2014 Ford Taurus Sel on 2040-cars

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2015 Ford Focus gets more Aston-y [w/video]

With more and more members of the Ford brand adopting a new familial face, the Focus has been left looking like an odd man out. At the Geneva Auto Show, though, it properly rejoined the family, adopting the now familiar Aston Martin-ish grille that's proliferated throughout the range.
Overall, we're liking the refreshed Focus' look. Aside from the new grille, the headlights have been restyled and now look like elongated versions of the lamps on the Focus ST. Functionally, those headlamps are bi-xenon units, complete with an adaptive front lighting system. Out back, the rear retains the same overall look, which has been smoothed out for 2015.
In the cabin, the second-generation of Ford's much-maligned Sync system makes its debut. Sync 2, as it's called, is supposedly more intuitive than the first-gen system. Ford is promising "one-shot" navigation functions for the system. Saying "I'm hungry," should bring up a list of nearby restaurants. Of course, we'll be reserving final judgment until we can test the new system in person.

Ford recalls Explorer, Flex, Taurus for parking brakes

Ford announced a recall of nearly 8,000 vehicles spread across a broad range of models for a faulty parking brake, which might not engage fully. The automaker has not received any reports of accidents or injuries resulting from the issue. The recall affects certain examples of the 2015-16 Ford Explorer, the 2015 Taurus, and the 2015 Flex. The 2015 Lincoln MKS and MKT are also included in the campaign. The vehicles in question were assembled at the company's Chicago and Oakville (Ontario) plants from May 4 to May 23. All told, 7,165 of the affected vehicles are estimated to be in the United States, with another 799 in Canada, and a solitary example in Mexico. In order to address the issue, owners are asked to bring the affected vehicles their local dealership, where technicians will inspect the vehicle and where necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly. Jul 22, 2015 | DEARBORN, Mich. Ford Issues Safety Compliance Recall in North America DEARBORN, Mich., July 22, 2015 – Ford is issuing a safety compliance recall for approximately 8,000 vehicles in North America, including certain 2015-2016 Ford Explorer, and certain 2015 Taurus and Flex, as well as Lincoln MKS and MKT vehicles for an issue with the parking brake. In these vehicles, the parking brake might not engage fully, which is a compliance issue with FMVSS 135 regarding brake systems. Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with this issue. Affected vehicles include certain 2015-2016 Ford Explorer vehicles built at Chicago Assembly Plant, May 4, 2015 through May 23, 2015; certain 2015 Ford Taurus vehicles built at Chicago Assembly Plant, May 4, 2015 through May 23, 2015; certain 2015 Ford Flex vehicles built at Oakville Assembly Plant, May 4, 2015 through May 23, 2015; certain 2015 Lincoln MKS vehicles built at Chicago Assembly Plant, May 4, 2015 through May 23, 2015; and certain Lincoln MKT vehicles built at Oakville Assembly Plant, May 4, 2015 through May 21, 2015. There are 7,165 vehicles in the United States and federalized territories, 799 in Canada and one in Mexico. Dealers will inspect the vehicle and, if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly at no cost to the customer. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2016 Ford Explorer View 30 Photos News Source: Ford Recalls Ford Lincoln Crossover Sedan ford flex lincoln mks lincoln mkt

Weekly Recap: Jaguar takes a leap with price cut, new strategy

Jaguar was one of the famous automotive props and plotlines in the now-iconic drama Mad Men. There's a scene where the show's protagonist, Don Draper, deftly undercuts an influential Jaguar dealer by indicating that get-me-in-the-door local radio spots would be an effective way to sell cars like the slinky E-Type. The British executives think this is folly – Draper knows they will – and his advertising strategy wins out over the dealer's approach to move the metal. Jaguar's not doing that, but half a century later in the real world the company is launching plans to make its cars more attainable to new and younger customers like Millenials. These aren't coupons, but this is a leap for Jaguar, which has long banked on sexy styling and its rich motorsports history to overshadow its past mechanical flaws. Put simply, Jaguar is addressing the reasons why people, especially the younger set, don't buy its cars. The 2017 XE will start at $35,895 when it launches next spring – which makes it an attractive buy for a successful, relatively young person. When it's time to move up, the redesigned XF will be more attainable, coming in at $52,895, which is $5,275 less than the 2015 model. The flagship XJ sedan and the enthusiast-oriented F-Type sports car will also get thousands of dollars worth of added standard features, and Jag is actively pitching them as a better value than their competitors. "The Jaguar brand is on the eve of a major transformation that will see it dramatically increase its presence in the United States luxury marketplace with an expanded lineup, pricing focused on the core of the luxury market, and an all-new ownership package with best-in-class coverage," Joe Eberhardt, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America, said in a statement. The brand's quality and reliability dings have also lurked in the back of buyers' minds for decades, though that's an outdated notion. Jaguar placed third in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study in June and was the top-ranked luxury brand in J.D. Power's Customer Service Index in March. Not content, the company is rolling out an enhanced program called Jaguar EliteCare that launches on 2016 models. It offers a five-year, 60,000-mile limited warranty, the longest among its competitors, with free scheduled maintenance during that period. The plan also covers roadside assistance and connectivity features.