Ford announced today that its new 2010 Ford Taurus will be the official vehicle of the 2010 International CES show that will be held on Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas.’

“The all-new Taurus is Ford’s technology flagship, offering more user-friendly technology to help keep you safe and connected than cars twice its price,” said Frank Davis, executive director Product Development. “And there’s no better venue to show it off than CES.”

FoMoCo’s CEO Alan Mulally will be delivering the opening keynote address at the 2010 CES show where Ford will also announce upgrades to its Ford SYNC system.

The 2010 Ford Taurus is available at dealerships nationwide with prices starting at $25,995.

Make sure you check out our review of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO here.

Click through for more information in the press release.

Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO:

All Photos Copyright © 2009 Omar Rana – egmCarTech.

Press Release:

FORD TAURUS – AMERICA’S MOST INNOVATIVE SEDAN – NAMED “OFFICIAL CAR” OF THE 2010 INTERNATIONAL CES

* The 2010 Ford Taurus will be the official car of the 2010 International CES®, to be held Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas
* The all-new Taurus is a perfect fit for CES – it offers 10 class-exclusive technologies not available from any other manufacturer
* The Ford Taurus offers more user-friendly technology than other cars twice its price

NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2009 – The smartest full-size sedan in America, the hot-selling 2010 Ford Taurus, will be the official vehicle of the 2010 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show®), to be held Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas.

Ford President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally will deliver the opening keynote address at CES, where Ford also will announce enhancements to its award-winning Ford SYNC® communications and entertainment system as well as new technology that builds on the company’s connected-car leadership position.

As the official car of CES, the Ford Taurus will be featured prominently with technology demonstrations and in signage, brochures and other written materials at the show.

“Consumers demand the latest on-the-go innovation in their cars. Ford automobiles are built with cutting-edge technology that makes driving safer and more enjoyable,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association® (CEA), producer of the International CES. “We are thrilled to welcome Ford to the 2010 International CES and to name the new Ford Taurus as the ‘Official Car of CES.’ We also look forward to hearing Ford’s Alan Mulally kick off the 2010 CES with his opening keynote address on Thursday, Jan. 7.”

As Davis notes, the all-new Ford Taurus is a perfect fit for CES – the world’s largest consumer technology trade show for the $172 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. In addition to its expressive styling, the vehicle is loaded with advanced features, making it a virtual dream come true for avid techies.

“The Ford Taurus has 10 class-exclusive features not available from any other manufacturer,” said Davis. “This vehicle offers it all – from Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion™ that are designed to reduce fatigue on long-distance drives to a voice-activated navigation system that can tell you real-time traffic and weather information, and even where to find the cheapest gas.”

The Taurus also offers the latest application of SYNC – Traffic, Directions & Information – along with 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Report. SYNC’s USB port and Bluetooth capability connects to MP3 players, memory sticks and smartphones, making them accessible by voice control – a more convenient and safe way to use these devices in the car.

For techies with teenaged drivers, Taurus offers MyKey™, a feature that allows parents to program a key that can limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume to encourage teens to drive safer and improve fuel efficiency.

In addition to Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion, voice-activated navigation, SYNC and MyKey, other class-exclusive technologies available on the Ford Taurus include:

* EasyFuel® Capless Fuel-Filler – a self-seal system without a traditional fuel cap. No lost, dangling, or spinning caps. It seals automatically, every time.
* SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry Keypad – a feature that allows you to unlock the driver’s door by entering a five-digit code via a flush-mounted keypad
* Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support – a feature that allows you to set a cruising speed and uses radar technology to automatically adjust your speed and warn you if you’re getting too close to the vehicle in front of you
* Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross Traffic Alert – a feature that uses radar technology to warn you of vehicles in your blind spot and alert you to oncoming traffic when you’re backing out of a parking spot
* Sony Audio® System – a surround sound system that delivers Dolby® Digital 5.1 sound through 12 high-quality Sony speakers
* Available EcoBoost™ V-6 – a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine that delivers the output of a V-8, 365 horsepower, without compromising its V-6 fuel economy

According to Davis, all of the technology offered on the Ford Taurus is sweetened by the vehicle’s price.

“Even the most zealous techies are careful with their money,” he said. “Taurus offers an unprecedented array of technologies typically reserved for luxury cars at a price that is affordable.”

In addition to being named official vehicle of the 2010 International CES, the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO was dubbed Esquire magazine’s first-ever “Car of the Year.”

