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Encyclopedia > Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
2005 Ford Taurus sedan
Manufacturer Ford Motor Company
Production 1986–present
Predecessor Ford LTD (1986)
Ford Five Hundred (2008)
Class Mid-size (1986-2007)
Full-size (2008-)
Related Mercury Sable
Ford Taurus X
Designer Jack Telnack

The Ford Taurus is a mid-size, front wheel drive car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in North America. It was introduced in December 1985 as a 1986 model, replacing the Fairmont-based, rear wheel drive Ford LTD. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1002 KB) Beschrijving Ford Taurus model 2005 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Ford Taurus Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and the worlds third largest automaker after General Motors and Toyota, based on worldwide vehicle sales. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... The Ford Five Hundred (code name D258) was a full-size sedan produced by the Ford Motor Company. ... Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories. ... A mid-size car, frequently referred to as an intermediate, is an automobile with a size between that of a compact and a full-size or standard-size car. ... A full-size car is term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car, usually having a wheelbase greater than 2. ... Released in December 1985 for the 1986 model year, the Mercury Sable was the upscale version of the Ford Taurus. ... The Ford Taurus X is a 7-passenger mid-size crossover SUV produced by the Ford Motor Company in North America in late summer 2007. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Automotive design. ... Jack Telnack (born as John J. Telnack in 1937) was the former global Vice President of Design of the Ford Motor Company from 1987 to 1997. ... A mid-size car, frequently referred to as an intermediate, is an automobile with a size between that of a compact and a full-size or standard-size car. ... Front wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... Karl Benzs Velo model (1894) - entered into the first automobile race An automobile or motor car (usually shortened to just car) is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. ... Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and the worlds third largest automaker after General Motors and Toyota, based on worldwide vehicle sales. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Ford Fairmont is a name that has been used for two unrelated models of automobile; one in Australia and one in North America. ... Rear wheel drive was a common form of engine/transmission layout used in automobiles throughout the 20th century. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ...


The Taurus was a milestone design for both Ford and the entire American automotive industry, as well as a very influential vehicle in the marketplace, with Ford selling nearly 7.5 million examples during its 20 years of production — a longer bestselling run than the original Ford Model T.[1] Between 1992 and 1996, the Taurus was the best-selling car in the United States, even prompting Honda to grow the US version of the Accord to a similar size.[2] The Taurus eventually lost its best-seller status in 1997 to the Toyota Camry.[3] The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Fords Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1927. ... The logo of the Honda automobiles The logo of the Honda motorcycles Honda Motor Company, Limited )   (TYO: 7267 , NYSE: HMC), or simply called Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, engine manufacturer and engineering corporation. ... The Honda Accord is an intermediate automobile manufactured by Honda since 1976. ... The Toyota Camry is a mid-size sedan assembled by Toyota in Georgetown, Kentucky; Altona, Victoria, Australia; Guangzhou, China and the original factory in Toyota City, Japan. ...

Contents

Development

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

When Ford set out to develop the Taurus, they employed a new strategy of teamwork, that would prove to be revolutionary in the car development process. [4] Originally, Ford, as well as General Motors, had its engineers, as well as the exterior and interior designers work separately without any input from each other. As a result, many American cars at the time had their interiors seem "mismatched". [4] Taurus development started as early as 1981, using a similar development method that Ford used when developing the Escort, where they had engineers from all Ford branches of the world work together in a joint effort. [5] Unlike the Escort, though, the Taurus was developed entirely by American engineers at Ford's headquarters. [4] The new team of engineers was assembled by Jack Telnack, and was dubbed "Team Taurus". [4] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 366 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) from here File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 366 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) from here File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... General Motors Corporation, also known as GM, is the worlds largest auto company by annual production volume as of 2006, and the second largest by sales volume as of the first half of 2007, behind Toyota Motor Corporation. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Ford Escort (European). ... Jack Telnack (born as John J. Telnack in 1937) was the former global Vice President of Design of the Ford Motor Company from 1987 to 1997. ...


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 abandoned because it was deemed to be "too radical". [4] 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 [4]. This was not the only thing that played a part in the Taurus' development. Ford disassembled many competing cars such as Toyota Camrys, Honda Accords, and even BMW 5 series automobiles in order to examine their parts and components. [4] The Subaru Alcyone SVX (also known in the United States simply as the Subaru SVX) was a mid-sized coupe sold from 1992 to 1997. ... The Toyota Camry is a mid-size sedan assembled by Toyota in Georgetown, Kentucky; Altona, Victoria, Australia; Guangzhou, China and the original factory in Toyota City, Japan. ... The Honda Accord is an intermediate automobile manufactured by Honda since 1976. ... The BMW E28 automobile platform was the basis for the 1981 through 1987 BMW 5-Series automobiles. ...


The premiere for the Taurus was a resounding one. In mid 1985, Ford gathered executives and the press for the unveiling of the Taurus and Sable. The event was held at the MGM Studios Soundstage 85, where Gone with the Wind was filmed. The studio was decorated in a space theme, with stars on the walls, flying saucer decorations, and refreshments served to the spectators in flying saucer shaped coolers. For the unveiling, spacey music started playing, as projected stars floated around the room in dance floor fashon. The outlines of the cars glowed green thought the curtain, and the curtain flew up to reveal the cars, as strobe lights flashed, highlighting the cars.[4] Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... For alternate meanings of MGM, see MGM (disambiguation). ... Gone with the Wind, an American novel by Margaret Mitchell, was published in 1936 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1937. ...

1986 Taurus sedan. This particular Taurus was the model that Motor Trend used in their Car of the Year tests.
1986 Taurus sedan. This particular Taurus was the model that Motor Trend used in their Car of the Year tests.

Although Ford had announced that the Taurus was to be made into a production vehicle, many industry journalists, as well as executives at Ford and Chrysler Corporation believed that the Taurus was going to be a failure. [4] Executves at Chrysler believed that the Taurus was going to fail dramatically, and customers would instead embrace their new Dodge Dynasty and Chrysler New Yorker, which were more traditional automobiles. [4] Executives at Ford knew that producing the Taurus was a gamble, as they ran the risk of the car being so advanced that it would turn off potential customers. As a result, Ford continued to produce the LTD, which the Taurus was designed to replace, in 1986. [4] If the Taurus failed, Ford would not have been able to survive it, and would have had to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy. [4] The Taurus ended up being a resounding success, selling over a million units in its first generation alone. [4] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 799 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1438 × 1079 pixel, file size: 775 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) from here File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 799 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1438 × 1079 pixel, file size: 775 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) from here File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Chrysler Corporation was a United States-based automobile manufacturer that existed independently from 1925–1998. ... The Dodge Dynasty, was a front-wheel drive sedan that was introduced in 1987 as a 1988 model to replace the 600 as Dodges mid-size car. ... 1967 Chrysler New Yorker 1970 Chrysler New Yorker 2-door hardtop. ... Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code governs the process of reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. ... Notice of closure stuck on the door of a computer store the day after its parent company, Granville Technology Group Ltd, declared bankruptcy (strictly, put into administration - see text) in the UK. Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organizations to pay their...


First generation (1986–1991)

First generation
1989-1991 Taurus GL sedan
Production 1986–1991
Assembly Hapeville, Georgia
Chicago, Illinois
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
Layout FF layout
Platform Ford D186 platform
Engine(s) 2.5 L HSC I4
3.0 L Vulcan V6
3.8 L Essex V6
3.0 L SHO V6
Transmission(s) 5-speed MTX manual
3-speed ATX automatic
4-speed AXOD automatic
4-speed AXOD-E automatic
5-speed MTX-IV manual
Wheelbase 106.0 in (2692 mm)
Length Sedan: 188.4 in (4785 mm)
191.9 in (4875 mm)
Width 70.8 in (1798 mm)
Height 1986-88 Sedan: 54.3 in (1380 mm)
1989-1991 Sedan: 54.1 in (1374 mm)
1986-88 Wagon: 55.1 in (1400 mm)
1989-1991 Wagon: 55.4 in (1406 mm)
Curb weight 3050 lb (1383 kg)
Related Mercury Sable
Lincoln Continental
Designer Jack Telnack

