Ford Offers Big Deal on Taurus LX Mid-Sized Sedan
If you're in the market for a solid mid-sized sedan, Ford of Canada has launched an offer on its 2004 Taurus LX that can't be ignored.
For $19,998 (which is almost $5,000 under the official retail price), Ford of Canada will be offering a six-passenger four-door sedan with a V6 and a four-speed automatic transmission and a good list of standard equipment, including air, power windows, mirrors and locks, tilt steering wheel, an AM/FM/cassette sound system, cruise control, and intermittent wipers.
Ford of Canada says this special pricing is the result of incentives it's giving its dealers, and ''special dealer reductions'' and will be offered ''for a limited time on purchases of new in-stock vehicles.''
Ford of Canada's vice-president of public affairs, John Jelinek, says that ''to maximize awareness of the Ford Taurus value story and generate excitement with customers who are traditional mid-size sedan buyers, Ford of Canada has launched a national direct mail campaign in both English and French languages.''
So more than 300,000 direct mail packets will be sent to recent Ford owners and to households who have requested information on Taurus or have ''a high propensity to purchase mid-size cars and have one or more children,'' Jelinek says.
This model Taurus has been around for a couple of years, but the company did make some upgrades for the 2004 model year, including a new grille, taillights and fascias, an updated instrument cluster, steering wheel and multi-function control stalk, and two extra exterior colors.
On the technical front, says Jelinek, there were engine modifications to improve efficiency, a new air induction system, and an improved transmission for better shift quality and fuel economy.
The engine in the LX is called the Vulcan and it's a 3-litre, OHV V6 that produces 155 hp at 4900 rpm and 185 lb.ft. of torque at 3000 rpm. On the Transport Canada fuel economy test, it requires 11.8 litres of gasoline to go 100 city kms or 7.7 litres to go 100 highway kms.
The four-speed automatic transmission has adaptive shift control, and those improvements for 2004 include ''fast-acting hydraulics and an enhanced torque converter to provide better fuel economy, customer satisfaction and performance.''