Ford Taurus

Not to be confused with Ford Taunus.

Ford Taurus
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	1986–present
Designer	Jack Telnack
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size (1986–2007) Full-size (2008–)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford LTD (1986) Ford Five Hundred (2008)
Successor	Ford Five Hundred (2005)

The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Initially a front-wheel drive mid-size car, it has since evolved into a full-size car available in front- or all-wheel drive. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the Ford lineup. Only the Ranger, Mustang, and F-150 have been in production longer. Throughout its production run, it had a Mercury branded version entitled the Sable, as well as a performance variant, the Ford Taurus SHO. It is currently sold alongside a crossover SUV variant, the Ford Taurus X.

The original Taurus was a milestone design for Ford and the entire American automotive industry, as well as a very influential vehicle that brought many new features and innovations to the marketplace. Since its launch in 1986, the Taurus has been a strong seller. Ford has sold over 6.7 million Tauruses worldwide as of 2007, making it the fifth bestselling North American nameplate in Ford's history; only the F-150, Escort, Model T , and Mustang have sold more units. Between 1992 and 1996, the Taurus was the best-selling car in the United States, eventually losing the title to the Toyota Camry in 1997

The Taurus was briefly discontinued in 2006, with production initially ending on October 27, 2006, with 2007 being the last model year. However, Ford revived the Taurus name a few months later by renaming two new models that were intended to be facelifted versions of the Ford Five Hundred and Ford Freestyle "Taurus" and "Taurus X", respectively, and have announced that a new Taurus is in development for a 2010 release.

1st Generation development

Taurus clay model along with many of the original design sketches.

When Ford set out to develop the Taurus, they employed a strategy of teamwork that would prove revolutionary in the car development process. Previously, at both Ford and General Motors, interior and exterior designers worked separately with no input from each other or from engineers. As a result, the interiors and exteriors of many American cars seemed "mismatched". Taurus development started in 1981, using a method similar to that Ford used when developing the Escort, in which engineers from all Ford branches worldwide worked together. Unlike the Escort, though, the Taurus was developed entirely by American engineers at Ford's headquarters. The new engineering team was assembled by designer Jack Telnack, and was dubbed "Team Taurus".

The Taurus went through many revisions throughout its development. Original prototypes contained a full glass roof similar to that of the Subaru SVX, though it was deemed "too radical" and abandoned. Customer input played an instrumental role in the Taurus' development, as many components including radios, steering wheels, seats, wheels, and entire suspension setups were selected by large numbers of average people though a series of surveys conducted by Ford. In addition, Ford disassembled many competing cars such as the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord, and the more luxurious BMW 5 Series in order to examine their parts and components.

The Taurus' design was so ahead of its time, that it was chosen to be used in the film RoboCop, which took place in the year 2000.

Ford premiered the Taurus in a resounding way. In mid-1985, Ford gathered executives and the press for the unveiling of the Taurus and Mercury Sable. The event took place at the MGM Studios Soundstage 85, where Gone with the Wind had been filmed. The studio was decorated in a space theme, with stars on the walls, flying saucer decorations, and refreshments served in flying saucer shaped coolers. For the unveiling, "space" music started playing, as projected stars floated around the room in dance floor fashion. The outlines of the cars glowed green through the curtain; as the curtain flew up, strobe lights flashed, highlighting the cars. Many industry journalists, as well as executives at Ford and Chrysler, believed the Taurus was going to be a failure. Chrysler executives believed customers would instead embrace their more conventional Dodge Dynasty and Chrysler New Yorker. Executives at Ford knew producing the Taurus was a gamble, as they ran the risk of the car being so advanced it would turn off potential customers. As a result, Ford continued to produce the LTD, which the Taurus was designed to replace in 1986. If the Taurus failed, Ford would have to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Taurus, however, ended up being a resounding success, selling over a million units in its first generation alone.

Reception

After being unveiled in 1985, the Taurus quickly became one of the most anticipated new cars of 1986. Before going on sale, Motor Trend tested a few Taurus test mules, and praised the cars extensively, even calling them "the shape of tomorrow". Popular Mechanics also tested pre-production Tauruses, and gave praised them as well, describing them as a "totally new breed of car" When the Taurus was actually released in 1986, it garnered unanimous critical praise from automotive publications. It went on to win many awards, most notably being named Motor Trend's Car of the Year for 1986 , as well as being named on Car and Driver's Ten Best List for 1986.

A 1986 Taurus in the Henry Ford Museum's Showroom of Automotive History exhibit.

It was also received very well by the public, as over 200,000 Tauruses were sold for the 1986 model year. Its radical design was noticed by film makers as well, as it was chosen for use in the 1987 film RoboCop. The film, which takes place in the year 2000 in Detroit, uses the Taurus extensively as the city's police cars. A Taurus LX dressed up as a police car is used extensively by the titular character. The film would turn out to be a large box office success, and helped to give the car publicity. In 1989, the millionth Taurus was sold after only three years in production.

