- Not to be confused with the Ford Taunus
The Ford Taurus is a car sold by the Ford Motor Company in North America. It was introduced in 1986. Production of the Taurus ends in 2006 and has been replaced by two sedans, the Ford Five Hundred and the Fusion. The wagon was already killed, and the rest of the line will die at the end of the 2006 model year. The Taurus has a Mercury sibling called the Sable.
The car had a minor update in 1992 and a major redesign in 1996, followed by a minor update in 2000. Between 1992-1996, the Taurus was the best-selling car in the United States but lost the title in 1997 (to the Toyota Camry).
During it's 21 year lifespean, Ford sold nearly 7 Million Tauruses in the US.
1986 - 1991
The 1986 Ford Taurus was a very important and successful midsize sedan that introduced a radical new design philosophy. Replacing the Ford LTD, the front-whee-drive Taurus introduced North America to a much rounder and organic design. Often described as "jelly bean" shaped, the design proved successful and helped to launch Ford into a new era of prosperity. The Taurus ultimately lead to a design revolution that saw the the end of the 'boxy' cars of the 70s and 80s.
For 1986, the engines ranged from a 100 hp (75 kW) 2.5 L 4-cylinder found in the MT-5 and L models, to either a 140 hp (104 kW) 3.0 L Vulcan V6 or 3.8 L 140 hp (104 kW) Essex V6, found in the L, GL, and LX models, to a 220 hp (164 kW) 3.0 L DOHC V6 produced by Yamaha in the SHO model (debuting in 1989, with a 5-speed only). The 4-cylinder engine was eventually dropped from the lineup - cars carrying such engines were found to be underpowered.
SHO
The SHO model, which debuted in 1989 with a sticker around $20,000, changed the dull reputation of the Taurus.
Powered by a special 4-valve per cylinder derivative of the Vulcan (developed in conjunction with Yamaha), it improved performance. With mid-6 second 0 to 60 mph (100 km/h) times, and a top speed around 145 mph (233 km/h), it could keep up with such performance cars as Ford's own Mustang GT, Camaro Z28s, and the Diamond Star Motors cars (Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon) in turbocharged form. It was said to be the most powerful and quickest front wheel drive car ever made when it was introduced.
The SHO, however, wasn't the sales success that Ford had hoped. It had little exterior differentiation from lesser Taurus models, only understated ground effects. The interior was very different, giving way to some very comfortable and supportive sports seats, and an 8000 rpm tachometer.
1992 - 1995
The Taurus received its first cosmetic updated in 1992 which mostly focused on modernizing the front, rear, and interior.
SHO
The lack of an automatic transmission in the SHO hurt sales, a situation Ford recognized in 1993. A 3.2 L version of the Ford SHO V6 engine was introduced for automatic-equipped SHOs, which still had 220 hp (164 kW), but 15 ft·lbf (20 Nm) more torque, up from 200 ft·lbf (271 Nm).
1996 - 1999
The 1996 model was the first and last all-new Taurus. Ford hoped the radical design would lead to the same success Ford had with the 1986 Taurus. The controversial oval-theme was not well received by the press or the public and is ultimately blamed for the reason it lost the bestseller status to the Camry in 1997. The other factor that is largely to blame for the sales decline of the Taurus is the substantial price increse from the previous model. The MSRP for the 1996 model increase $2,500 over the 1995 Taurus. The 1996 Taurus attempted to move upscale and the result was a much better product with more standard and optional features. The 1996 model also saw the introduction of the 200 hp (149 kW) 3.0 L DOHC Ford Duratec engine.
This model was also exported outside North America to Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, in right hand drive, but this proved unsuccessful. In these right-hand-drive markets, the Taurus possessed an unusual Mercury Sable grille but a Taurus rear. Australians and New Zealanders tended to stay away from the cars due to their price: a well equipped, larger-engined rear-wheel-drive Ford Fairmont cost around the same. While Japan got the station wagon, Australian buyers could only opt for a high-spec sedan with the Taurus Ghia badge.
SHO
A 235 hp (175 kW) 3.4 L DOHC V8 was specified for the SHO model, but the 5-speed was gone. The V8 in the SHO model (produced from 1996 to 1999), was very impressive, but lacked the all-out acceleration and top end charge of the previous DOHC 3.0 L V6 5-speed SHO. And the Duratec engines were closing in on power.
2000 - 2006
The Taurus received a minor redesign in 2000 which minimized some of the oval design elements from the 1996 model. The redesign also featured a taller roof over the rear-passenger space to increase passenger headroom sacrificed by the tapered 1996 design. The taller and roomier trunk also served to make the vehicle more functional. The interior was also completely swapped out 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. To reduce the price and increase profitability, the Ford Tuarus was also striped of many standard and optional features such as 4-wheel disc brakes. The cost-cutting ultimatley lead to a vehicle with poorer quality materials and fewer features.
The Taurus SHO did not return for 2000.
For 2004, the Taurus received minor cosmetic changes to the front and rear fascias, as well as a new instrument cluster and steering wheel.
The Ford Taurus is suceeded by the 2005 Ford Five Hundred (large) and the 2006 Ford Fusion (midsize). Production of the Taurus wagon was discontinued in January 2005 and the sedan will go out of production sometime in the first quarter of 2006. Most of the Taurus's sales are for the fleet market, but the car is still available for retail.
Awards
The Taurus LX was Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year for 1986. It was also on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list seven times, from 1986 through 1992.
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