerings in varying driving situations. They even gave us the chance to perhaps fulfill the odd fantasy, such as driving a Mustang GT convertible around a fast steeply-banked section of roadway.
It would be impossible for me to relate all of my findings to you here; however, I might just mention one or two.
Firstly, their ingenious new rear camera system which, unlike other such products, displays the image on the interior rear-view mirror. Designed mainly for use in the Ford truck and SUV range, it appears to be the perfect and logical place for it, as the mirrors are the natural place to be looking whilst reversing a large vehicle.
As a person who regularly hauls trailers, the distance-lined display would appear to make trailer hook-ups a breeze. No more trying to comprehend my wife's somewhat strange hand signals and no more having to jump out of my vehicle only to find that I'm 2 inches to the right of the hitch, is something which I'd certainly welcome.
Naturally, if I'm going to mention any particular model that I drove, then it's going to be the all-new Ford Taurus. Yes, the famous Taurus nameplate is back, and with over 500 engineering changes being made, it can truly be called "an all-new Taurus".
Quietness seems to be a major buzz word at Ford nowadays, and although considerable improvements in this area can be seen throughout the company's lineup, it is somehow perhaps more noticeable on the car bearing the Taurus badge.
Yes, the new Taurus is a very pleasant and comfortable vehicle to drive. It is powerful, due to its new 263-hp 3.5L Duratec V6, nicely-appointed throughout, and the noise levels, in particular, seem to propel the vehicle into a realm which I never thought the "T" badge could ever achieve.
Obviously, it would be rather difficult for me to even give you an adequate first impression after only driving the vehicle for a minute or two here and there, but what I will say is that "I'm now looking forward to getting the new Taurus as a week-long tester".
The event was superbly staged to allow us journalists to rotate through a series of modules, all of which had been designed for us to experience their '08 offerings in varying driving situations. They even gave us the chance to perhaps fulfill the odd fantasy, such as driving a Mustang GT convertible around a fast steeply-banked section of roadway.
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It would be impossible for me to relate all of my findings to you here; however, I might just mention one or two.
Firstly, their ingenious new rear camera system which, unlike other such products, displays the image on the interior rear-view mirror. Designed mainly for use in the Ford truck and SUV range, it appears to be the perfect and logical place for it, as the mirrors are the natural place to be looking whilst reversing a large vehicle.
As a person who regularly hauls trailers, the distance-lined display would appear to make trailer hook-ups a breeze. No more trying to comprehend my wife's somewhat strange hand signals and no more having to jump out of my vehicle only to find that I'm 2 inches to the right of the hitch, is something which I'd certainly welcome.
Naturally, if I'm going to mention any particular model that I drove, then it's going to be the all-new Ford Taurus. Yes, the famous Taurus nameplate is back, and with over 500 engineering changes being made, it can truly be called "an all-new Taurus".
Quietness seems to be a major buzz word at Ford nowadays, and although considerable improvements in this area can be seen throughout the company's lineup, it is somehow perhaps more noticeable on the car bearing the Taurus badge.
Yes, the new Taurus is a very pleasant and comfortable vehicle to drive. It is powerful, due to its new 263-hp 3.5L Duratec V6, nicely-appointed throughout, and the noise levels, in particular, seem to propel the vehicle into a realm which I never thought the "T" badge could ever achieve.
Obviously, it would be rather difficult for me to even give you an adequate first impression after only driving the vehicle for a minute or two here and there, but what I will say is that "I'm now looking forward to getting the new Taurus as a week-long tester".
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