Although it was initially released 22 years ago, the 1986 Taurus continues to receive positive press to this day. It was #6 on USA Today's 2007 list of "25 Cars That Made a Difference" , and was named a "Future Classic" by Autoblog . A 1986 Taurus is also currently featured in the Henry Ford Museum's Showroom of Automotive History exhibit, in which it is touted as "one of the two most significant American automobiles of the 1980s", the other being the Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager.

First generation (1986 – 1991)

First generation
Overview
Production	1986–1991
Assembly	Hapeville, Georgia Chicago, Illinois
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford D186 platform
Related	Mercury Sable Lincoln Continental
Powertrain
Engine	2.5 L HSC I4 3.0 L Vulcan V6 3.8 L Essex V6
Transmission	3-speed ATX automatic 4-speed AXOD automatic 4-speed AXOD-E automatic 5-speed MTX manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	Template:Auto in
Length	Sedan: Template:Auto in Station wagon: Template:Auto in
Width	Template:Auto in
Height	1986-88 Sedan: Template:Auto in 1989-1991 Sedan: Template:Auto in 1986-88 Wagon: Template:Auto in 1989-1991 Wagon: Template:Auto in
Curb weight	Template:Auto lb

The first-generation Taurus was launched in 1986 to strong fanfare and sales, replacing the slow-selling LTD. Upon the Taurus' debut, Ford was producing a range of rear-wheel drive cars, as Chrysler and General Motors offered more front-wheel drive vehicles. With the introduction of the Tempo, Ford had started its own transition to front-wheel drive.

Exterior

The Taurus displayed a rounder shape than its contemporaries, often likened to a 'jelly bean' or 'flying potato', inspired by the design of the Audi 5000 and Ford's own Tempo. The aerodynamic design of the Taurus was not purely cosmetic, however. Its aerodynamic shape made the car more fuel efficient, allowing Ford to meet the more stringent Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards applied by the United States government. The Taurus' success ultimately led to an American automobile design revolution; Chrysler and General Motors developed aerodynamic cars in order to capitalize on the Taurus' success.

The Taurus is credited to bringing many new design features into the mainstream marketplace. The Taurus used flush aerodynamic composite headlights, and was the first American sedan to do so; The Lincoln Continental Mark VII was the first American car to use the new lights. Originally, the NHTSA required that all cars sold in the United States use rectangle shaped sealed beam headlights, and Ford had to convince them to change the rule to allow the headlights be any shape, as long as they met federal lighting standards. Also, Instead of a grille, the Taurus had a front panel to adopt a grille-less 'bottom breather' nose, first pioneered by the Citroën DS in the 1950s. This feature was first objected to by Phillip Caldwell, and as a result, a few Taurus prototypes were built with a black grille in place of the front panel. Jack Telnack eventually convinced Ford's board of directors to vote on whether or not to use the grill-less nose, on which they eventually decided to use on the production version. Despite this, many initial publicity shots of the Taurus showed it with the black front grille. The Taurus' doors flowed up into the roof, and were designed to make the interior air tight, as well as having the door handles and windows flush with the rest of the car. The bumpers on the Taurus were designed to also be incorporated with the rest of the car's design, being flush with the rest of the body. The wheels were also pushed out to the ends of the frame, and were flush with the fender, instead of being recessed into the fender. This not only improved the car's aerodynamics, it improved handling as well. These design features helped to make the Taurus one of the most aerodynamic cars of its time, as it showed to only contain an aerodynamic drag radio of .32 , as well as becoming adapted to many other cars, and are still used on nearly all cars today.

Interior

Along with the exterior of the Taurus, its interior was ahead of its time, and many features originating from it are still used in most cars today. The interior was designed to be extremely user friendly, with all of its controls designed to be recognizable by touch, allowing the driver to operate them without taking their eyes off the road. For example, the switches to the power windows and power locks were designed with one half of the switch raised up, with the other half recessed, in order for its function to be identified by touch. To further enhance this "user friendliness", the dashboard was designed to have all of the controls in the central area, within reach of the driver. The left side of the dash also curved slightly around the driver, to make controls easily accessible as well as creating a "cockpit" feel. However, it wasn't curved enough to prevent the passenger from easily identifying and using the vehicle's main controls as well.

The interior of a 1986 Taurus LX equipped with the column mounted shifter and front bench seat configuration.

The interior of the Taurus was highly customizable by the buyer to fit their needs, as it had a large number of options, as well as being available in three different configurations. This meant that the interior of the Taurus could be spartan or luxurious, depending on the buyer's choice of options. On models with an automatic transmission, the Taurus' interior was available in three different configurations: It could be ordered with a traditional column mounted shifter and front bench seat, with bucket seats and a center console with a floor mounted shifter, or with buckets seats and a console with a column mounted shifter. However, models available with a manual transmission were only available in one configuration: bucket seats with a center console and floor mounted shifter. The interior equipment also depended on model. The most basic model, the L (see below), came standard with just an AM radio and a front cloth bench seat, while the LX, the highest model, came with a large amount of standard equipment.

