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Ford Taurus (fifth generation)
Encyclopedia
The fifth-generation Ford Taurus is an automobile
manufactured by the Ford Motor Company
from 2008 until 2009. It is the fifth in six generations of the Ford Taurus
. However, it is sold under the Taurus name only in the United States and Canada since the Ford Five Hundred
was sold in Mexico.
This generation of the Taurus is sold in the Middle East as the Ford Five Hundred.
and Honda Accord
. The fourth-generation Ford Taurus soon relied heavily on sales incentives and fleet sales, which further diminished its appeal. The Taurus was discontinued in late 2006, being succeeded by the Ford Fusion and Ford Five Hundred
, however the Five Hundred did not perform to expectations.
However, this caused a controversy within the auto industry, with popular automotive websites such as Autoblog
and The Truth About Cars
expressing their disappointment at Ford for letting the Taurus nameplate decline. 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 while the Japanese stick with their popular models and keep them up to date and competitive, (such as the Toyota Corolla
, which has been in continuous production since the 1960s), the Detroit automakers regularly abandon established models in search of "the next big thing".
However, after Alan Mulally
became 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, something that would take lots of time and money to give to the Five Hundred.
The exterior of the Fifth-generation Taurus is largely carried over from the Five Hundred. Apart from that of the front fascia, the Taurus is practically identical to that of the Five Hundred. Some design features on the Taurus were first used on a 2007 option package for the Five Hundred entitled the "chrome package".
The Taurus has a different front fascia that has Ford's signature three bar grille, new headlights, a new front bumper with fog lights, and side fender vents. The Taurus also gains new wheels, each differed on whether the SEL or Limited model was specified. Around the back, the Taurus has Ford Fusion style clear taillights and an added roof mounted Satellite radio
adapter. However, despite these new design features, the Taurus' shape has been criticized for looking too similar to that of the Volkswagen Passat
.
, among other changes.
The radio is a new design that has chrome
trim around the buttons, a new double tiered bin is in the center console, and there is a new shifter that is of a different design. However, the most notable feature of the Fifth-generation's interior - a feature that was new for the Taurus - was Ford's SYNC
system, developed by Microsoft
. This feature accepts voice commands, and can connect the driver's cell phones and MP3 players to the car, while organizing personal information.
V6 which replaces the 203 hp Duratec 30
3.0 L V6. The Five Hundred
/Freestyle's ZF-Batavia CVT
, which had a maximum torque capacity of 221 lbft, is also replaced with a Ford-GM joint venture six-speed
automatic
capable of withstanding the Duratec 35s additional torque. The Aisin AW six-speed automatic that was used on FWD Five Hundred and Montegos was also replaced by the new six-speed.
As with the Taurus, the Sable name was resurrected to apply to an updated version of the Mercury Montego
. However, the changes from the Montego to the Sable are more extensive to that of the Five Hundred to the Taurus. From the Montego, the Sable sports a new front fascia, hood, fenders, trunk, and taillights. Inside, the Sable offers similar options and features to the Taurus, although it has the unique features of two toned leather seats and light woodgrain trim. The Sable offers the same drivetrain improvements as the Taurus.
When the revived Taurus was launched, a crossover
variant was launched with it, entitled the Taurus X. As how the Taurus is revived from the Five Hundred, the Taurus X was born from the Ford Freestyle, itself based on the Five Hundred. The Taurus X sports a revised front fascia, hood, wheels, fenders, and taillights over the Freestyle. It also contains the same drivetrain improvements as the Taurus and Sable. As with the Taurus, the Taurus X also boasted some minor interior changes, mainly with the addition of the Microsoft SYNC system as an option. The Taurus X was offered in three models; SEL, the Limited, and a top of the range Eddie Bauer
edition.
Due to sluggish sales, the Taurus X ended production on February 27, 2009. Currently, Ford is re-tooling its Chicago Assembly Plant for the 2010 Ford Taurus (sixth generation).
