The all-new 2010 Ford Taurus is an excellent example of the right way to give an automotive legend a second life. Taurus spent many years as Ford’s most celebrated domestic midsize sedan, so Ford decided to take the Taurus to the next level when it comes to technology, driving experience and comfort. The result is one of the most attractive and complete family cars on the market.

Starting at $25,170, the 2010 Ford Taurus is undoubtedly the most beautiful sedan design to leave Ford factories in the past decade. The vehicle’s bold front end and swept-back fenders and headlights guide your gaze back to thick side panels and chiseled rear quarters that extend out over the rear wheels. The Taurus trunk is gently indented between the taillights, and a shallow lip over the rear bumper adds additional character, book ending the car’s gently sloping roofline and aerodynamic shape.

The sedan’s generous proportions reward passengers with an interior that is much larger than the previous design. The vehicle’s rear bench offers comfortable accommodations for as many as three occupants while those seated in the front two positions will be coddled by seats every bit as supportive as those found in much more expensive European luxury sedans. Taurus also offers an industry exclusive Multi-Contour Seating arrangement with Active Motion that includes six-way lumbar adjustment and massage. The Taurus has also taken a huge step forward in terms of its interior feel with the materials and organization of its controls exuding a sense of quality that sets a new standard for Ford. All buttons, switches and dials are well within reach of the driver, and the highlight of the cockpit is a gracefully angled, waterfall center stack that pours down from between the dash’s dual cowls in a more organic fashion than one would expect from a vehicle at this price point.

The 2010 Ford Taurus can be ordered in three trim levels, in addition to the special SHO performance model. The SE is well equipped, offering driver and passengers all of the amenities that they have come to expect from a large family car: a full range of power accessories, cruise control, a power driver’s seat and an MP3-capable CD player. The SEL adds to the vehicle’s comfort level thanks to the inclusion of dual automatic climate controls, satellite radio and available heated leather seats. The Limited decks out the Taurus with a luxurious level of gear with features – such as the SYNC entertainment and communications interface, full leather seats, available heated and cooled leather front seats and heated rear seats and attractive ambient lighting in your choice of seven colors –  that give the entire passenger compartment a classy, contemporary feel. Taurus models also offer advanced features such as a Blind Spot Information System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Warning with brake support, Intelligent Access push-button start and a rearview camera.

The range-topping SHO elevates the Taurus not just in terms of equipment – suede seat inserts, HID headlights and a keyless ignition – but it also adds a whole new level of performance to an already impressive vehicle.  The SHO model is powered by an advanced 3.5-liter EcoBoost^™ V6 engine that makes use of twin-turbochargers and direct injection to effortlessly deliver a heart-stopping 365 hp and 350 lb/ft of torque. All-wheel drive and a sport suspension system keep that power flowing to the pavement without interruption, and a six-speed SelectShift Automatic^™ transmission that features paddleshifters for greater control over gear changes is included as standard equipment. Fuel mileage for this rapid transit sedan comes in at an equally eyebrow-raising 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.

The SE, SEL and Limited editions of the 2010 Ford Taurus certainly aren’t slouches in the power department either. Each features a naturally-aspirated V6 that also displaces 3.5 liters, and output is listed at a healthy 263 hp and 249 lb/ft of torque. A six-speed transmission is in charge of routing the V6’s power to the front or all four wheels, depending upon whether the option of all-wheel drive is selected. Fuel economy for the front-wheel drive edition of the Taurus shows as 18 mpg around town and 28 mpg on the highway.

No matter which version of the Taurus you choose to park in your driveway, you can rest assured that it offers the promise of exceptional practicality, a sophisticated driving experience and looks that are impossible to ignore.