The interior received a few major upgrades during the first generation's production run. In 1989, the Taurus got new door panels that had built in armrests and side speakers for the stereo. In 1990, it got a redesigned dashboard. This dash was designed similar to the one it replaced, although it had a different placement for the radio, and was designed to be able to contain either cupholders or a CD player, depending on the customer's choice of options. It also received a new steering wheel with an airbag, as Ford was making it standard in all of its cars.

Models and Engines

Main article: List of Ford Taurus models § First generation

1989-1991 Ford Taurus wagon

At its launch, the Taurus was available in four models; the L, the MT-5, the GL, and the LX. The L was the base model, with only the most basic of equipment. The MT-5 was the second model, which was aimed at Japanese imports, as it was only available with a 4 cylinder engine and a manual transmission. The value model was the GL, which contained more equipment than the MT-5 and L, and had such interior upgrades like rear headrests and a folding rear armrest. The LX was the top of the line model, which had the most standard equipment, as well as many features that were unique to this model, such as cornering lamps and side body cladding, as well as its own unique seat design. The wagon was offered in the same trim levels in the same order.

In 1988, the MT-5 wagon was dropped due to poor sales, and the MT-5 was dropped altogether in 1989. 1989 also saw the introduction of the SHO, although it was generally marketed as and considered a separate model, as opposed to part of the Taurus line.

The MT-5 and L came with a 90 horsepower (67 kW) 2.5 litre HSC four-cylinder, although the 140 horsepower (104 kW) 3.0 litre Vulcan V6, was optional on the L and standard on the GL and LX models. The MT-5 was equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, while Vulcan models used a newly-designed four-speed AXOD automatic, while HSC-equipped cars used the 3-speed ATX automatic. Ford's 3.8 litre Essex V6 was added to the lineup in 1988 as the top of the line engine optional on the LX and GL. Although the power output was rated at the same 140 horsepower (104 kW) as the 3.0 litre engine, this V6 produced 215 ft·lbf (291 N·m) of torque.

Second generation (1992–1995)

Second generation
Overview
Production	1992–1995
Assembly	Hapeville, Georgia Chicago, Illinois
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford D186 platform
Related	Mercury Sable Lincoln Continental Ford Windstar
Powertrain
Engine	3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6 3.8 L Essex V6
Transmission	4-speed AXOD-E automatic 4-speed AX4S automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	Template:Auto in
Length	Sedan: Template:Auto in Station wagon: Template:Auto in
Width	Template:Auto in
Height	Sedan: Template:Auto in–Template:Auto in Station wagon: Template:Auto in
Curb weight	Template:Auto lb–Template:Auto lb

The Taurus received its first cosmetic update in 1992. With the older model facing slumping sales, this new model brought sales back up again, with 410,000 examples sold during 1992. The Taurus was the best-selling car in the United States for every year of this generation.

Exterior

The exterior of this generation got completely redesigned from the previous one. Its length was increased by a few inches, and was a couple of hundred pounds heavier than the previous generation. Every body panel, save for the roof, was redesigned. However, many of the redesigned components closely resembled that of the previous generation, leading many to falsely believe that this generation is just a face-lift of the previous generation.

The front nose was redesigned with slimmer headlights, while retaining the first generation's "bottom breather" nose, albeit in a more aerodynamically efficient design that flowed into the front bumper. In the rear, it received new taillights that closely resembled those of the previous generation, as well as an entirely new rear clip. The trunk was also redesigned, with a spoiler being integrated into the trunk lid's design to make the car more aerodynamically efficient.

1992 Taurus GL with grey bumpers and side trim. In 1993, the aforementioned parts became color keyed.

Also with this generation, each model of Taurus received different exterior trim. The lowest level Taurus L had light grey plastic mirrors and window trim, while the bumpers and side trim were also light grey. The GL, the mid priced model, got chrome window trim and body color mirrors, while still retaining the grey bumpers and side trim. The top-of-the-line LX model had its bumpers color keyed, as well as having the grey side trim replaced with color keyed body cladding. 1992 L and GL models could also be ordered with a two-tone paint job, in which instead of being grey, the bumpers and side trim were painted a slightly darker shade of the vehicle's body color. To cut costs, this was discontinued for the 1993 model year, as all models received color keyed trim and bumpers from that year onward.