- By: Omar Rana

FoMoCo’s CEO Alan Mulally said that its surprise third-quarter profit “absolutely” would have happened even without the Cash for Clunkers incentive.

“It was a good stimulus,” Mulally told Automotive News. “But the real strength of the third quarter is based on the strength of our product line improving.”

Mulally wouldn’t say whether the Dearborn automaker expects to post a fourth-quarter profit, but the company does expect a second quarter positive cash flow. Ford, which burned through cash for the past two years, posted positive automotive operating cash flow of $1.3 billion in the third-quarter.

Ford amended its forecast for 2011, saying it expected to be “solidly profitable” excluding special items. Mulally said that he plans to provide guidance for 2010 in January when Ford announces its year-end 2009 results.

“The reason that we were cautious on 2010 is that we are assessing, like everybody is, what is the strength of the recovery in the near term,” Mulally said.

- By: Stephen Calogera

FoMoCo announced today that the company’s CEO, Alan Mulally, will once again deliver the keynote address at the International CES show in Las Vegas on Jan. 7, 2010. Mulally will focus on Ford’s latest innovations and will announce new technology developments related to Ford’s popular, voice-activated SYNC technology.

“Ford continues to lead by bringing together the automobile and consumer electronics industries,” said Mulally. “At CES, we will show how Ford vehicles will become docking stations for mobile devices, thanks to our alliances with key technology players, and we will demonstrate how voice activation will be the key technology for future in-car experiences.”

“We are quite pleased to welcome him back,” CEA leader Gary Shapiro said.

Earlier this year, Mulally delivered the 1 millionth vehicle equipped with Ford Sync to Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer.

Alan Mulally delivers Microsoft CEO’s 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid:

- By: Stephen Calogera

Alan Mulally, the man credited with being the catalyst behind Ford’s recent turnaround, has been invited to stay on with the company for as long as he wants.

“I want Alan to stay as long as he would like to stay and hopefully that is quite a while,” Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. told Reuters.

The 64 year old Mulally joined Ford after leaving airplane manufacturer Boeing in September of 2006. He was charged with reviving a failed turnaround effort, as Ford was then the lowest ranking Detroit automaker.

Mulally stands alone as a ‘Big Three’ CEO who weathered the storm of the recent government bailouts, and remains on his position.

Mullally is credited with having stripped away layers upon layers of un-needed management, streamlining the Ford pocess, and borrowing the $23 billion needed in late 2006 to implement his turnaround plan, and hopes to have Ford profitable (on a year by year basis) by 2011.

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Reuters

Many FoMoCo executives have typically retired by the age of 65 and one of our favorite automotive executives, Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally, is turning 64 next month. However, Mulally has no intention of retiring before bring Ford back to sustained profitability.

“As long as I’m contributing, I’m honored to serve Ford,” Mulally said. “But I’m one person on a fabulous team.”

While that may true, Mulally is known as an automotive celebrity on Wall Street, with many analysts and investors worrying about Ford’s future without him.

Ford, the only American automaker that has yet to received any bailout money, surprised Wall Street with a $2.3 billion second-quarter profit last week.

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Source: Detroit News

A total of 1,000 UAW members accepted FoMoCo’s buyout offers last quarter, the Dearborn automaker said. Ford said it doesn’t have plans to offer anymore buyouts, which have cut the number of active UAW employees to 47,000 – down from 95,000 in 2003. Ford said that the workers’ departure is scheduled to be completed “in the next few weeks.”

According to Automotive News, CEO Alan Mulally said during a press conference today that the participation in the new buyout offers were in line with his expectations.

The deadline to sign up for the recent buyout had been June 26. Earlier today, Ford reported second-quarter pretax operating loss of $424 million and a net profit of $2.3 billion.

- By: Omar Rana

FoMoCo CEO Alan Mulally believes that the U.S. economy will begin improving in the second half of 2009.

“We think we are right on track to start this recovery,” Mulally told reporters today at the launch of the 2010 Ford Taurus.

“We are very rapidly moving on our plan to improve the balance sheet,” Mulally said. “Going forward, we will really accelerate that as we return to profitability and start repairing the balance sheet even more.”

According to the president of Ford’s Americas Mark Fields, the first part of June sales were “a little better” than May. While overall U.S. auto sales fell 33.7 percent in May, Ford limited its decline to 25.8 percent, reports Automotive News.

