Ford revives, revamps, Taurus
 

Chicago -- Ford Motor Co.'s chief executive says he is personally and professionally invested in the revival of the Ford Taurus.

"Everything about this car is me," Alan Mulally said Friday at the launch of the 2008 Ford Taurus sedan, renamed Five Hundred because of the more than 500 engineering changes the car received in its makeover.

The Five Hundred officially launched at the Chicago Assembly Plant as union workers and company executives touted the car's top safety ratings and speculated on the possibility of a hybrid, the Detroit Free Press reported Saturday.

"We have a lot of technologies on internal combustion engines that are also very appealing, so we'll decide that as we go along," Mulally said.

The 2008 full-sized Taurus sedan went on sale in dealer showrooms this month with a starting price under $24,000.

It is part of a crucial line of Ford cars, including the popular Fusion, intended to transform the brand known for pickups and sport utility vehicles into one known for efficient, stylish cars as well.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.

Source: [url=http://www.themoneytimes.com/news/20070623/ford_revives_revamps_taurus-id-105249.html]The Money Times[/url]