Interior

The interior was also completely redesigned for 1992. The Taurus received a new dashboard that, like the previous generation, was designed to be user friendly. Like the previous generation, it had all of the vehicle's main controls located near the left side of the dash, to be within the easy reach of the driver. Also like the previous generation, all of the controls were designed to be recognizable by touch, and to be operated by the driver without taking their eyes off the road. The new dash also contained three buttons by the gauge cluster that allowed the driver to operate the radio without taking their eyes off the road. The radio was also redesigned, while the rest of the lower dash was carried over from the previous generation, as well as the steering wheel. The new dash was also designed to contain a passenger's side airbag, a first of its kind. It was optional in 1992, and became standard in 1994, making the Taurus the first car of its kind to have standard dual front airbags.

The seats and door panels were also redesigned. The new door panels contained integrated armrests, with the controls for the power windows and locks mounted flat on its frontal part, allowing the driver to operate them without moving their arm. These switches, along with all of the main controls, would become illuminated when toe headlights were turned on, allowing the driver to easily see them at night.

Unlike the previous generation, the interior was not as customizable in this generation, and many options that were previously available were cut for 1992. This generation now only used a single seat design shared upon all models (The first generation LX got its own unique seat design), and was only available in two configurations; with a front bench seat and a column mounted shifter, or with front bucket seats and a center console with a floor mounted shifter. The console was a carryover from the previous generation, although it was redesigned for 1993.

Models and Engines

Main article: List of Ford Taurus models § Second generation

1992 Taurus wagon

For 1992, the Taurus was available in three models; L, GL, and LX. Just like the first generation, the L was the most basic model, the GL was the mid priced value model, and the LX was the most luxurious model. Due to poor sales, the L was dropped after 1992 , leaving the GL as the entry level model. For the 1995 model year, a new SE model was added, intended to be a budget version of the SHO. It displaced the LX as the top of the line Taurus, and came standard with front bucket seats and a center console with a floor mounted shifter, as well as a rear spoiler borrowed from the SHO. The SE was never available as a wagon.

The second generation also came in a modified Police version. A police Taurus was a GL trim with the 3.8 litre Essex V6 engine that was slightly different than the regular Essex engine. Output of the police Essex version was 15 bhp greater than the standard due to the addition of a dual exhaust muffler system, similar to that standard on the SHO; a Y-pipe was added after the resonator which allowed for the split to both sides of the rear of the vehicle. Other changes included a larger fuel tank, stainless steel brake lines, standard 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, a modified front grille fascia that had a slit in it to allow for increased airflow to the radiator, and a calibrated 140 mph speedometer. The Taurus police package didn't prove to be very popular, and it was often strongly outsold by Ford's own Crown Victoria.

For 1992, the 2.5 litre HSC four-cylinder was dropped, along with the 3-speed ATX automatic transmission. Instead, all Taurus models came standard with the 140 horsepower (104 kW) 3.0 litre Vulcan V6, except for the LX wagon that came with a 3.8 litre Essex V6. The Essex was optional on all other Taurus models. Every engine in this generation used the four speed AXOD-E transmission, until 1994, when it was replaced by the four speed AX4S transmission, which was used for the rest of this generation's production run.

Third generation development

1996 Ford Taurus

Development for the third generation Taurus began in the early 90s, and its designers and engineers believed that they were faced with a daunting task; they compared completely redesigning the Taurus to repainting the Mona Lisa. Like the first generation Taurus, the new Taurus was developed by a team effort, in which the exterior and interior designers, engineers, and marketing staff had input on the new car.

Many designs were considered during the development process, from designs that resembled the second generation cars, to more radically styled cars. They eventually decided on a radical new styling scheme based upon oval derived design elements, which would prove to be the car's Achilles heel in the marketplace. Chief designer Jack Telnack, who oversaw the development of the first and second generation Taurus, said that his Taurus was designed the way it was to stand out in the marketplace, and that the use of the oval was becoming the new global design theme for Ford.

Breaking down and testing competing cars, as well as listening to customer input played a large part in the development of the third generation Taurus, just like it did during the development of the first generation. Many competing cars were broken down and extensively tested in order for the Taurus to be designed to be superior to them in terms of comfort, performance, and refinement; Most notably, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord were extensively tested, and the Taurus' suspension was designed to emulate these cars' ride and handling techniques. Customer input played a large part into the design of the third generation Taurus' interior. The dashboard's design originated from a large number of complaints from customers that the previous Taurus' radio and climate control modules were cluttered with many small and similar feeling buttons, as well as small graphics, which caused the driver to have to look away from the road to be able to operate them properly. As a result, a large portion of the third generation's dash was devoted to the radio and climate control, with each button on these modules containing a unique design, making it easier for the driver to operate the radio and climate control without taking their eyes off the road. This would eventually lead to the creation of the Integrated Control Panel.

Making the new Taurus pleasing to the senses was a reoccurring theme throughout the third generation Taurus' development. Ford's engineers specially tuned every panel and component, so that every sound that the Taurus made, from the doors closing to the engine running, was acoustically pleasing. Ford's trim designers specially selected every one of the Taurus' interior materials, so that every surface, as well as every button and control, was pleasing to the touch.