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

As GM’s Fritz Henderson and Chrysler’s Bob Nardelli face their career’s toughest week, Ford CEO Alan Mulally is out and about making vehicle deliveries. That’s right, FoMoCo CEO Alan Mulally headed over to Seattle today to deliver the 1 millionth vehicle, a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, equipped with Ford Sync to Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer.

“We have made a commitment to deliver the vehicles that people really want and value,” Mulally said. “The success of SYNC is another proof point that we are doing just that. We will continue to innovate and expand the capability of SYNC by integrating even more new technologies that fit our customers’ lifestyles.”

Ballmer purchased his 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, which the whole world (thanks to Ford’s aggressive advertising) knows by now gets a certified 41/36 mpg (city/highway), with the Ford/Microsoft Sync system that now offers 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Reports.

“More than 80 percent of the vehicles Ford sells in North America are equipped with the system,” Ford said in a statement.

Alan Mulally delivers Microsoft CEO’s 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid:

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid:

- By: Omar Rana

While the U.S. government may be well on its way to owning a majority control in General Motors, President Barack Obama still loves his Ford Escape Hybrid. Announcing the new fuel-economy standards today in the Rose Garden of the White House, Obama stepped away from the podium and threw in a little plug for his Escape Hybrid SUV.

“By the way, I just want to mention, I think I still have my Ford parked in Chicago,” Obama said. “It’s a Ford hybrid, it runs great, you guys should take a look.”

FoMoCo’s CEO Alan Mulally pumped his fist in the air as the crowd laughed.

After realizing that there were nine other auto executives behind him, Obama got back on track.

“But there are also some outstanding hybrids and energy-independent cars represented up here, so I didn’t want to just advertise for one,” Obama said.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit Free Press
Photo Credit: Samantha Appleton

FoMoCo’s CEO Alan Mulally has been added to the World’s Most Influential People of 2009 list by Time.

Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, wrote an article paying tribute to the CEO of the automaker that has yet to ask the U.S. Government for any federal aid. 

You can check out the article here.

- By: Omar Rana

As Rick Wagoner is being ousted as CEO of General Motors by Obama and as Chrysler faces a “Fiat or bust” policy, Ford CEO Alan Mulally is hanging out in his 12th floor corner office at Ford’s Dearborn headquarters with a big grin on his face.

Mulally says that Ford is now competitive. ”Ford has won all of the concessions it needs from labor and investors to weather the industry’s crisis — even if car and truck sales continue to decline,” Mulally told Detroit News.  “The downturn is a temporary thing. We just have to make it through it.”

In December 2008, Ford joined General Motors and Chrysler in Washington to ask for a $9 billion credit line if auto sales continue to hit rock bottom by May or June. However, Ford has since cut its labor costs, bondholders have offered to swap debt for equity in the company and extreme cost-cutting measures have been put into action.

Mulally says that Ford has taken all the necessary step to respond to the global economic downturn even if March sales aren’t looking so good.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: Detroit News

The Detroit Big Three received a lot of heat when they flew to Washington in their private jets in December 2008 to request aid from the U.S. government. Following that, FoMoCo put all of its private plan fleet up for sale. Well, the fleet has not been sold as of yet.

Since December, Executive Chairman Bill Ford and CEO Alan Mulally have been flying on chartered aircrafts.

In its preliminary proxy filing on Tuesday, FoMoCo said that its two top executives will continue to fly the company’s private jet fleet for business and personal travel. It said that the move will continue to maximize the time the executives have available for company business and for security reasons.

The only changes that will be made are when Alan Mulally’s family is on board. According to Automotive News, Mulally’s family will be allowed to use the company’s private aircraft fleet as long as Mulally is flying with them. The Dearborn automaker said that when Mulally is not present, the company will pay for coach-class commercial flights for his family. 

In 2008, Mulally’s company and personal use of private aircrafts totaled $344,109. GM, which has received $17.4 billion in government aid, continues to fly its executives on commercial airlines. Ford continues to operate without any government loans.

- By: Omar Rana

FoMoCo today submitted documents to the Securities and Exchange Commission that show that CEO Alan Mulally’s total compensation was cut 37 percent last year. Including cash, stock and stock options, Mulally’s total compensation is worth more than $13.5 million.

Mulally’s salary totaled $4.9 million in 2008 with $8.7 million in stock option. However, Mulally’s $8.7 million stock options are worth less since he is unable to exercise them unless Ford’s stock increases. Some of Mulally’s stock options may not be exercised until Ford’s stock starts trading at $6.14 or higher. Ford’s stock closed today at $2.80.

