Normally, carmakers show off their brightest, shiniest and most perfectly detailed models at the New York International Auto Show. But this year, Ford's breaking the rules- and one of their display models will be a former crash-tester that's been smashed to high heavens. Despite crinkled bodywork and deformed sheetmetal, Ford insists this totaled Taurus is a thing of beauty.
During testing, it earned the highest possible rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It's also become a Top Safety Pick as rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In effect, Taurus is the class valedictorian at smash-school, and it's got a trophy rack to show for it.
It's also going to show visitors what a real-life crash test looks like. Showgoers can sit aboard the car in the same position as the crash-dummy, and watch the actual test on a large screen for a theater-like experience.
"We want people to see what happens in the blink of an eye," said Stephen Kozak, North American safety chief engineer for Ford Motor Company. "We want to open people's eyes that not all cars are created equal when it comes to safety. There is a difference and we want to show why Taurus is the safest rated large sedan sold in North America."
The Taurus, formerly the Five Hundred, boasts an arsenal of safety features to protect occupants, including side curtain airbags with rollover protection, a high-strength crash-structure, electronic stability control and a seatbelt reminder system.
photo:Ford
During testing, it earned the highest possible rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It's also become a Top Safety Pick as rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In effect, Taurus is the class valedictorian at smash-school, and it's got a trophy rack to show for it.
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It's also going to show visitors what a real-life crash test looks like. Showgoers can sit aboard the car in the same position as the crash-dummy, and watch the actual test on a large screen for a theater-like experience.
"We want people to see what happens in the blink of an eye," said Stephen Kozak, North American safety chief engineer for Ford Motor Company. "We want to open people's eyes that not all cars are created equal when it comes to safety. There is a difference and we want to show why Taurus is the safest rated large sedan sold in North America."
The Taurus, formerly the Five Hundred, boasts an arsenal of safety features to protect occupants, including side curtain airbags with rollover protection, a high-strength crash-structure, electronic stability control and a seatbelt reminder system.
photo:Ford
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