Reception

Controversial oval rear window

The third generation Taurus sedan was unveiled at the 1995 North American International Auto Show, and garnered the most attention from journalists and publications than any other car at the show. The wagon was unveiled at the 1995 Chicago Auto Show, and garnered similar amounts of attention. After their respective unveilings, both vehicles became among the most anticipated new cars of the 1996 model year , similar to the first generation Taurus.

Reception to the new Taurus by automotive publications was generally positive. Road & Track gave the Taurus a good review upon its release, and found its handling and refinement impressive. Motor Trend also gave the Taurus a positive review, although they found the oval styling awkward upon first glace. However, after getting used to the car's styling, they found it to have many redeeming qualities. However, unlike the first generation Taurus, it fell short of their Car of the Year award, which was instead won by the Dodge Caravan.

However, consumer reaction was mixed. Ford had hoped the radical redesign would lead to the same success it had with the 1986 Taurus, and even went as far as predicting that the new Taurus would continue the outgoing model's record of selling over 400,000 units a year. Sales were somewhat slow at first, prompting Ford to add a low priced "G" model mid year 1996. It managed to keep its position as the best selling car in the United States in 1996, but it fell to #3 in 1997, behind a redesigned Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord.

Third generation (1996–1999)

Third generation
Overview
Production	1996–1999
Assembly	Hapeville, Georgia Chicago, Illinois
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford D186 platform
Related	Mercury Sable Lincoln Continental Ford Windstar
Powertrain
Engine	3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6 3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6
Transmission	4-speed AX4N automatic 4-speed AX4S automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	Template:Auto in
Length	Sedan: Template:Auto in Station wagon: Template:Auto in
Width	Template:Auto in
Height	Sedan: Template:Auto in Station wagon: Template:Auto in
Curb weight	Template:Auto lb

The 1996 model year saw the first complete redesign for the Taurus.

Exterior

The exterior of the third generation Taurus was completely redesigned for 1996. It used a controversial new shape that chief designer Jack Telnack claimed was penned to make the Taurus stand out in to sedan buyers, and compared the current Taurus to the likeness of a pair of slippers. This shape was based upon that of an oval, which was perhaps inspired by that of Ford's own logo. While the previous Taurus used a flat, streamlined shape, this Taurus used a rounded shape similar to that of the Chrysler Concorde. As this Taurus was aimed at a more mature, affluent customer base, the exterior of the LX model contained many upscale styling touches. For example, the LX came with chrome alloy wheels, chrome dual exhaust tips, and the "Taurus" badge on the back was written in script, as opposed to the block letters used in previous generations.

1998–1999 Taurus sedan

In 1998, the exterior of the Taurus received a slight redesign to make the shape more mainstream, in order to appeal to a wider customer base. The front bumper was redesigned to have a full length opening, as well as moving the Ford logo down onto a chrome bar mounted in the grill, similar to that of the third generation Taurus SHO. These years were also fitted with different front turn signal lenses, featuring completely clear lenses and a multi-reflector surface in the rear of the housing, around the bulb. The rear turn signal lenses were also changed from amber to red, to match the rest of the lightbar assembly.

Interior

The interior was also completely redesigned for the 1996 model year. Like that of the previous two generations, the interior was designed to be user friendly. Like that of the first generation, the dashboard wrapped slightly around the driver, and all of the main controls were placed within their reach, and were designed to be recognizable by touch and to be operated by the driver without taking their eyes off the road. this interior also contained many new innovations. The controls for the radio and climate control were combined into an oval shaped "Integrated Control Panel" mounted in the center of the dash, which was created in response to many complaints from Taurus owners that they couldn't easily operate the main controls of the radios and climate control systems without taking their eyes off the road. Another new innovation was the "Flip-Fold" center console, in which on bench seat equipped cars, the middle section could be transformed into a console; the seat cushion folded out into a console with a lockable storage bin and cupholders, while the seatback folded down to become an armrest. A traditional center console with a floor mounted shifter was also available.

External images
Flip/Fold center console
"Integrated Control Panel"

This generation's interior wasn't as configurable as that of the first two generations. The G and GL models (see below) were only available with steering column mounted shifter, along with a cloth front bench seat and the "Flip-Fold" center console. The LX, on the other hand, came standard with bucket seats that could be ordered with either cloth or leather upholstry, along with a center console and floor mounted shifter. However, a column mounted shifter and a cloth front bench was available as a no-cost option. In 1999, the interior was again available in three configurations, like that of the first generation Taurus; a front bench seat with a column mounted shifter, front bucket seats with a center console and floor mounted shifter, or front bucket seats with a center console and a column mounted shifter. Each configuration was offered in both Taurus models (see below).