Ford said that it will reduce Mulally’s salary another 30 percent in 2009 and 2010 and will eliminate merit pay increases and bonuses for all of its U.S. salaries employees.

Mulally earned $21.7 million in 2007.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit News

FoMoCo CEO Alan Mulally was awarded stock options for 5 million shares last week, reports Automotive News. However, Mulally will not be able to take advantage of the options until Ford’s stock price substantially improves.

Ford reported the round of options to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday but said that it won’t report the calculated future value until it files its statement on executive compensation.

Spokesman Mark Truby said that the potential value of those options will be less than the $7.5 million given to Mulally in 2008 which was for 3.5 million shares at a price of $6.14. The sticker price of the 2009 award is substantially less at $1.96.

After the specified waiting period, Mulally can college the difference if Ford’s shares rise beyond that price. According to Automotive News, the stock awards from last year are worth nothing unless Ford’s share price recovers to more than $6.14.

- By: Omar Rana

While we were just browsing the internet (actually TIME.com is our home page) we came across the 10 Questions section on TIME Magazine’s website. This time in the hot seat is Ford CEO, Alan Mulally.

As GM and Chrysler fight for their lives, Ford Motor Company has opted not to ask our government for a penny. A major part of the credit for that goes to the man holding the steering wheel at Ford – Alan Mulally.

“We don’t want to borrow any more money. We have sufficient liquidity to fund our transformation plan, which means our business is in a relatively good shape,” Mulally told reporters earlier this year.

Ford’s main man even calls up his customers and thanks them for buying their vehicle over a competitor’s vehicle. Mulally recently took a 30 percent pay cut to show UAW workers that they aren’t the only ones being asked to make sacrifices which led to the UAW agreeing to ratify contract changes to the VEBA funding. Last but not least, he helped Ford become the only sigh of relief coming out of Michigan when he recently said Ford can make it through 2009 without any government aid.

So, we’re pretty sure you have a lot of questions to ask Mr. Mulally. Click here to submit your question and make sure you make it a good one since TIME only picks 10.

In a deal that will allow Ford to use stock to fund up to half of its obligations to retiree health care trusts, the UAW members at FoMoCo have ratified changes to the independent Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)

According to Automotive News, nearly 60 percent of the votes favored the measure.

“Once again UAW members have stepped up to make the difficult decisions necessary to deal with the reality of the current economy, the deteriorating auto industry as a whole and specifically the negative impact the economic climate is having on Ford Motor Co.,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger.

Gettelfinger called for “shared sacrifice” to rebuild the U.S. auto industry. Ford said that the changes will help keep Ford from asking for emergency aid from the government.

Last month, CEO Alan Mulally and Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. voluntarily took a 30 percent pay cut to show UAW workers that they aren’t the only ones being asked to take sacrifices.

While Volkswagen’s CEO doesn’t seem to be a fan of electric-cars, FoMoCo’s CEO Alan Mulally said that a “major portion” of its lineup in a decade from now will consist of electric-vehicles as the automaker finally gets away from relying on pickups and SUVs to profit.

“In 10 years, 12 years, you are going to see a major portion of our portfolio move to electric vehicles,” Mulally told reporters at the Wall Street Journal ECO:nomics conference in California.

Ford plans on introducing its first battery-electric vehicle in 2010 with a battery-powered version of the 2010 Ford Transit Connect commercial vehicle. A rival to the Chevrolet Volt in a form of a compact battery-electric car will arrive in 2011. Ford says that the next-generations of its hybrid vehicles will come in 2012 along with plug-in hybrid versions by 2012.

“You’ll see more hybrids, but you will really see a lot more electric vehicles,” he said.

Source: Reuters

FoMoCo announced today that it has reached a tentative agreement with the UAW on modifications to the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) retiree health care trust. Ford said that the agreement allows the company to make up to 50 percent of its scheduled payments into the VEBA using Ford common stock.

The automaker said that it will consider each payment when it is due and use its discretion in determining whether cash or stock makes sense at the time.

Joe Hinrichs, group vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs for FoMoCo said that the automaker will “continue to work with all of our stakeholders to participate in the current industry restructuring and improve our company’s overall competitiveness.”

Hinrichs said that if the agreement is finalized, after the required court approval, the move will allow Ford to become competitive with foreign rivals U.S. manufacturing operations.