The new sedan will be built at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant alongside the Freestyle and Mercury Montego.

The Five Hundred is conservatively attractive and offers unsurpassed interior room; It will be a certain success. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

In summation, the Five Hundred might not be the most forward thinking new model to surface this year, at least from a styling standpoint, but it's attractive in an inoffensive way, offers unsurpassed interior room and an even larger trunk than the outgoing Crown Victoria.

It will be a certain success, if only for the innumerable taxi cab companies and police forces that will no doubt place large orders as soon as it becomes available.

Preliminary Specifications:

• Price Range (estimated MSRP): $28,000 - $38,000
• Body Type: 4-sedan, unibody
• Layout: front engine, FWD (opt AWD)
• Engine: 200 hp, 200 lb-ft, 3.0-L 24-valve V6
• Transmission: CVT (continuously variable) or 6-speed automatic
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS
• Curb Weight: 1,730 kg (3,815 lbs)
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Cargo Volume (trunk): 595 L (21.0 cu ft)
• Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 5,098 / 1,872 / 1,527 / 2,868 mm (200.7 / 73.7 / 60.1 / 112.9 inches)
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy): N/A
• Warranty (mo/km): 36/60,000 comprehensive - 60/100,000 powertrain
• Direct Competitors: Buick Allure, Chrysler 300 Series, Honda Accord, Mitsubishi Gallant, Nissan Altima / Maxima, Pontiac Grand Prix / Bonneville, Toyota Avalon, Volkswagen Passat
• Web Site: www.ford.ca

Note: Additional larger photos available in photo album.