Models and engines

Main article: List of Ford Taurus models § Third generation

Taurus wagon

At its launch, the Taurus was available in two models, the GL, which was the entry level/value model, and the LX, which was the top of the line model. The GL was basic, and didn't have any optional features, while the LX came with many standard features and was highly configurable. To close the price gap between the Taurus and the Ford Contour, as well as to increase sales, a entry level G model was added midway into the 1996 model year, which was essentially a slightly discontented GL. For the 1998 model year, the models of Taurus were completely changed. The G and GL were dropped, and the LX became the entry level/value model. The SE model from 1995 was revived, and it became the top tier model. The SE was offered with two special packages; the Comfort package which added chrome wheels carried over from the LX, automatic climate control, the Duratec engine (see below), and bucket seats with a center console and a floor mounted shifter, or the Sport package, which contained all of the features in the comfort package, but substituted the chrome wheels for 5 spoke alloy wheels.

File:Taurus Ghia1.jpg

1997 Australian-market Taurus Ghia

As well as being sold in the North American market, third generation models were sent abroad to Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and New Zealand, in right-hand drive configuration. However, this action proved unsuccessful. In these markets, it wore Mercury Sable headlamps and a unique front bumper cover to conform to these countries' regulations regarding automotive lighting. Australians and New Zealanders tended to stay away from the cars, due to their high price; a well equipped, larger-engined rear-wheel drive Ford Fairmont cost around the same amount. While the Japanese market was offered the station wagon, Australian buyers could only opt for a single-spec sedan, known as the Taurus Ghia.

The 1996 model year was the first time that the Taurus did not have an optional engine. The base G and GL had the 3.0 L Vulcan V6, which was a carryover from the previous model. The top of the line LX, however, got the new 3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6, which produced 200 HP and was developed specifically for this model. When Ford rearranged the Taurus models for 1998, the Vulcan became the standard engine, and the Duratec became optional on all models. However, it was only available on the SE for 1999. Vulcan equipped models came with the 4 speed AX4S transmission, while Duratec equipped models got the 4 speed AX4N transmission. However, some Vulcan equipped models randomly received the AX4N transmission for no apparent reason.

Fourth generation (2000–2007)

Fourth generation
Overview
Production	2000–2007
Assembly	Hapeville, Georgia Chicago, Illinois
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford D186 platform
Related	Mercury Sable Lincoln Continental
Powertrain
Engine	3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6 3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6
Transmission	4-speed AX4N automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	Template:Auto in
Length	Sedan: Template:Auto in Station wagon: Template:Auto in
Width	Template:Auto in
Height	Sedan: Template:Auto in Station wagon: Template:Auto in
Curb weight	Template:Auto lb

The Taurus received another redesign for 2000, which replaced many of the oval derived design elements of the previous model. To reduce the price to keep it competitive, Ford did cost cutting on the car, such as giving the Taurus rear drum brakes, eliminating the dual exhaust on the higher end models, and trimming many other small features.

Exterior

In 2004, the Taurus got a new front end, shown here.

When the third generation Taurus debuted, it was hurt by criticism by its design, which was formed from oval derived design elements. The design was very controversial, and it strongly limited the appeal of the car. As a result, for the fourth generation Taurus, Ford designed it with a very conservative design in hopes of increasing the car's appeal. Instead of sloping back, this car's trunk stood upright in a more traditional shape, which greatly increased trunk space. The roof was also raised into a more upright stance to increase headroom, which can be evidenced by the thicker C-pillar and larger area between the tops of the doors and the top of the roof.

The front and rear clips were also redesigned. The Taurus now had the turn signals integrated into the headdlamps, similar to that of the previous generation Sable. The front bumper was also redesigned to include a larger front grill which, like the previous generation, contained a chrome bar running through the middle containing the Ford logo. The rear clip was redesigned with a larger trunk and trunklid, as mentioned above, as well as giving the Taurus two large taillights as opposed to the rear lightbar used in the previous generation cars. Mounted on the trunklid was a large chrome bar containing the Ford logo, like in the front. In 2004, the front clip was slightly redesigned, and the Taurus got a new front bumper and lights. The grille was made smaller, with the chrome bar removed, replaced by just a large Ford logo in the center. The taillights were slightly redesigned, with larger reverse lights, and the chrome bar above the license plate bracket was changed to the body color.

Interior

The interior was completely redesigned with a more conservative shape, although some features from the previous cars were carried over. The dashboard was redesigned with a more conservative design that went straight across the front, as opposed to curving around the driver like in the previous generation. The "Integrated Control Panel" was carried over yet redesigned, although it was made in a bigger, square shape, and placed in the center of the dash instead of being tilted toward the driver. The Flip-Fold center console was also carried over from the previous generation, although it was revamped as well. When folded out, it now rested against the floor instead of the dashboard, and had revamped cupholders and storage areas. Unlike the previous three Tauruses, this one offered rear cupholders that either slid or folded out of the front console, depending on which console the car was equipped with.

