Ford Taurus

WAYNE, Michigan (Reuters) - A bright red Ford Focus sits illuminated on a platform just outside the automaker's Wayne, Michigan, assembly plant, a proud symbol of the company's success in reinventing itself under Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally.

WAYNE, Michigan (Reuters) - A bright red Ford Focus sits illuminated on a platform just outside the automaker's Wayne, Michigan, assembly plant, a proud symbol of the company's success in reinventing itself under Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally.

WAYNE, Michigan (Reuters) - A bright red Ford Focus sits illuminated on a platform just outside the automaker's Wayne, Michigan, assembly plant, a proud symbol of the company's success in reinventing itself under Alan Mulally.

DETROIT (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers has turned its focus in contract negotiations to Ford Motor Co <F.N>, an abrupt shift in negotiating strategy after talks stalled with Chrysler.

DETROIT (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers has turned its focus in contract negotiations to Ford Motor Co after progress in talks with smaller rival Chrysler appeared to stall, two people with knowledge of the discussions said on Wednesday.

HOUSTON (Reuters) - While Texas financier Allen Stanford awaits trial on charges of running a $7 billion Ponzi scheme, hordes of buyers waited on Saturday at a sweltering warehouse for an auction of his possessions.

HOUSTON (Reuters) - While Texas financier Allen Stanford awaits trial on charges of running a $7 billion Ponzi scheme, hordes of buyers waited on Saturday at a sweltering warehouse for an auction of his possessions.

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Police on Thursday identified an 18-year-old former Worthing High School student killed in what appeared to be a gang-related shootout during a girls' football game on campus.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Major automakers shut down plants in six Midwest states and Ontario on Wednesday after a winter storm that swept through the region a day before cut off shipments of parts and raw materials.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Major automakers shut down plants in six Midwest states and Ontario on Wednesday after a winter storm that swept through the region a day before cut off shipments of parts and raw materials.

Hyundai-Kia, Volkswagen win most 'top safety pick' awards from insurance industry group. South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia and German car maker Volkswagen lead the insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, used by safety-minded consumers looking to buy a new car.

Hyundai-Kia, Volkswagen win most 'top safety pick' awards from insurance industry group. South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia and German car maker Volkswagen lead the insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, used by safety-minded consumers looking to buy a new car.

The insurance industry's top safety pick winners for the 2011 model year. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recognized 66 vehicles as winners of their top safety pick award for the 2011 model year. The award honors vehicles for their ability to protect motorists in front, side, rear and rollover crashes. The vehicles must have anti-rollover technology called Electronic Stability Control, or ESC, and strong scores in roof strength tests.

More southern Nevadans are receiving assistance. Last summer, Courtney Speed, then 18, was living with her mother and three younger siblings in a Ford Taurus in the parking lot of the World's Largest Gift Shop on Sahara Avenue and the Strip. Courtney's mother thought that because it was so well-lit, they'd be safe. ¶ Social service agencies referred Courtney to the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, where she found housing and enrolled in the Virtual High School, an online school from which she'll graduate next year. Courtney's mother, sister and two brothers got some assistance from HELP Nevada for an apartment, where they're living rent-free through January. ¶ Crisis averted, for now. ¶ When Courtney Speed talks about her youngest brother, who is 4, she tears up. "I feel bad for him the most," she says. And she is right to. ¶ A hidden reality of the Great Recession is the toll it is taking on children and family life, extending from physical well-being and safety to psychological

Jim Bray looks at his favorite cars from 2010. The 2010 TechnoFile Awards for Interesting Automotive Achievement By Jim Bray TechnoFile.com It's time for the annual TechnoFile Automotive Awards, where I wrap up the year with a few words about what I thought were the most interesting vehicles of the year. These aren't necessarily 2010 models, nor are the necessarily 2011 models. Since 2011 models have been oozing into the marketplace since last spring, I'll just look at the cars I drove that I thought where the most interesting, innovative, fun ? in short (well, not that short, I guess!), the vehicles I found most worthy of mention. My only parameter is that it had to be a vehicle I wrote about in calendar year 2010, and I daresay most of these cars, crossovers or whatevers are still on the market, whether they be part of the new 2011 inventory or unsold 2010 inventory. In the case of the latter, this means there may be some pretty nifty deals out there ? assuming you give a hoot about

2011 Ford Explorer restyled, with smoother ride, new features. For the first time in its 20-year history, the Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle is changing into a softer SUV with an underlying platform that's used by a car for a smoother ride.

Lost amid frenzy over airport inspections, holiday travelers take to the roads in big numbers. Michael Sommermeyer's Thanksgiving plan goes like this: Load his wife and children into their Ford Taurus, hand his teens an iPad stocked with movies and drive 15 hours ? from Las Vegas to Texas.

Lost amid frenzy over airport inspections, holiday travelers take to the roads in big numbers. Michael Sommermeyer's Thanksgiving plan goes like this: Load his wife and children into their Ford Taurus, hand his teens an iPad stocked with movies and drive 15 hours ? from Las Vegas to Texas.

Trucks outsell cars by widest margin in 5 years in Oct, signaling an improving economy. Trucks outsold cars by the highest margin in nearly five years in October, a sign the economy may be starting to improve.

A look at what defines a car vs. a truck. Trucks outsold passenger cars in the U.S. this October by the widest margin since 2005. Here's a look at the differences between passenger cars and trucks: