Mondeo to live on in Middle East as 2023 Ford Taurus

KUALA LUMPUR: Even though Ford has decided to ditch sedans from its North American lineup and make way for more and more SUVs, the automaker’s Mondeo, a China-bound sedan, is receiving an extension for its lifespan in the form of the 2023 Taurus for the masses in the Middle East.

It has been revealed that Ford is currently testing its D-segment sedan in the Middle East. The company is doing this to ensure that the new 2023 Taurus can withstand the heat, dust, and sand that are common in this part of the world.

According to government filings, the China-bound Mondeo gets several different exterior trim options. The Middle East-bound Taurus, on the other hand, gets a much simpler front fascia that is without the vertical trim pieces, which extend from the lower front bumper inlets. Moreover, the side sills and the lower rear bumper section of the Taurus incorporate metal-look brightwork. A panoramic sunroof is also available for the Taurus, as are alloy wheels in three sizes, including one that sports a two-tone machined finish.

Under the hood of the Ford Taurus is a 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbocharged inline-four-cylinder petrol-fed motor making 234hp of maximum power and a peak torque of 376Nm. An 8-speed automatic gearbox will take care of delivering the power from the engine to the wheels. The same engine makes the exact same figures on the Evos crossover.

On the inside, It features an interior layout with dual widescreen displays, a new direction for Ford's non-truck models. Models such as the Ford Ranger and Honda Everest feature a portrait-orientated infotainment display along with digital driver instrumentation on an upright dashboard, while crossovers such as the Ford EcoSport and Honda Puma have floating tablets on sloping dashboards.

On the Taurus, the driver has access to an eight-inch digital instrument cluster, while the infotainment system comes with a 13.2-inch screen that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Mobile devices can also be charged wirelessly in the Taurus. This car is equipped with adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation, and blind-spot intervention, among others.

Taurus sales in the Middle East grew 527% year-over-year last year in the midsize sedan category, and 73% in Saudi Arabia, 125% in Kuwait, 63% in Oman, and 42% in Bahrain, says Ford.

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