The first generation Taurus was launched in 1986 to strong fanfare and sales, and is a very important figure in the history of the American automotive industry. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1050x480, 64 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Taurus ... Hapeville is a city in Fulton County, Georgia, United States located directly adjacent to the City of Atlanta. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... In automobile design layout is the place where both the engine and driven wheels are. ... In automobile design, an FF, or Front-engine, Front wheel drive, layout places both the engine and driven wheels at the front of the vehicle. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... The Ford D186 platform is a midsized platform, ued to build 3 sedans Ford Taurus Mercury Sable Lincoln Continental ... The HSC (High Swirl Combustion) was an automobile engine from Ford Motor Company sold from 1984 until 1994. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... The Ford Vulcan V6 was a 3. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... The Canadian Essex (90 Degree V) engine was a V6 engine family built by Ford Motor Company in Windsor, Ontario. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... Ford Motor Company worked with Yamaha Motor Corporation to develop a compact 60° DOHC V6 engine for transverse application. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... Transmissions provide a speed-power conversion known as gear reduction (in speed) to a higher torque (rotational force) using gearsets. ... The Ford MTX transmission is a 5-speed manual transaxle used in some of Fords front-wheel-drive passenger cars. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... The ATX was a 3-speed automatic transaxle produced by Ford Motor Company from 1981 through 1994. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad locomotives). ... The AXOD was a 4-speed automatic transaxle for transverse front wheel drive automobiles from the Ford Motor Company. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad locomotives). ... The AXOD was a 4-speed automatic transaxle for transverse front wheel drive automobiles from the Ford Motor Company. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad locomotives). ... The Ford MTX transmission is a 5-speed manual transaxle used in some of Fords front-wheel-drive passenger cars. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Kerb (sometimes mis-spelled as curb by Americans) weight is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables (such as motor oil and coolant), a full tank of fuel and not loaded with either passengers or cargo. ... Released in December 1985 for the 1986 model year, the Mercury Sable was the upscale version of the Ford Taurus. ... The Lincoln Continental, an automobile produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company, began for the 1939 model year. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Automotive design. ... Jack Telnack (born as John J. Telnack in 1937) was the former global Vice President of Design of the Ford Motor Company from 1987 to 1997. ...


Ford had a range of rear wheel drive cars while Chrysler and General Motors was making most of their cars front wheel drive. With the introduction of the Tempo Ford had started its transition into making its line up contain front wheel drive vehicles as well. When Ford set to replace the slow selling LTD, they designed the Taurus to have a rounder, more "organic" shape (That was often described as 'jelly bean' or 'flying potato' shaped[6]) inspired by that of the Audi 5000, as well as 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 CAFE standards applied by the United States government. [4] The design proved successful and helped to launch Ford into a new era of prosperity. The Taurus ultimately led to an American automobile design revolution that saw the end of the 'boxy' cars of the 1970s and 1980s.[4] For other uses, including the Chrysler Brand, see Chrysler (disambiguation). ... General Motors Corporation, also known as GM, is the worlds largest auto company by annual production volume as of 2006, and the second largest by sales volume as of the first half of 2007, behind Toyota Motor Corporation. ... Second generation Ford Tempo coupe Second generation Ford Tempo sedan The Ford Tempo was introduced in September of 1983 as a 1984 model, based upon a stretched and modified Ford Escort platform. ... Jelly Belly beans come in more than 50 flavors, each one marked by a different color. ... Audi 100 in California The Audi 100 was a mid-sized automobile from Audi that was made between 1968 and 1994. ... The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations in the United States, first enacted by Congress in 1975, exist to regulate and improve the average fuel economy of cars and light trucks (trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles) sold in the US. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) is the sales weighted... Karl Benzs Velo model (1894) - entered into the first automobile race An automobile or motor car (usually shortened to just car) is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. ... All Saints Chapel in the Cathedral Basilica of St. ...


The Taurus used flush aerodynamic composite headlights. The Taurus and Sable were the first domestically-produced, mainstream sedans to use the new lights. They also went beyond the 1984 Audi 5000, with which they were often compared, to adopt a grille-less 'bottom breather' nose, first pioneered by the Citroën DS in the 1950s, and also used briefly on the Mustang. Some special performance models were fitted with additional ventilation openings. A headlight or headlamp is a light, usually attached to the front of a vehicle such as a car, with the purpose of illuminating the road ahead during periods of low visibility, such as night or precipitation. ... Audi 100 in California The Audi 100 was a mid-sized automobile from Audi that was made between 1968 and 1994. ... 1974 Citroën DS23 Pallas Directional headlight detail of a Citroën DS21 Swedish-spec Citroën DS with headlight wipers Citroën DS Break - also known as the Safari, Familiale, or Wagon 1966 Citroën DS Convertible Turn indicators were mounted in the upper corners of the rear window...


The bodyshell was smooth and aerodynamic. The Sable twin had a wraparound "lightbar" with two headlights and a low-wattage stretch in between. The doors went into the roof, and the handles were recessed. The Taurus also had large glass areas with slim pillars, and were flushed into the body, not recessed. The interior was available with bucket seats — very rare for most U.S. midsize sedans — and the dashboard wrapped around the driver and fed into the door panels to create more of a "cockpit" feel.[7]

First generation Ford Taurus wagon
First generation Ford Taurus wagon

For 1986, the engines were a 90 hp (67 kW) 2.5 L HSC 4-cylinder found in the MT-5 and L models or a new 140 hp (104 kW) 3.0 L Vulcan V6, optional on the L and standard on the GL and LX models. The MT-5 was equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, Vulcan models used a newly-designed 4-speed AXOD automatic, while HSC-equipped cars used the 3-speed ATX automatic. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 318 pixelsFull resolution (1121 × 445 pixel, file size: 66 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 318 pixelsFull resolution (1121 × 445 pixel, file size: 66 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The HSC (High Swirl Combustion) was an automobile engine from Ford Motor Company sold from 1984 until 1994. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... The Ford Vulcan V6 is a 3. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... The AXOD was a 4-speed automatic transaxle for transverse front wheel drive automobiles from the Ford Motor Company. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad locomotives). ... The ATX was a 3-speed automatic transaxle produced by Ford Motor Company from 1981 through 1994. ...


The MT-5 and L models were basic, starting at US$10,500, with the GL offering a few interior upgrades like rear headrests and a folding armrest, as well as the standard 3.0 L V6. The LX was loaded with air conditioning, power windows, power seats, electric door locks, a cassette stereo and cruise control, although these features were also available as options on the other cars. The top-of-the-line LX station wagon sold for $14,300. By 1989, the top-of-the-line car offered automatic temperature control, keypad door locks, electronic instrument cluster, trip computer and power passenger seats. The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... Note: in the broadest sense, air conditioning can refer to any form of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. ... Power windows or electric windows are windows which can be raised and lowered by depressing a button or switch of some sort, as opposed to using a hand-turned crank. ... Cruise control (sometimes known as speed control or Autocruise) is a system to automatically control the speed of an automobile. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ...


Ford's 3.8 L Essex V6 was added to the lineup in 1988. Although the power output was rated at the same 140 hp (104 kW) as the 3.0 L engine, this large V6 produced 215 ft·lbf (291 N·m) of torque, a welcome addition, especially in the heavier wagons. However, the 3.8 suffered from a premature failure of head gaskets, which was a fault with Ford's supplier of gaskets, not necessarily with the engine itself. The Canadian Essex (90 Degree V) engine was a V6 engine family built by Ford Motor Company in Windsor, Ontario. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... Torque applied via an adjustable end wrench Relationship between force, torque, and momentum vectors in a rotating system In physics, torque (or often called a moment) can informally be thought of as rotational force or angular force which causes a change in rotational motion. ...


In 1990, the interior received a facelift, incorporating a new steering wheel design with an airbag, a new gear shifter and a new dashboard with a new instrument panel. The 2.5 L four was given SFI, increasing power by 15 hp (11.2 kW) and torque by 10 ft·lbf (13.6 N·m), as did the 3.0 L V6, although output remained the same for that engine. The 3.8 L continued unchanged. All but the SHO were fitted with a 4-speed automatic for 1990 and a new electronic AXOD-E transmission in 1991. LX cars were also fitted with anti-lock brakes as standard that year. A modern road cars steering wheel Steering wheels from different periods A steering wheel is a type of steering control used in most modern land vehicles, including all mass-production automobiles. ... For the Mozilla crash reporting software previously called Airbag, see Breakpad. ... The gear shifting is the part of the gearbox which has the shift forks and allows the contact from the driver to the synchronisation. ... A dashboard from a 1940s car The dashboard of a modern car, a Bentley Continental GT A Hayabusas dash A modern Formula 1 car has all its gauges mounted on the steering wheel A dashboard or dash board in an automobile is a panel located under the windscreen and... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and appeal to a wider international audience, this article may require cleanup. ... The AXOD was a 4-speed automatic transaxle for transverse front wheel drive automobiles from the Ford Motor Company. ... An anti-lock braking system (commonly known as ABS, from the German name Antiblockiersystem given to it by its inventors at Bosch) is a system on motor vehicles which prevents the wheels from locking while braking. ...