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufactured by the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
from 2008 until 2009. It is the fifth in six generations of the Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. 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 North American...
. However, it is sold under the Taurus name only in the United States and Canada since the Ford Five Hundred
Ford Five Hundred
The Ford Five Hundred is a full-size sedan that was produced by the Ford Motor Company during the 2005 to 2007 model years in North America. In North America, the name evoked the classic Fairlane 500 and Galaxie 500 models of the 1950s through 1970s.-Overview:The Five Hundred was introduced at the...
was sold in Mexico.
This generation of the Taurus is sold in the Middle East as the Ford Five Hundred.
Background
The Ford Taurus was one of the company's best-selling nameplates. However, it suffered from slumping sales since the late 1990s, steadily losing market share in the midsize segment to the Toyota CamryToyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
and Honda Accord
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
. The fourth-generation Ford Taurus soon relied heavily on sales incentives and fleet sales, which further diminished its appeal. The Taurus was discontinued in late 2006, being succeeded by the Ford Fusion and Ford Five Hundred
Ford Five Hundred
The Ford Five Hundred is a full-size sedan that was produced by the Ford Motor Company during the 2005 to 2007 model years in North America. In North America, the name evoked the classic Fairlane 500 and Galaxie 500 models of the 1950s through 1970s.-Overview:The Five Hundred was introduced at the...
, however the Five Hundred did not perform to expectations.
However, this caused a controversy within the auto industry, with popular automotive websites such as Autoblog
Autoblog
Autoblog is a neologism and misnomer used to describe a particular type of website which uses software designed to automatically add content in a blog format. The owner of an autoblog is generally referred to as an autoblogger. Engaging in this practice is called autoblogging.Autoblogging does...
and The Truth About Cars
The Truth About Cars
The Truth About Cars is a website covering automobiles, automotive products and the auto industry. Its features include the GM and Ford “Death Watch” and Chrysler "Suicide Watch" series. The site began publishing in 2002, and features a mix of automotive reviews, editorials and news...
expressing their disappointment at Ford for letting the Taurus nameplate decline. MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
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 while the Japanese stick with their popular models and keep them up to date and competitive, (such as the Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
, which has been in continuous production since the 1960s), the Detroit automakers regularly abandon established models in search of "the next big thing".
However, after Alan Mulally
Alan Mulally
Alan Roger Mulally is an American engineer and business executive who is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ford Motor Company...
became 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
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
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
Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is held annually in February at Chicago's McCormick Placeconvention complex. It is among the largest auto shows in North America....
, 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, something that would take lots of time and money to give to the Five Hundred.
Exterior
The Taurus has a different front fascia that has Ford's signature three bar grille, new headlights, a new front bumper with fog lights, and side fender vents. The Taurus also gains new wheels, each differed on whether the SEL or Limited model was specified. Around the back, the Taurus has Ford Fusion style clear taillights and an added roof mounted Satellite radio
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
adapter. However, despite these new design features, the Taurus' shape has been criticized for looking too similar to that of the Volkswagen Passat
Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat is a large family car marketed by Volkswagen Passenger Cars through six design generations since 1973. Between the Volkswagen Golf / Volkswagen Jetta and the Volkswagen Phaeton in the current Volkswagen line-up, the Passat and its derivatives have been badged variously as...
.
Interior
As with the exterior, the interior of the Fifth-generation Taurus is largely carried over from the Five Hundred. However, it offers many subtle differences such as using a darker shade of woodgrain, a new steering wheelSteering wheel
A steering wheel is a type of steering control in vehicles and vessels ....
, among other changes.
The radio is a new design that has chrome
Chrome plating
Chrome plating, often referred to simply as chrome, is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease cleaning procedures, or increase surface hardness.-Process:A component to be chrome plated will...
trim around the buttons, a new double tiered bin is in the center console, and there is a new shifter that is of a different design. However, the most notable feature of the Fifth-generation's interior - a feature that was new for the Taurus - was Ford's SYNC
Ford Sync
Ford SYNC is a factory-installed, integrated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system that allows users to make hands-free telephone calls and control music and other functions using voice commands...
system, developed by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
. This feature accepts voice commands, and can connect the driver's cell phones and MP3 players to the car, while organizing personal information.
