2006 Ford Futura

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What is it?
2006 Ford Futura

What's Special About It?
When it debuts in 2005, the midsize five-passenger 2006 Ford Futura sedan will replace the venerable Ford Taurus, which was introduced in 1986. The Futura takes design cues from the Ford 427 concept car that debuted at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, such as its bold, linear grillework, which is reminiscent of the 1960s Ford Galaxy 500. However, its stacked geometrical headlights, angular corners and sharp-edged design remind us more of a modern-day Cadillac (e.g. the CTS).

The Futura is aimed directly at midsize sedan stars such as Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima. An all-aluminum 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine will be standard with an optional 3.0-liter V6 available. Both power plants will drive the front wheels and there will be a choice of manual, automatic or continuously variable transmissions. Also, and this is significant, the Futura will be offered with a hybrid power plant. It's the same system that will power the Escape Hybrid — a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a 65 kilowatt electric motor and a 28 kW generator to charge a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery — which has impressive initial fuel consumption figures of 35 to 40 mpg in city driving.

Why Should You Care?
Ford has high expectations for the Futura and the platform (which is a modified Mazda 6 design) on which it's built. In the next three years the automaker hopes to sell 800,000 units spread over about 10 new vehicles that will share the platform, including the Ford Five Hundred, Ford Freestyle and new models of the Jaguar X-Type, Volvo S60 and the Europe-only Ford Mondeo. Ford is trying to reinvent itself and the Futura is a crucial element of that plan. — Neil Dunlop