First generation SHO

A first generation Ford Taurus SHO with the "Plus" package
A first generation Ford Taurus SHO with the "Plus" package

In 1989, the high performance SHO model was added. It is said that the reason why the SHO was created was because a lightweight two-seater sports car was under development by Ford to compete with the Pontiac Fiero and the Toyota MR2. Ford had sealed a deal with Yamaha for engines for this new car, but since the 'sporty car' market was falling, Ford scrapped the project, having already received a shipment of engines from Yamaha for the car, with many more in production. To utilize these otherwise redundant engines, Ford instead decided to put them in the Taurus, creating the SHO.[8] As a result, Ford initially advertised the SHO as a limited production vehicle.[9] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1140x562, 94 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Taurus Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1140x562, 94 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Taurus Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... Old Pontiac Fiero Base model Fiero gauge cluster The Pontiac Fiero is a mid-engined sports car that was built by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1984 to 1988. ... The Toyota MR2 is a two-seat, mid-engined, rear wheel drive sports car produced by Toyota from 1984 until July 2007 when production stops in Japan, in three different design series. ...


The SHO differed from the normal Taurus on the exterior by having a set of ground effects and a rear spoiler. The interior also differed by having sports seats and an 8000 rpm tachometer. The SHO became the only Taurus to feature a manual transmission since the MT5 was discontinued in that year.[10] Tachometer showing engine RPM (revolutions per minute), and a redline from 6000 and 7000 RPM. A tachometer measures the speed of rotation of a shaft or disk (from Greek: tachos = speed, metron = measure), as in a motor or other machine. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ...


A 'special edition' of the SHO was offered in 1991 that had some different styling cues from the 'normal' SHO, such as a new hood, painted wheels and other cosmetic details. This was called the SHO Plus Package.[11]


Second generation (1992–1995)

Second generation
Ford Taurus sedan
Production 1992–1995
Assembly Hapeville, Georgia
Chicago, Illinois
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
Layout FF layout
Platform Ford D186 platform
Engine(s) 3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6
3.8 L Essex V6
3.0 L SHO V6
3.2 L SHO V6
Transmission(s) 4-speed AXOD-E automatic
4-speed AX4N automatic
5-speed MTX-IV manual
4-speed AX4S automatic
Wheelbase 106.0 in (2692 mm)
Length Sedan: 192.0 in (4877 mm)
Wagon: 193.1 in (4905 mm)
Width 71.2 in (1808 mm)
Height Sedan: 54.1 in (1374 mm)
Wagon: 55.5 in (1410 mm)
Curb weight 3118–3472 lb (1414–1575 kg)
Related Mercury Sable
Lincoln Continental
Ford Windstar[12][13]
Designer Jack Telnack
1992 Taurus GL wagon. The base model Tauruses had grey bumpers and side trim for 1992 only. In 1993, these parts became color keyed, just like in the higher model Tauruses.
1992 Taurus GL wagon. The base model Tauruses had grey bumpers and side trim for 1992 only. In 1993, these parts became color keyed, just like in the higher model Tauruses.

The Taurus received its first significant cosmetic update in 1992 (a nearly-invisible front headlight/grille change happened in 1989), which modernized the interior and the front and rear fascias. The operation cost Ford $650 million at the time. With the older model facing slumping sales, this new model brought sales back up again, with 410,000 examples sold during 1992, a number unheard of even today.[3] While the design was basically the same, every body panel except for the roof was changed. Ford also gave the Taurus what they called a 'smarter appointed interior',[14] which offered such luxuries as electronic automatic climate control (an option for the LX and, later, SE; standard on SHO models), power sliding moonroof, leather seating surfaces, and a center console which was available for people who did not want the front bench seat. Wagon versions that retained the front bench seat and were equipped with the optional rear facing third seat had seating capacity for eight passengers. The Taurus was the best-selling car in the United States for every year of this cosmetic update.[7] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1155x504, 82 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Taurus Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Hapeville is a city in Fulton County, Georgia, United States located directly adjacent to the City of Atlanta. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... In automobile design layout is the place where both the engine and driven wheels are. ... In automobile design, an FF, or Front-engine, Front wheel drive, layout places both the engine and driven wheels at the front of the vehicle. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... The Ford D186 platform is a midsized platform, ued to build 3 sedans Ford Taurus Mercury Sable Lincoln Continental ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and appeal to a wider international audience, this article may require cleanup. ... The Ford Vulcan V6 was a 3. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... The Canadian Essex (90 Degree V) engine was a V6 engine family built by Ford Motor Company in Windsor, Ontario. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... Ford Motor Company worked with Yamaha Motor Corporation to develop a compact 60° DOHC V6 engine for transverse application. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... Ford Motor Company worked with Yamaha Motor Corporation to develop a compact 60° DOHC V6 engine for transverse application. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... Transmissions provide a speed-power conversion known as gear reduction (in speed) to a higher torque (rotational force) using gearsets. ... The AXOD was a 4-speed automatic transaxle for transverse front wheel drive automobiles from the Ford Motor Company. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad locomotives). ... The AXOD was a 4-speed automatic transaxle for transverse front wheel drive automobiles from the Ford Motor Company. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad locomotives). ... The Ford MTX transmission is a 5-speed manual transaxle used in some of Fords front-wheel-drive passenger cars. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... The AXOD was a 4-speed automatic transaxle for transverse front wheel drive automobiles from the Ford Motor Company. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad locomotives). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Kerb (sometimes mis-spelled as curb by Americans) weight is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables (such as motor oil and coolant), a full tank of fuel and not loaded with either passengers or cargo. ... Released in December 1985 for the 1986 model year, the Mercury Sable was the upscale version of the Ford Taurus. ... The Lincoln Continental, an automobile produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company, began for the 1939 model year. ... The Ford Windstar was a minivan produced and sold by the Ford Motor Company from March 1994 (for the 1995 model year) to 2003. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Automotive design. ... Jack Telnack (born as John J. Telnack in 1937) was the former global Vice President of Design of the Ford Motor Company from 1987 to 1997. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 520 pixelsFull resolution (1760 × 1144 pixel, file size: 200 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 520 pixelsFull resolution (1760 × 1144 pixel, file size: 200 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A sunroof is a cutout in a cars (or trucks) roof that can be opened to provide fresh air and sun to the people inside. ...


The 2.5L four-cylinder engine had been eliminated after 1991, making the 3.0L V6 standard in all non-SHO models (except the LX Wagon, which had the 3.8L standard) from 1992-on. The next year (1993), the cheaper L base model was gone, as were other unpopular optional features such as the "InstaClear" heated windshield and the front cornering lamps on GL and LX models. For both 3.0L and 3.8L V6 engines, the drive belt system became a single-belt setup for 1993 (previously, the alternator had used a separate belt). A passenger-side airbag became standard for 1994, including a redesigned drivers side airbag and steering wheel (though this newer look had been on the SHO since 1993), finally replacing the "block" air bag of 1990-1993. Also for 1994, all wheel options were now 15". Previously, 14" wheels were standard on GL models. For 1994 and 1995, the LX model received unique crystiline headlamps.[15]


The wagon version was available with mostly the same options as the sedan versions. Wagons had a maximum of 81.1 cubic feet of cargo area with the 60/40 split rear seat folded down. They featured a 2-way liftgate (raise the entire liftgate or just the window), a roof rack with crossbar and tie-downs, an optional rear-facing third seat, a lockable under-floor compartment, and an optional fold-out picnic table. With both rear split seats in the upright position, standard cargo capacity was 45.7 cubic feet.