Models and Engines
The fifth generation Taurus is now offered in three models; the SE, SEL and Limited. The SE is the base model that costs approximately $24,000 US$, with the middle option SEL costing around $26,000 USD And the top of the line version Limited, which costs $30,000 USD. This generation of Taurus uses the 263 hp 3.5 L Duratec 35Ford Cyclone engine
The Cyclone engine is Ford Motor Company's latest DOHC V6 family of gasoline engines. It will gradually replace the Mondeo family of V6 engines over the next several years. The first version, a 3.5 L Duratec V6, appeared in September 2006 in the Lincoln MKZ...
V6 which replaces the 203 hp Duratec 30
Ford Mondeo V6 engine
Ford Motor Company's modern 2.5 L and 3.0 L V6 automobile engines are evolutions of the same design, first used in the 1994 Ford Mondeo. This line is sold under the brand name "Duratec", as are many other engines....
3.0 L V6. The Five Hundred
Ford Five Hundred
The Ford Five Hundred is a full-size sedan that was produced by the Ford Motor Company during the 2005 to 2007 model years in North America. In North America, the name evoked the classic Fairlane 500 and Galaxie 500 models of the 1950s through 1970s.-Overview:The Five Hundred was introduced at the...
/Freestyle's ZF-Batavia CVT
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
, which had a maximum torque capacity of 221 lbft, is also replaced with a Ford-GM joint venture six-speed
GM-Ford 6-speed automatic transmission
General Motors and Ford Motor Company cooperated in 2002 to create a new automatic transaxle, designed for transverse engine applications in cars and light trucks...
automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
capable of withstanding the Duratec 35s additional torque. The Aisin AW six-speed automatic that was used on FWD Five Hundred and Montegos was also replaced by the new six-speed.
Mercury Sable
Mercury Montego
The Mercury Montego was a mid-size vehicle in the Mercury line of Ford Motor Company from 1968 to 1976. The namplate first appeared in 1967 in Canada as part of the Mercury-derived Meteor line. After 1976, the basic design of the Montego was updated and the nameplate disappeared as the Cougar...
. However, the changes from the Montego to the Sable are more extensive to that of the Five Hundred to the Taurus. From the Montego, the Sable sports a new front fascia, hood, fenders, trunk, and taillights. Inside, the Sable offers similar options and features to the Taurus, although it has the unique features of two toned leather seats and light woodgrain trim. The Sable offers the same drivetrain improvements as the Taurus.
Ford Taurus X
Crossover SUV
A crossover SUV is a vehicle built on a car platform and combining, in highly variable degrees, features of a sport utility vehicle with features from a passenger vehicle, especially those of a station wagon or hatchback.Using the unibody construction typical of passenger vehicles, the crossover...
variant was launched with it, entitled the Taurus X. As how the Taurus is revived from the Five Hundred, the Taurus X was born from the Ford Freestyle, itself based on the Five Hundred. The Taurus X sports a revised front fascia, hood, wheels, fenders, and taillights over the Freestyle. It also contains the same drivetrain improvements as the Taurus and Sable. As with the Taurus, the Taurus X also boasted some minor interior changes, mainly with the addition of the Microsoft SYNC system as an option. The Taurus X was offered in three models; SEL, the Limited, and a top of the range Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc. is a holding company that operates the Eddie Bauer clothing store chain, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, United States. EBH was formed after Eddie Bauer's former parent company, Spiegel, Inc., went bankrupt in 2003...
edition.
Due to sluggish sales, the Taurus X ended production on February 27, 2009. Currently, Ford is re-tooling its Chicago Assembly Plant for the 2010 Ford Taurus (sixth generation).