This Taurus' interior was available in two configurations; a front bench seat with a column mounted shifter and the Flip-Fold center console, or bucket seats with a traditional console and a floor mounted shifter. The configuration for a steering column mounted shifter and a center console, which made a brief return in 1999, had been dropped. The interior also contained many new safety features; side airbags, tether straps, and a glow in the dark trunk release mounted inside of the trunk. This interior also contained a new system which Ford called the "Personal Safety System". This system, at the time of a collision, would detect the driver and passenger's positions, and would inflate the airbags to match, possibly preventing airbag-related injuries. For 2004, the interior got a minor revision, with a new steering wheel, new gauges, and the addition of a diagnostic center in the gauge cluster, that would tell if there were any problems with the car, as well as average fuel economy. It also was able to perform a "system check" per request of the driver, to make sure that the engine was functioning properly.

Models and engines

Main article: List of Ford Taurus models § Fourth generation

2000-2003 Ford Taurus wagon

The models were completely rearranged for the 2000 model year. The most basic model was the LX, with the SE as the mid priced model, a new trim named "SES" as the value model, and the SEL as the highest end model, with it slotting just under the Mercury Sable LS. The SES and LX models were dropped in 2005, leaving the SE as the base model and the SEL as the top of the line model.

The SEL trim line got slightly redesigned for 2003, to give it a more upscale image. Among the changes it got was that it got a new instrument cluster, wheels, as well as the dash getting slightly redesigned, with woodgrain trim replacing the black trim. It also got woodgrain on the steering wheel rim and around the power window switches on the front doors. Also in 2003, Ford created a Centennial Version Taurus to celebrate Ford's 100th anniversary. This special Taurus included many extras, such as lighter wood trim, special leather seats, headlights with black accents, special wheels, a special leather case for the owner's manual, a leather jacket that said "Ford:100 years", a similar watch, and a letter from William Clay Ford, Jr. Production was limited to 3,000 units.

For 2003 and 2004, the SES model received a "Sport" package, which consisted of different rims, and the Duratec engine standard. In addition, the exterior of the vehicle received Sport badging on the front quarter-panels, the chrome bar on the grille was changed to the body color, the interior received two-toned cloth seats, a two-toned dash applique, special "Sport" floor mats, and a leather covered steering wheel. This model was only offered in four colors.

The engines were carried over from the previous generation, with the Vulcan being the only available engine on the LX and SE, producing 155 horsepower and 185 Torque, and as the base engine on the SES. The Duratec engine was optional on the SES and standard on the SEL, producing 200 horsepower. For 2005, with the LX and SES models being dropped, the Duratec was only available on the SEL, and in 2006 the Duratec was dropped altogether, with the Vulcan becoming the standard and only engine available on the SEL. All models came with the four speed AX4N transmission, although a few models up until 2003 received the similar AX4S transmission.

Initial discontinuation and revival

Taurus sales had slumped significantly in the years prior to its demise, losing significant market share to Japanese sedans. Due to waning popularity and customer demand, Ford decided to slowly discontinue the Taurus. Production of the Taurus wagon was discontinued in December 2004 ; sedan retail sales halted after a short 2006 model year, and the Taurus became sold exclusively to fleets in the United States, while still being sold to retail customers in Canada. Production ended on October 27, 2006, as Ford idled the Atlanta plant, as part its The Way Forward restructuring plan.

How can it go away? Its the best selling car in America!

Alan Mulally, 2006

The last Ford Taurus rolled off the assembly line around 7:00am, destined for delivery to S. Truett Cathy, owner of Chick-fil-A. Mr. Cathy's original restaurant was located across from the Ford Atlanta plant. There was no official event or function of any kind to mark the end of production. Rather than investing in an older nameplate, Ford had decided to replace the Taurus with the fullsize Five Hundred and midsize Fusion sedans, as well as replacing the Taurus wagon with the Freestyle crossover SUV.

The last Taurus produced was a SEL model, similar to this one.

The discontinuation of the Taurus was controversial. While many believed that the Taurus was discontinued because it could no longer compete in the growing sedan market, others believed that if Ford wanted to save the car, they could have easily done so. Autoblog went as far as calling the Taurus the biggest fall from grace in history, and even blamed Ford's current financial problems on their failure to keep the Taurus competitive, as well as how they focused nearly all of their development resources and marketing on trucks and SUVs. The Truth About Cars published a review/editorial also showing their disappointment at how Ford neglected the Taurus to the point where it became a "rental car"

MSNBC interviewed many Ford workers who felt that Ford unjustly abandoned the car that had done so much to revitalize Ford and the US industry. In an October 25, 2006 USA Today editorial, "How Ford starved its Taurus" it was noted that the Japanese stick with their winners and make them better (such as the Toyota Corolla, which has been in continuous production since the 1960s), while Detroit automakers retires cars or entire division nameplates in search of "the next big thing".