The last year of this updated Taurus generation was 1995. For the 1995 model year, a sportier SE model was added; similarly the Sable added the rare "LTS" trim level. It featured alloy wheels which were borrowed from the LX, had combination leather/cloth bucket seats separated by a console, unique "Crystalline" headlamp assemblies also borrowed from the LX, and a rear deck lid "lip" spoiler borrowed from the SHO. The SE trim had either the standard 3.0L Vulcan V6 or the optional 3.8L Essex V6. Other models gained standard air conditioning and rear window defroster, depending on the market, these may have already been standard equipment.


The second generation also came in a modified Police version. A police Taurus was a GL trim with the 3.8L Essex V6 engine that was slightly different than the regular Essex engine. [16] The police version of this engine use high silicone alloy pistons which can be identified by two notches in the top of the piston. Output of the police version essex was 15bhp 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. [17] Other changes included a larger fuel tank, stainless steel brake lines, standard 4-wheel disc with ABS, a modified front grill fascia that had a slit in it to allow for increased airflow to the radiator, and a calibrated 140 MPH speedometer. [18]


Second generation SHO

A second generation SHO
A second generation SHO

The SHO model continued with the same powertrain as before: The Yamaha-developed 3.0L V6 and 5-speed manual transmission. The new second generation SHO gets its own distinctive front fascia with a unique front bumper cover that incorporated fog lights and a lower front spoiler, as well as side claddings. The hood, fenders, headlights, and marker lights were borrowed from the Mercury Sable, but no middle light bar.[18] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2272x1704, 778 KB) Summary Second-generation Ford Taurus SHO. Photographed by Ben Schumin on September 5, 2006 at Kiser Auto Sales in Stuarts Draft, Virginia. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2272x1704, 778 KB) Summary Second-generation Ford Taurus SHO. Photographed by Ben Schumin on September 5, 2006 at Kiser Auto Sales in Stuarts Draft, Virginia. ...


The lack of an automatic transmission had hurt sales, which was a situation that Ford rectified in 1993. A 3.2 L version of the Ford SHO V6 engine was introduced for automatic-equipped SHO, which still had 220 hp (164 kW), but now boasted 215 ft·lbf (292 N·m), a 15 ft·lbf (20.3 N·m) increase over the 3.0 L version.[15] Ford Motor Company worked with Yamaha Motor Corporation to develop a compact 60° DOHC V6 engine for transverse application. ...


In 1993, Ford did a minor redesign of the SHO interior, updating the center console. Other changes for 1993 included a trunklid spoiler, with integrated center high mount stop lamp.[18]


The second generation SHO entered popular culture due to the fact that a 1992 model is owned by comedian Conan O'Brien, and that he often talks about it on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, his late night talk show, when speaking about his personal life and interests.[19] He devoted a special segment of the show to his SHO onetime, where in a fictional skit, he set off to sell the vehicle and use the money to buy a large estate in Europe. In the skit, he fails to sell the car, but then pretends to sell the car to Brad Pitt. Conan Christopher OBrien (born April 18, 1963)[1] is an Emmy-winning American comedian, writer and television personality best known as host of NBCs late-night talk/variety show Late Night with Conan OBrien. ... Late Night with Conan OBrien is an American late night talk show on NBC that is also syndicated worldwide. ... A talk show (U.S.) or chat show (Brit. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... William Bradley Brad Pitt(born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. ...


by request of Car and Driver magazine, a SHO station wagon was created by the Car and Driver staff with the help of Ford engineers.[20] They started with a production Taurus wagon, and from there installed SHO bodywork, including its unique front end. They then replaced the stock engine and drivetrain with SHO drivetrain. Inside, the interior was replicated of that of a high spec SHO sedan, including its sport seats, steering wheel, and included most of the SHO's equipment. [20] The staff then tested it, and took it on a cross country trip. This model never got past prototype form, and the Car and Driver staff as well as Ford admitted that the SHO wagon was created "just for fun", and was never meant to be a serious production vehicle. [20] However, there have been successful amateur conversions.[21] Cover of Car and Driver from age of psychedelic lettering Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. ...


Third generation (1996–1999)

Third generation
1996-1997 Ford Taurus sedan
Production 1996–1999
Assembly Hapeville, Georgia
Chicago, Illinois
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
Layout FF layout
Platform Ford D186 platform
Engine(s) 3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6
3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6
3.4 L SHO V8
Transmission(s) 4-speed AX4N automatic
4-speed AX4S automatic
Wheelbase 108.5 in (2756 mm)
Length Sedan: 197.5 in (5016 mm)
Wagon: 199.6 in (5070 mm)
Width 73.0 in (1854 mm)
Height Sedan: 55.1 in (1400 mm)
Wagon: 57.6 in (1465 mm)
Curb weight 3329 lb (1510 kg)
Related Mercury Sable
Lincoln Continental
Ford Windstar[12][13]
Controversial oval rear window.
Controversial oval rear window.
Taurus wagon
Taurus wagon

The 1996 model year saw the first complete redesign for the Taurus. Ford hoped the radical redesign would lead to the same success it had had with the 1986 Taurus. The controversial oval theme, such as the oval rear windshield and the oval center radio/center console, was not well received by the press and the public, and is ultimately blamed as the reason the Taurus lost its bestseller status to the Toyota Camry in 1997.[22] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1909x934, 207 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Taurus Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Hapeville is a city in Fulton County, Georgia, United States located directly adjacent to the City of Atlanta. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... In automobile design layout is the place where both the engine and driven wheels are. ... In automobile design, an FF, or Front-engine, Front wheel drive, layout places both the engine and driven wheels at the front of the vehicle. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... The Ford D186 platform is a midsized platform, ued to build 3 sedans Ford Taurus Mercury Sable Lincoln Continental ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and appeal to a wider international audience, this article may require cleanup. ... The Ford Vulcan V6 was a 3. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... A double overhead cam (also called a dual overhead cam, DOHC, or twincam) engine is a type of internal combustion engine where the camshafts that operate the intake and exhaust valves are mounted above the cylinders, and where there are separate camshafts for inlet and exhaust valves. ... The Duratec is a range of four, six and twelve-cylinder gasoline engines used in Ford cars. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... Ford Motor Company had worked with Yamaha Motor Corporation to develop the compact DOHC V6 Ford SHO V6 engine for the 1989 Ford Taurus SHO. When the time came to replace that engine, the company again worked with Yamaha to build a new V8 based on their successful Duratec V6. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... Transmissions provide a speed-power conversion known as gear reduction (in speed) to a higher torque (rotational force) using gearsets. ... The AXOD was a 4-speed automatic transaxle for transverse front wheel drive automobiles from the Ford Motor Company. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad locomotives). ... The AXOD was a 4-speed automatic transaxle for transverse front wheel drive automobiles from the Ford Motor Company. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad locomotives). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Kerb (sometimes mis-spelled as curb by Americans) weight is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables (such as motor oil and coolant), a full tank of fuel and not loaded with either passengers or cargo. ... Released in December 1985 for the 1986 model year, the Mercury Sable was the upscale version of the Ford Taurus. ... The Lincoln Continental, an automobile produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company, began for the 1939 model year. ... The Ford Windstar was a minivan produced and sold by the Ford Motor Company from March 1994 (for the 1995 model year) to 2003. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 759 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1088 × 860 pixel, file size: 92 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 759 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1088 × 860 pixel, file size: 92 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 446 pixelsFull resolution (1964 × 1096 pixel, file size: 170 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 446 pixelsFull resolution (1964 × 1096 pixel, file size: 170 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Toyota Camry is a mid-size sedan assembled by Toyota in Georgetown, Kentucky; Altona, Victoria, Australia; Guangzhou, China and the original factory in Toyota City, Japan. ...


Another factor that was to blame for the sales decline of the Taurus was the substantial price increase from the previous model. The suggested retail price for the 1996 model increased US$2,500 over the 1995 model. The 1996 Taurus attempted to move upmarket and the result was a car with more standard and optional features. The 1996 model could be equipped with the powerful 200 hp (149 kW) 3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6 as an option. Quality of this generation was of a lower standard than in previous generations, as the overall quality of the Ford line was falling at the time; the Taurus received a poor reliability rating from Consumer Reports.[23] Another notable quality issue is the fact that cars equipped with the manual air conditioning did not have any form of liquid drainage, meaning that mold could form in the air ducts and blow into the cabin, when the AC was turned on. This sparked a notorious battle between Ford and Jerry Schreiber, an elderly man who claimed that the mold in the faulty AC system in his 1998 Taurus nearly killed him.[24] The battle continues to this day. A cylinder head sliced in half shows two overhead camshafts—one above each of the two valves. ... The Duratec is a range of four, six and twelve-cylinder gasoline engines used in Ford cars. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... Consumer Reports, an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union, publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. ... Jerry Schreiber is an elderly male from Canada who is best known for launching a large consumer battle against Ford Motor Company. ...


