Ford Model a Safety Pick: Insurance Group Cites Taurus-Sable

By Justin Hyde, Detroit Free Press

May 14--The revived 2008 Ford Taurus-Mercury Sable sedan was named a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety today, one of 18 models to receive the designation for crashworthiness.

The institute also said it had designated the 2007Acura MDX sport-utility vehicle a top pick.

Only vehicles that score high marks in the institute's front and side crash tests, offer electronic stability control and protect against whiplash injuries -- a key concern of auto insurance companies -- can be named a top pick.

The Taurus, formerly known as the Ford Five Hundred sedan, and the mechanically identical Sable offer electronic stability control as optional equipment. Stability control is standard on the MDX.

Both automakers had to alter their vehicles to get the award.

Honda Motor Co. engineers changed the design of the MDX's headrests to better protect against whiplash, while the original Five Hundred did not offer electronic stability control.

Contact JUSTIN HYDE at 202-906-8204 or [email protected].

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