The 2008 Ford Five Hundred prototype, which was renamed "Taurus" upon Alan Mulally's request.

However, after Alan Mulally took position as Ford's CEO, rumors were rampant that he was interested in reviving the Taurus. These were fueled by the fact that he said in an interview with the Associated Press that he was baffled to find out that the Taurus had been discontinued when taking position as CEO at Ford, as well as stating that he believed that discontinuing the Taurus was a mistake, and that the Five Hundred should have been named "Taurus" from the beginning. The rumors of a possible Taurus revival were confirmed in mid 2007, when the revamped versions of the Five Hundred and Freestyle were unveiled as "Taurus" and "Taurus X" at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, a decision that was influenced strongly by Mulally. In a later interview, Mulally explained that the fact that the Taurus was well known and had a positive brand equity associated with it strongly influenced his decision to revive the name.

Fifth generation (2008-)

Fifth generation
Overview
Production	2008-
Assembly	Chicago, Illinois
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / all-wheel drive
Platform	Ford D3 platform
Related	Ford Taurus X Mercury Sable Lincoln MKS
Powertrain
Engine	3.5 L DOHC Duratec 35 (Cyclone) V6
Transmission	6-speed 6F automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	Template:Auto in
Length	Template:Auto in
Width	Template:Auto in
Height	Template:Auto in
Curb weight	FWD: Template:Auto lb AWD: Template:Auto lb

As a result, the Ford Five Hundred sedan, as produced for the 2005–2007 model year, was scheduled for a significant styling facelift update and power upgrade for the 2008 model year. Ford decided to redesignate that model the Taurus because of customer recognition and dealer demand. It was determined that Ford's strategy to redesignate new cars in the lineup with new names beginning with the letter F, as in Ford Focus, Ford Fusion, and Ford Freestyle, was not a good marketing move, as some of the renamed cars had highly recognizable iconic names. The new F names were not as well known to be associated with Ford in the US, and consumers were confused by the name changes. Mulally believed that the Taurus had an immediately strong brand equity, and that it would take years for consumers to have a similar recognition of the Five Hundred.

Changes to the new Taurus from the existing Five Hundred include over 500 changes with the most obvious being a newly styled front end and the addition of the 263 hp 3.5 L Duratec 35 V6 which replaces the 203 hp Duratec 30 3.0 L V6. The Five Hundred/Freestyle's ZF-Batavia CVT, which had maximum torque capacity of Template:Auto ftlbf, is also replaced with a Ford-GM joint venture six-speed automatic capable of withstanding the Duratec 35s additional torque. The Taurus sedan twin, the Mercury Sable nameplate, was revived from the Mercury Montego.

Ford is currently developing a redesigned Taurus that is to go on sale in 2010. This new Taurus is rumored to contain the same dimensions of this model, and that a SHO version will be offered. Mulally confirmed this on On January 22, 2008 stating that the new Taurus is "the one we should've built originally". Recent pictures have circulated on the internet of a prototype purported to be the 2010 Ford Taurus. These claims were later verified when Ford contemplated legal action against web sites posting the photo up to and including Ford attorneys calling site owners to ask for removal of the photo.

This generation of the Taurus is sold in the Middle East as the Ford Five Hundred from 2008 onwards.

Use in NASCAR

In 1997, the Taurus started to be used in NASCAR racing, replacing the Thunderbird, which had been discontinued after the 1997 model year, The idea or withdrawing the Thunderbird was risky, as the Thunderbirds had won eighteen races in 1997, the model's second-most wins after the twenty-one wins in 1994.

Greg Biffle's National Guard sponsored Taurus racing car

General Motors had already used 2-door versions of their front-wheel drive mid-sizes in NASCAR: the Chevy Lumina and Monte Carlo, Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Buick Regal in NASCAR competition. Since Ford no longer manufactured any 2-door mid-size cars, the 4-door Taurus was chosen, although NASCAR racecars were traditionally based upon two door cars.

The NASCAR edition of the Taurus was developed by the Penske Racing South group based in Mooresville, North Carolina. The first one was owned by Don Miller, the co-owner and manager of Penske Racing South. The stock car Taurus made its debut to over 300 people, including news media, team representatives, and Ford drivers, on July 30, 1997 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, right before the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Taurus won fifteen races in the introductory season, nine more than the Thunderbird won in its first five seasons. This success helped to put the Taurus at the top of the NASCAR standings in 1999. The Taurus would go on to win over 100 races during its NASCAR career. The Taurus was eventually retired after the 2005 season, and the Ford NASCAR bodies instead became based upon the Fusion.

See also

• List of Ford Taurus models
• List of automobiles by sales
• Ford Taurus SHO
• Mercury Sable
• Ford Taurus X

External links

• Official 2008 Ford Taurus Website
• Taurus Car Club of America
• Ford Taurus Specifications & Photos