Trim lines were now known as G at the bottom, with GL in the middle and LX as the most-luxurious. The third generation also saw Ford USA's re-entry into RHD export markets. A specially luxurious trim level — the Taurus Ghia — was available in these markets. The SHO continued with a new 3.4 L V8 engine. The Taurus was a flexible-fuel vehicle for 1997 and earned low-emission vehicle status in California but sales were faltering, nonetheless. The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... A flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) or dual-fuel vehicle (also sometimes called only flex-fuel) is an automobile that can typically alternate between two sources of fuel, with separate tanks and fuel systems for each fuel. ... Californias Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program defines automotive emission standards which are stricter than the United States national Tier regulations. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

1999 Taurus SE sedan
1999 Taurus SE sedan

In an effort to reverse the declining sales of the Taurus, Ford tried to increase its appeal by making some cosmetic changes for the 1998 and 1999 model years. These changes included redesigning the grille openings in the front, changing the design from two oval openings to a more SHO-like full width opening for the air dam (without the bar running through the center) and moving the Ford logo down into an enlarged opening between the lights, mounted onto a Jaguar-esque 'motif bar'. These years were also fitted with more attractive headlight lenses, featuring completely clear lenses and a multi-reflector surface in the rear of the housing, around the bulb; these were known as the 'disco ball' headlights. The rear turn signal lenses were changed from amber to red, to match the rest of the lightbar assembly, presumably to present a more 'sleek' appearance. Ford also eliminated the two downmarket trim levels, G and GL and reinstated the upscale SE model from 1995, which featured a harder suspension and four-wheel disc brakes.[25] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 489 pixel Image in higher resolution (2303 × 1408 pixel, file size: 210 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Taurus Metadata... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 489 pixel Image in higher resolution (2303 × 1408 pixel, file size: 210 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Taurus Metadata... Jaguar Cars is a British based subsidiary of the American Ford Motor Company famous for luxury saloon and sports cars. ...


Although all 1998 models had the option of the DOHC Duratec engine, it was only available on the SE for 1999. That same year, the front bucket seats, re-introduced with the SE, became optional on the LX. Ford claimed that the 1999 Duratec had less power than the 2000 Duratec in hopes to increase sales of the 2000 Taurus.[26]


Part way into the 1999 model year, Ford made some minor cosmetic changes and cut features, mostly to cut costs. These changes were made due to the continuing decline of Taurus sales and Ford's focus on the truck and SUV market.[27]


Third generation SHO

1997 SHO
1997 SHO

For 1996, the SHO model was redesigned. Unlike its predecessors, this SHO was more refined and used less radical bodywork. It differed from the normal Taurus with different seats, wheels, bumpers, drivetrain, as well as a fin being put on the driver's side wiper blade, to keep it on the windshield at high speeds. Unlike the previous SHOs though, this model was designed for comfort instead of performance. [28] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2816x2112, 1275 KB) Summary 1997 Ford Taurus SHO in Taurador Red. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2816x2112, 1275 KB) Summary 1997 Ford Taurus SHO in Taurador Red. ...


A 235 hp (175 kW) 3.4 L DOHC V8 was specified for the SHO model but the 5-speed manual transmission was deleted. The V8 in the SHO model (produced from 1996 to 1999) increased curb weight, and the lack of a manual transmission option meant the new SHO lacked the acceleration of the previous generation manual transmission cars, though its top speed of 144 mph (232 km/h) was higher and its cornering and braking were improved. These engines were assembled by Yamaha in Japan but more parts were made by Ford than in the earlier Yamaha-built V6. Ford Motor Company had worked with Yamaha Motor Corporation to develop the compact DOHC V6 Ford SHO V6 engine for the 1989 Ford Taurus SHO. When the time came to replace that engine, the company again worked with Yamaha to build a new V8 based on their successful Duratec V6. ...


Separation of the camshaft from its sprocket (components shared with at least one other Ford engine with significantly lower output) has been implicated in a growing number of catastrophic failures of this engine, at around the 50,000 mile (80,000 km) mark. The standard warranty on this model was 36,000 miles (58,000 km). This problem can be rectified by having the camshafts welded.[29]. This SHO model sold in lower numbers than the previous SHO generations, with sales peaking at 9,000 units in 1997.[30] As a result, Ford cut the SHO when redesigning the Taurus for its fourth generation.


Fourth generation (2000–2007)

Fourth generation
2000-2003 Taurus sedan
Production 2000–2007
Assembly Hapeville, Georgia
Chicago, Illinois
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
Layout FF layout
Platform Ford D186 platform
Engine(s) 3.0 L SFI Vulcan V6
3.0 L DOHC Duratec 30 V6
Transmission(s) 4-speed AX4N automatic
Wheelbase 108.5 in (2756 mm)
Length Sedan: 197.6 in (5019 mm)
Wagon: 197.7 in (5021 mm)
Width 73.0 in (1854 mm)
Height Sedan: 56.1 in (1425 mm)
Wagon: 57.8 in (1468 mm)
Curb weight 3316 lb (1504 kg)
Related Mercury Sable
Lincoln Continental
Taurus wagon
Taurus wagon

The Taurus received another redesign in 2000, which minimized some of the oval design elements from the 1996 model, replacing them with more conventional styling. The redesign also featured a taller roof over the rear-passenger space, to increase passenger headroom that had been sacrificed by the tapered 1996 design. The taller and roomier trunk also served to make the vehicle more functional. The interior was completely changed for a much more conservative design. Certain elements of the interior were retained from the 1996 model, such as the integrated control console, which combined the sound system and climate controls into one panel. The suspension was also softened to appeal to a broader, non-sporting audience. Electrically-adjustable pedals became an option on the 2000 Taurus. To reduce the price and increase profitability, many features such as four-wheel disc brakes were eliminated.[31] The SHO model was also dropped. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2532x1324, 223 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Taurus Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Hapeville is a city in Fulton County, Georgia, United States located directly adjacent to the City of Atlanta. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country United States State Illinois County Cook & DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... In automobile design layout is the place where both the engine and driven wheels are. ... In automobile design, an FF, or Front-engine, Front wheel drive, layout places both the engine and driven wheels at the front of the vehicle. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... The Ford D186 platform is a midsized platform, ued to build 3 sedans Ford Taurus Mercury Sable Lincoln Continental ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and appeal to a wider international audience, this article may require cleanup. ... The Ford Vulcan V6 was a 3. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... A double overhead cam (also called a dual overhead cam, DOHC, or twincam) engine is a type of internal combustion engine where the camshafts that operate the intake and exhaust valves are mounted above the cylinders, and where there are separate camshafts for inlet and exhaust valves. ... The Ford Taurus (from Latin bull) is a midsize car sold by the Ford Motor Company in North America. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... Transmissions provide a speed-power conversion known as gear reduction (in speed) to a higher torque (rotational force) using gearsets. ... The AXOD was a 4-speed automatic transaxle for transverse front wheel drive automobiles from the Ford Motor Company. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad locomotives). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Kerb (sometimes mis-spelled as curb by Americans) weight is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables (such as motor oil and coolant), a full tank of fuel and not loaded with either passengers or cargo. ... Released in December 1985 for the 1986 model year, the Mercury Sable was the upscale version of the Ford Taurus. ... The Lincoln Continental, an automobile produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company, began for the 1939 model year. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2044x1140, 151 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Taurus Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2044x1140, 151 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ford Taurus Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... The front suspension components of a Ford Model T. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Vehicle brake. ...


The 2002 Taurus included extra equipment on every trim level, including a CD player and power driver's seat on the SE, a power moonroof or leather interior on the SES and both of these luxury options on the SEL. Side airbags and traction control were added as options on all models. A sunroof is a cutout in a cars (or trucks) roof that can be opened to provide fresh air and sun to the people inside. ... Traction control systems, on current production vehicles, are typically (but not necessarily) electro-hydraulic systems designed to prevent loss of traction (and therefore the control of the vehicle) when excessive throttle or steering is applied by the driver. ...

