2010 Ford Taurus Official Pictures: Dud or Stud?

Having discovered the first photo of the 2010 Taurus large sedan on Time magazine's website, it didn't take us long to find more pictures of FoMoCo's re-engineered and restyled flagship model circulating around the web. Once upon a time, the Taurus used to sell like hotcakes but the latest interpretation of the sedan, which was initially named Five-Hundred before Ford decided to the resurrect the Taurus nameplate in 2007, has proved a huge sales disappointment. Ford expects to turn the tables around with the new Taurus.

On the outside, the 2010 Taurus has been completely redesigned sharing nothing in common with the current model. Its more dramatic styling is apparently influenced from Ford's European line-up and in particular from the Mondeo. A noticeable design feature on the new-generation Taurus is the high beltline that's combined with a low roof that hints at the Chrysler 300.

Though low quality, the photos clearly reveal that the 2010 Taurus' interior bears no resemblances with the current generation model. Instead Ford decided to take a look at the Mustang which inspired the double arched "eyebrow" shape of the dashboard.

We don't have any official details yet, but Carscoop's sources state that while the Taurus retains the same platform as its predecessor, Ford has performed several improvements bettering the car's handling and safety credentials. Among the powertrain options will be Ford's new 263HP 3.5-liter Duratec V6 engine.