Auto Tech: 2010 Taurus technology

June 30, 2009

MyKey limits top vehicle speed to 130 kilometres per hour; photo by Jil McIntosh. Click image to enlarge

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By Jim Kerr

The 2010 Ford Taurus is now in production and it is full of surprises. Some of those include the amount of technology available, which may make this the highest tech car currently on the market.

Start with Ford’s MyKey system. Standard equipment on the Taurus, it allows parents to have some control over the use of the car when their teenage drivers are out on their own. Teenagers who were surveyed about this system didn’t like it, but were more willing to accept it if it meant they would have more access to the family car.

The MyKey system allows the owner to program the microchip embedded in the key. Several safety features can be programmed. For example, the seatbelt reminder warning will continue chiming for a six-second period every minute until the seatbelt is buckled. In addition, the radio remains muted unless the seatbelt is buckled.

The key also limits top vehicle speed to 130 kilometres per hour (80 mph) and chimes speed reminders at 72, 88 or 105 km/h. The vehicle traction control can no longer be deactivated, so you don’t have to worry about spinning tires. Finally, the low fuel warning now comes on when the remaining range is 120 kilometres instead of the regular 80 kilometres. There is less change of an inexperienced driver running out of fuel.

When novice drivers are out with their friends, sometimes peer pressure overcomes their normally wise driving decisions. MyKey is there to help them from making unwise decisions.

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