Facelifted 4th-gen Taurus sedan
Facelifted 4th-gen Taurus sedan

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.[32] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 481 pixelsFull resolution (1596 × 960 pixel, file size: 124 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 481 pixelsFull resolution (1596 × 960 pixel, file size: 124 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The name Bill Ford might also refer to the former baseball player. ...


For 2004, the Taurus received minor cosmetic changes to the front and rear fascias, most noticeably the removal of a horizontal bar running through the Ford logo on the grille. Inside were a new instrument cluster and steering wheel. 2005 to 2007 models remain unchanged from 2004. In 2006 the Duratec engine was dropped from the lineup. [31]




Initial discontinuation



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This Taurus, a loaded 2007 SEL, rolls off the Atlanta Assembly line. It was the last Ford Taurus produced for the 2007 model year. The Chicago assembly line had already been retooled to build the Five Hundred.

Taurus sales had slumped significantly in the years prior to its demise, losing significant market share to foreign sedans.[3] Production of the Taurus wagon was discontinued in January 2005; sedan retail sales halted after a short 2006 model year. The 2007 Taurus was sold exclusively to fleets in the United States, but was still offered to consumers in Canada. Production ended on October 27, 2006, as Ford idled the Atlanta plant, as part of The Way Forward. The last Ford Taurus rolled off the assembly line around 7:25am, destined for delivery to S. Truett Cathy, owner of Chick-fil-A.[33] 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. Image File history File links Lasttaurus. ... Image File history File links Lasttaurus. ... fleet, see Fleet. ... is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Ford Motor Companys restructuring plan, made public in 2006, is known as The Way Forward. ... Samuel Truett Cathy (born March 14, 1921 in Eatonton, Georgia) is the founder and chairman of Chick-fil-A, a fast-food restaurant chain based in suburban Atlanta, Georgia. ... Chick-fil-A (IPA pronunciation: ) is a fast-food restaurant chain headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that specializes in chicken entrees. ...


Rather than investing in an older platform, Ford chose to concentrate on development of the larger 2005 Five Hundred and Freestyle (a taller crossover sedan and wagon, based on a Volvo FWD/AWD platform) and the 2006 Fusion (a Mazda6-based sedan, similar in size to the original Taurus), both vehicles replaced the Taurus in the Ford lineup. The Ford Five Hundred (code name D258) was a full-size sedan produced by the Ford Motor Company. ... For minivan, see Ford Freestar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...


The discontinuation of the Taurus was controversial, mostly due to the fact that it was believed that the Taurus was just left to die by Ford, while others believe that the car could not keep pace in the growing sedan market, and that caused it to be discontinued.[34] This is disputed though, because some believed that if Ford wanted to save the car, they could have easily done so.[35] One went even as far as calling the Taurus the biggest fall from grace in history, and even blamed Ford being in dire straits today on them letting the Taurus widdle away and focusing all its money on SUVs.[36]


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 a 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[37]) while Detroit retires cars or entire division nameplates to keep with the current trends.[38] October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Toyota Corolla is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. ...


Fifth generation (2008-)

Fifth generation
2008 Ford Taurus
Production 2008-
Assembly Chicago, Illinois
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
Layout Front engine, front-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive
Platform Ford D3 platform
Engine(s) 3.5 L Cyclone V6
Transmission(s) 6-speed 6F automatic
Wheelbase 112.7 in
Length 201.8 in
Width 74.1 in
Height 61.2 in
Related Volvo S80 (1999-2006)
Volvo S60
Mercury Sable
Lincoln MKS
Ford Flex
Ford Taurus X
Designer J Mays

After Mulally took position as Ford's CEO, rumors were rampant that he was interested in reviving the Taurus. Mulally said that he was baffled by the fact that Ford was going to discontinue the Taurus, and that he believed that the discontinuation of the Taurus was unjust, even asking "How can it go away, it is the best selling car in America." [39] He said that the discontinuation of the Taurus disappointed many of Ford's loyal customers, who wanted Ford to instead continue to improve the Taurus instead of abandoning it. [39] Mulally also stated that under his leadership, Ford will start to remain more loyal to its customers and nameplates, and will continue to stick with and improve successful nameplates to keep customers loyal to the brand, and the revival of the Taurus was the first such move. [40] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 443 pixelsFull resolution (2452 × 1358 pixel, file size: 282 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... A notchback full-size luxury sedan. ... In automobile design layout is the place where both the engine and driven wheels are. ... A front-mounted engine describes the placement of an automobile engine in front of or on the front axle. ... Front-wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... This article is missing citation of sources. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... The D3 (for D-class and called P2 by Volvo) is a Ford global full-size car automobile platform. ... The Duratec 35 (code-name Cyclone) is a family of automobile engines from the Ford Motor Company. ... The Ford Essex V6 engine V6 and V-6 redirect here. ... Transmissions provide a speed-power conversion known as gear reduction (in speed) to a higher torque (rotational force) using gearsets. ... General Motors and Ford Motor Company teamed up in 2002 to create a new automatic transmission design. ... The automatic gear selector in a Ford Five Hundred vehicle An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually (similar but larger devices are also used for railroad locomotives). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Volvo S80 is a mid size luxury executive car produced by the Swedish automaker Volvo and was introduced in 1999 as a replacement for the Volvo 960/S90 sedan. ... The Volvo S60 sedan was one the most remarkable vehicles built by the Swedish brand. ... Released in December 1985 for the 1986 model year, the Mercury Sable was the upscale version of the Ford Taurus. ... The Lincoln MKS is luxury sedan announced on August 9, 2006 for production in the 2008 model year. ... The Ford Flex is a full-size people-mover crossover SUV that replaces the discontinued Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans. ... The Ford Taurus X is a 7-passenger mid-size crossover SUV produced by the Ford Motor Company in North America in late summer 2007. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Automotive design. ... J Mays (born October 15, 1954 in Maysville, Oklahoma) is currently the Vice President of Design and Chief Creative Officer at Ford Motor Company. ... Image File history File links Wikinews-logo. ... Wikinews is a free-content news source and a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. ...


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. That vehicle has been redesignated as the new Taurus in an effort to save it from sagging sales & consumer rejection.[41] Along with other execs at Ford, the company's new CEO Alan Mulally 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 recognizeable 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.[42][43] 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.[44] The Ford Five Hundred (code name D258) was a full-size sedan produced by the Ford Motor Company. ... Alan Roger Mulally (born August 4, 1945 in Oakland, California) is an American engineer and businessman. ... // Pre-update 1st-gen Focus SE sedan When the North American versions were launched in 1999 as a 2000 model year, initially as a 3 door hatchback, 4 door sedan and 5 door wagon (a 5dr hatchback soon followed) the cars featured subtle, but notable, styling differences from the European... Ford Fusion is a name used on two different types of cars from the Ford Motor Company. ... For minivan, see Ford Freestar. ...


Changes to the new Taurus from the existing Five Hundred include a newly styled front end, with the signature three-bar chrome grille from the Fusion, and the addition of the 263 hp 3.5 L Cyclone engine from the Ford Edge, replacing the 203 hp 3.0 L V6. The Five Hundred's continuously variable transmission, which was power-limited to a maximum of about 210 hp, is also replaced with a more conventional six-speed automatic.[45] The Taurus sedan twin, the Mercury Sable nameplate, was revived from the Mercury Montego.[46][42][47] The Duratec 35 (code-name Cyclone) is a family of automobile engines from the Ford Motor Company. ... The Ford Edge is a mid-size crossover SUV under the Ford marque. ... Released in December 1985 for the 1986 model year, the Mercury Sable was the upscale version of the Ford Taurus. ... There is also a British car called the Austin Montego. ...


Ford Taurus X

Main article: Ford Taurus X

Along with the facelifted Five Hundred, Ford also created a facelifted Freestyle model, also in an attempt to improve sagging sales. This model has been redesignated as the Taurus X. [48] The Taurus X will also drop the CVT transmission and 3.0 L V6 used in the Freestyle in favor of the 3.5 L engine and six-speed 6F automatic. Although this model is considered to be a part of the Taurus line up, it only shares the platform with the Taurus, and does not share any cosmetic parts with the Taurus sedan. The Ford Taurus X is a 7-passenger mid-size crossover SUV produced by the Ford Motor Company in North America in late summer 2007. ... General Motors and Ford Motor Company teamed up in 2002 to create a new automatic transmission design. ...


Export models

A 1997 Australian-market Taurus Ghia
A 1997 Australian-market Taurus Ghia

The third generation model was exported outside North America to Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, with right hand drive. However, this action proved unsuccessful. [49] In these markets, it wore Mercury Sable headlights, a unique front bumper cover with inset parking and turn signal lamps, and a Taurus-style rear, due to those countries' regulations regarding automotive lighting.[50] Some minor changes were made to the interior besides the change to right hand drive, they also featured a handbrake, which was never available on North American Tauruses, and the radio was reversed.[50] 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.[49] While the Japanese market was offered the station wagon, Australian buyers could only opt for a high-spec sedan, with the Taurus Ghia badge. The third generation Taurus was also exported to Israel and South Korea. For the Hong Kong market, only the sedan variant was offered. It was marketed as an upscale Ford sedan. However, as in other export markets, the Taurus was a failure in Hong Kong. In Brazil, the second-generation Taurus was introduced in 1994, available only as a sedan, with the 3.0L Vulcan engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission. It was intended to be an upscale alternative to the Belgian-built Mondeo. The third-generation Taurus was available from 1997 to 1998, only in the LX trim level, using the Duratec engine. It enjoyed only minimal sales, mainly due to its controversial design. However, the Taurus is popular in the used car market in Brazil, due to its low price and high equipment level. Image File history File linksMetadata Taurus_Ghia1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Taurus_Ghia1. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... This article concerns rules of the road regarding land vehicles; for sea-going vehicles, see International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. ... Released in December 1985 for the 1986 model year, the Mercury Sable was the upscale version of the Ford Taurus. ... A SAAB headlight with combination projector/reflector optics A headlight or headlamp is a lamp, usually attached to the front of a vehicle such as a car, with the purpose of illuminating the road ahead during periods of low visibility, such as night or precipitation. ... The lighting system of a motor vehicle consists of lighting and signalling devices mounted or integrated to the front, sides and rear of the vehicle. ... Rear-wheel drive (or RWD for short) is an engine/transmission layout used in automobiles. ... Ford Fairmont is a name that has been used for two unrelated models of automobile; one in Australia and one in North America. ... The Ford Mondeo is a large family car sold by the Ford Motor Company in various markets throughout the world. ...


Other Latin American versions were 3.0 V6 GLX and 3.8 V6 GT.


Awards

Ford Taurus on the cover of a 1986 issue of Motor Trend, where it won "Car of the Year".

The Taurus won many awards in its production run, with the original Taurus winning many awards. For 1986, the Taurus was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year. The Motor Trend journalists noted that the Taurus performed much better than the other cars that were up for the award, going as far as saying that the Taurus "Ran away from the competition" [51] The 1986 Taurus also made it onto Car and Driver's ten best list, and the Taurus would stay there every year of its first generation. [4] Team Taurus also won many awards, and would later prove to be an inspirational business development model. [4] In fact, current Ford CEO Alan Mulally claims that Team Taurus was what inspired the development of the Boeing 777. [39] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 437 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (828 × 1135 pixel, file size: 167 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) from here The cover depicted is of an older issue The image is not financially impending the company The Image is used only for educational purposes... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 437 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (828 × 1135 pixel, file size: 167 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) from here The cover depicted is of an older issue The image is not financially impending the company The Image is used only for educational purposes... Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. ... Motor Trend magazine was the first to give a Car of the Year award, doing so to a Chrysler in 1949. ... Cover of Car and Driver from age of psychedelic lettering Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. ... Alan Roger Mulally (born August 4, 1945 in Oakland, California) is an American engineer and businessman. ... The Boeing 777 is an American long-range wide-body twinjet airliner built by Boeings Commercial Airplanes division. ...


The 1992 Taurus also made it onto Car and Driver's Ten Best list for that year, although that was the last year the the Taurus would appear on that list. In its second generation, the Taurus was the best selling car in America every year it was produced.


The Taurus constantly performed well in crash tests, and constantly got high ratings. The 1996 Taurus got a five star crash safety rating, as well as the 2000 Taurus. The 2008 Taurus also got a 5 star safety rating, and was named a Top safety pick by the IIHS. [52] The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers. ...


NASCAR

As Ford retired the MN12-based Thunderbird after the 1997 season, which had been Ford's NASCAR platform, they needed to pick another platform. The idea was risky, as the Thunderbirds had won eighteen races in 1997, the model's second-most wins after the twenty-one wins in 1994. [53] The MN12 was a Mid-size North America Project #12, a car platform formerly used by the Ford Motor Company from 1989 to 1997 for the Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar. ... The Ford Thunderbird is a car manufactured in the United States by the Ford Motor Company. ...

Mark Martin during qualifying of Pepsi 400 at Daytona.
Mark Martin during qualifying of Pepsi 400 at Daytona.

General Motors had already used 2-door versions of their front-wheel drive mid-sizes: the Chevy Lumina and Monte Carlo, Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Buick Regal in NASCAR competition, even though the actual cars were V6-powered. Since Ford no longer manufactured any 2-door mid-size cars, the 4-door Taurus was chosen, although NASCAR racecars do not have any doors. The first cars were modeled after the third generation cars, but later cars adopted the standard body shape imposed on all NASCAR bodies. Image File history File links Mark-Martin-6-Car. ... Image File history File links Mark-Martin-6-Car. ... For the race known as the Pepsi 400 held at Michigan International Speedway from 1998-2002, see GFS Marketplace 400 The Pepsi 400 is a 160 lap/400 mile (approx. ... Daytona International Speedway is a superspeedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. ... General Motors Corporation, also known as GM, is the worlds largest auto company by annual production volume as of 2006, and the second largest by sales volume as of the first half of 2007, behind Toyota Motor Corporation. ... Front-wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... See Chevrolet Lumina (Australia) for the Australian built vehicle of the same name. ... The Chevrolet Monte Carlo is an American mid-size car. ... The Pontiac Grand Prix is an automobile produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors. ... The Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme was a mid-size car produced by General Motors for the American market. ... The Buick Regal was a mid-size automobile produced by General Motors Buick division from 1973 through 2004, during which Buick also used the Century name on mid-size models; the two frequently shared bodies and powertrains. ...


The Nascar edition of the Taurus was developed by the Penske Racing South group based in Mooresville, North Carolina after the decision was made to drop the Thunderbird in March 1997. The first one was owned by Don Miller, the co-owner and manager of Penske Racing South. Jeff Burton (99), Elliott Sadler (38), Ricky Rudd (21), Dale Jarrett (88), Sterling Marlin (40), Jimmie Johnson (48), and Casey Mears (41) practice for the 2004 Daytona 500 The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Mooresville is a town in Iredell County, North Carolina, U.S.A. The population was 18,823 at the 2000 census. ...


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.[54] is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... The Indiana Convention Center is a very large convention center located in Indianapolis, Indiana. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Indiana Coordinates: , County Marion Founded 1821 Government  - Mayor Bart Peterson (D) Area  - City  372 sq mi (963. ... Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana (a separate town completely surrounded by Indianapolis) in the United States, is the second-oldest surviving automobile racing track in the world (after the Milwaukee Mile), having existed since 1909, and the original Speedway, the first racing facility historically to incorporate the word. ...


The Taurus was tested at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida, driven by Rusty Wallace and Bill Elliott. It was then taken to the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama for a three day test. Daytona International Speedway is a superspeedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. ... Daytona Beach is a city located in Volusia County, Florida. ... Russell William Rusty Wallace (born August 14, 1956 in Fenton, Missouri) is a former NASCAR champion, NASCAR Busch Series car owner, and television broadcaster with ESPN and ESPN on ABC. Wallace had his first live broadcast of the Indy 500 on May 28, 2006. ... Bill Elliott car that set the record for the fastest recorded time in a stock car - 212. ... Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located in Talladega, AL. It was constructed in the 1960s in place of abandoned airport runways by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by NASCARs founding France family along with Daytona International Speedway and several other racetracks. ... Official language(s) English Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Area  Ranked 30th  - Total 52,419 sq mi (135,765 km²)  - Width 190 miles (306 km)  - Length 330 miles (531 km)  - % water 3. ...


The Taurus won fifteen races in the introductory season, nine more than the Thunderbird won in its first five seasons. The Taurus was at the top of the standings in 1999, and the racers wondered if the redesigned models for 2000 would continue the good fortune.[55]


The Taurus won over 100 races during its NASCAR career.[56] With the retirement of the Taurus, new Ford NASCAR bodies are now based on the Fusion, a car sized similarly to the original Taurus.[57] This article does not cite any references or sources. ...


References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Notes

  1. ^ Garrett, Jerry. "Town Car’s Next Stop: Retirement", New York Times, 2006-07-16. Retrieved on 2006-08-18. 
  2. ^ Generations: Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable. Edmunds.com. Retrieved on 2006-05-16.
  3. ^ a b c Mayne, Eric. "End of Ford Taurus closes era", Detroit News, 2005-04-19. Retrieved on 2006-05-16. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Taub, Eric (Nov 1991). Taurus: The Making of the Car That Saved Ford. E. P. Dutton. ISBN 0-525-93372-7. 
  5. ^ Visnic, Bill (1996-3-1). Escort: Ford's 15 years on a learning curve. Ward's Autoworld. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  6. ^ Schneiderman, R.M. (2006-10-27). Ford Taurus, R.I.P.. Forbes. Retrieved on 2007-06-29.
  7. ^ a b DiPetro, John (2003-04-18). Inside Line: Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable. Edmunds. Retrieved on 2006-05-29.
  8. ^ SHO n Tell. Jon Mikelonis and Matt Wilder. Retrieved on 2006-07-28.
  9. ^ Ford Motor Company. 1989 Ford Taurus SHO commercialhttp://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/4176/: Ford Motor Company.
  10. ^ Generation 1 Spotter's Guide. Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia. Taurus Car Club of America. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  11. ^ The 1991 SHO "Plus" Option. SHOTIMES mailing list. Retrieved on 2006-05-16.
  12. ^ a b Bill Russ. "New Car Review 1995 Ford Windstar GL Minivan". The Auto Channel, retrieved 8/19/2006.
  13. ^ a b John Lowell. "Light trucks: the hottest segment — light truck market trends and new products for 1994 — Industry Overview". Look Smart, retrieved 8/27/2006.
  14. ^ Taurus Car Club of America. 1992 Ford Taurus Advertisement (Stencil)http://www.taurusclub.com/encyclopedia/Articles/Ads/92_Stencil.wmv: Ford Motor Company.
  15. ^ a b 1990-1995 Ford Taurus Review. Consumer Guide. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  16. ^ Ford Taurus engines. Taurus Car Club of America. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  17. ^ Tauruses serving the community. Denniswolfe.com/Taurus. Denniswolfe.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  18. ^ a b c Generation 2 Spotters Guide. Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia. Taurus Car Club of America (2006-12-18). Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  19. ^ Famous SHO owners. SHOTIMES FAQ. Retrieved on 2006-07-28.
  20. ^ a b c Phillips, John (April 1993). The Billy Wagon. Strong as hog's breath, our one-of-a-kind family hauler amazed little leaguers. Sorry, you can't have one.. Car and Driver. 
  21. ^ Thumper, the SHO wagon. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  22. ^ Walton, Mary (May 1997). Car: A Drama of The American Workplace. W. W. Norton. ISBN 0-393-04080-1. 
  23. ^ Consumer Reports 1998 New Car Buyer's Guide
  24. ^ Ford Lemon, the website Schreiber launched about his battle against Ford.
  25. ^ 1996-1999 Ford Taurus Review. Consumer Guide. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  26. ^ TCCA encyclopedia: Myths. Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia. Taurus Car Club of America (2007-01-13). Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  27. ^ Taurus/Sable Spotter's Guide Generation 3. Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia. Taurus Car Club of America (2006-10-30). Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
  28. ^ Winfield, Barry (October 1995). 1996 New cars, Ford Taurus SHO. Car and Driver. 
  29. ^ What We Know, What Ford Does Not Want You to Know, & Who Is To Blame. V8SHO.com. Retrieved on January 26, 2006.
  30. ^ SHO Numbers. Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia. Taurus Car Club of America (2006-10-30). Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  31. ^ a b 2000-2006 Ford Taurus Review. Consumer Guide. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  32. ^ Centennial Taurus. Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia. Taurus Car Club of America (2007-01-21). Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  33. ^ Atlanta Assembly's last days
  34. ^ "Storied Ford Taurus reaches end of line", Detroit News, 2006-10-23. 
  35. ^  Final Ford Taurus interview[1]: ABC News.
  36. ^ So long, friend. Ford producing last Taurus next week. Autoblog. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  37. ^ Toyota Corolla history. Toyota.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  38. ^ "How Ford starved it's Taurus", USA Today, 25 October 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-25. 
  39. ^ a b c CEO insisted in bringing "Taurus" back. MSNBC (7 February 2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  40. ^  Ford CEO Alan Mulally on the new Ford Taurushttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYlNOtqI8tc: Autoinsider news.
  41. ^ Five Hundred To Be Renamed Taurus. stangbangers.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  42. ^ a b
  43. ^ Five Hundred to be renamed "Taurus". MSNBC.com (6 February 2007). Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
  44. ^ Krisher, Tom (6 February 2007). Officals say Ford to revive Taurus name. BusinessWeek.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
  45. ^ Siler, Steve, and Mike Dushane. "Ford slaps a once-successful nameplate on its refreshed and reinvigorated Five Hundred", Car and Driver, February 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-25. 
  46. ^ Like Taurus, Mercury Sable nameplate to return. Leftlanenews.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
  47. ^ Mercury Sable Returns to Showrooms With More Power, Style and Sophistication. Media.Ford.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
  48. ^ Ford strengthens crossover leadership with introduction of new 2008 Taurus X. Media.Ford.com (7 February 2007). Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
  49. ^ a b Ford Taurus Ghia: our opinion. Glassguide.au. Glass Guide. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  50. ^ a b Ford Taurus Ghia
  51. ^ Hanson, John (February 1986). Car of the Year 1986, it is going to be a bull market for the Ford Taurus.. Motor Trend. 
  52. ^ Ford Taurus crash safety ratings. IIHS. Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  53. ^ Ford racing timeline. Nascar.com (22 September 2006). Retrieved on 2007-07-26.
  54. ^ Ford takes Taurus to the track. CNN.com (4 August 1997). Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
  55. ^ Under The Skin of a NASCAR Ford Taurus. Popular Mechanics (March 2000).
  56. ^ Ford Unveils New Face for the Chase (14 July 2005). Retrieved on 2007-02-24.
  57. ^ Ford unveils Fusion race car for 2006 season. NASCAR.com (14 July 2005). Retrieved on 2007-02-25.

The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Along with The Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News (owned by Gannett) is one of the two major Metro Detroit newspapers. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... E. P. Dutton is an American book publishing company founded as a book retailer in Boston, Massachusetts in 1852 by Edward Payson Dutton. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 108th day of the year (109th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 209th day of the year (210th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 209th day of the year (210th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Cover of Car and Driver from age of psychedelic lettering Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... W. W. Norton & Company is an American book publishing company that has remained independent since its founding. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Cover of Car and Driver from age of psychedelic lettering Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Along with The Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News (owned by Gannett) is one of the two major Metro Detroit newspapers. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... MSNBC, a combination of MSN and NBC, is a 24-hour cable news channel in the United States and Canada, and a news website. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. ... The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

List of models of the Ford Taurus. ...

External links

Cars Portal
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  Results from FactBites:
 
NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Ford Taurus (0 words)
The fourth generation Ford Taurus is basically the same car given a mild appearance redesign to avoid the controversies created by the oval design of the previous generation.
Ford workers came into the room, which was decorated in space-age decor, holding cups shaped like flying saucers, and the Taurus and Sable were sitting behind a curtain, their outlines silhouetting.
Ford also gave the Taurus what they called a 'smarter appointed interior', which offered such luxuries as automatic climate control (an option for the LX and, later, SE; standard on SHO models) and a center console was available for people who didn't want the front bench seat.
Ford Taurus History (0 words)
Unlike its Japanese competition, the Taurus could seat six (or even up to eight in the wagon) as it was available with either a bench seat or bucket seats up front, as opposed to the strictly bucket arrangements in the Accord and Camry.
As with the Taurus, the grille was facelifted (although the Sable's taillights remained the same as before) and second-generation airbags came on line.
And interiors on both the Taurus and Sable were updated with new fabrics, larger door-release levers and hard map pockets (which replaced the former net pockets) in the doors.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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