Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is a car model of the U.S. automobile company Ford
According to U.S. standards of Taurus is classified as a mid-range model. Since 1986 he has been produced in four series. The Ford Taurus is available as a sedan until 2007, he was also offered in a wagon version. The sports version is called the Taurus SHO. The nearly identical model of the Ford group brand Mercury is named Sable. The Ford Taurus is the standard official car of the middle and higher levels of many U.S. agencies, such as the FBI.
Since the fifth generation of the Ford Taurus is considered full-size car.
Taurus (1986-1991)
Ford Taurus Sedan (1986-1989)
The first series was similar with its aerodynamic shape much the Audi produced from mid- 1982 100 and is probably also inspired by this. Not only stylistically, technically, this car was a big step forward. For the first time, Ford 's U.S. middle class in order to front-wheel drive.
In the spring of 1986 Ford introduced the front-wheel drive Taurus ( as a four-door saloon and five-door estate ) as the successor to the Ford LTD with a rear-wheel drive. Main feature was a modern, aerodynamically styled design with a flush-fitted headlamps and the absence of a traditional grille. The trim levels included the base model L, the fuel-saving model MT5, GL and LX also. On the engine side were a 2.5 -liter inline four- cylinder available with 65 kW ( 89 hp ) or a three-liter V6 with 104 kW ( 142 hp ), the latter standard in the LX. The MT5 there were only five-speed manual, while the remaining four-cylinder models were always delivered with a three-stage, the V6 with four- speed automatic transmission.
Starting in 1987, made the four-cylinder 67 kW (91 PS ), otherwise was successfully launched Taurus this year unchanged.
From 1988, accounted for the MT5 station wagon and a new 3.8 -liter V6 was available on all models at extra charge ( except MT5 ). The machine made with 104 kW as much as the three-liter still offered, but had a significantly higher torque.
The MT5 sedan fell from 1989 onwards from the program. New, however, was the Taurus SHO as a sports sedan with a 164 kW ( 223 hp), developed by Ford in cooperation with Yamaha and there also built three-liter V6 with 24 valves and double overhead camshafts, five-speed gearbox, sports suspension and sports equipment.
For model year 1990, all models received in the late summer of 1989 a revised interior with airbag steering wheel and a new dashboard.
The four-cylinder came from the end of 1990 thanks to sequential injection is now 78 instead of 67 kW (106 hp) and also received the four- speed automatic transmission. The SHO Ford donated 16- inch alloy wheels.
From the first generation Ford Taurus made in almost six years, 1.96 million copies.
Ford Taurus Wagon (1989-1991)
Ford Taurus SHO (1989-1991)
Taurus (1991-1995)
Ford Taurus Sedan (1991-1995)
From autumn 1991 to summer 1995, the revised version of the Taurus was built. Its body seemed indeed that of the first series very similar, but was completely redesigned, and the interior was redesigned.
The new Taurus was from autumn 1991, again in the variants L, GL and LX available, each as a four- door and station wagon, as well as a sports sedan SHO. The four-cylinder accounted for, were available to the three-liter V6 and also the 104 kW (141 hp) 3.8 -liter V6, both coupled with a four -speed automatic; in the SHO did unchanged the Ford / Yamaha Three liters its service.
In autumn 1992, the entry level L was deleted and the SHO there was for the first time with automatic; in automatic SHO was enlarged to 3.2 liters and a high-torque version of the Ford/Yamaha-V6 used.
In mid-1993, the standard equipment on all models has been extended to include a passenger airbag.
In the fall of 1994, the be moved between GL and LX SE sedan was new to the program. The facilities of GL has been extended to a heated rear window, tinted windows and air conditioning.
The second-generation Taurus was in the calendar years 1992 to 1995 respectively, the best-selling car in the U.S. market. Overall, Ford approximately 1.5 million copies ago.
Ford Taurus Wagon (1991-1995)
Rear view
Taurus (1995-1999)
Ford Taurus Sedan (1995-1998)
From late summer of 1995 until the end of 1999, the Taurus in a completely new design was built. However, this series was not as successful as their predecessors because many buyers felt their style as too radical. The shape became very round and flat, especially the oval shaped rear windows were controversial.
In September 1995, launched the new Taurus, again as a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon in the equipment variants GL and LX, plus a sports sedan SHO. The GL had a 108 kW (147 hp) three-liter V6, the LX a 149 kW ( 203 hp ) payable three-liter V6 with dual overhead camshafts and the SHO a 3.4 -liter DOHC V8 with 179 kW ( 243 PS). The SHO was offered only with a four- speed automatic transmission.
In spring 1997, the G added as an entry model, the Taurus range. The SHO received new five-spoke alloy wheels and a rear spoiler in body color.
In early 1998 the model range was reorganized; the LX there were now sedan, the extensive equipped SE sedan and wagon and the SHO as a sports sedan. LX and SE had the 108 -kW three-liter standard, but both could also be ordered with the 149 kW variant. Grille and front bumper were subjected to a slight facelift.
As of early 1999, the 149 kW V6 was no longer available for the LX.
The Taurus the third generation could no longer defend the top spot, which the predecessor had held in U.S. sales statistics. In four years, but Ford was able to sell despite everything, about 1.4 million units.
Ford Taurus Wagon (1995-1998)
Ford Taurus Sedan (1998-1999)
Taurus (1999-2006)
Ford Taurus Sedan (1999-2003)
In response to the criticism of the design of the previous model of the Ford Taurus received a comprehensive facelift, by the look of the car seemed much more conventional in November 1999.
From late 1999 until the end of 2006, the revised versions in the Taurus LX, SE, SES and SEL was sold as a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon. The SHO had ceased to exist with the model change. The drive was carried out by the now 115 kW (157 hp) three-liter V6 or (until 2005) contributed by the 149 kW DOHC three-liter with four- speed automatic transmission.
In autumn 2003 there was a minor facelift, which could be seen on a modified front and rear aprons. As of early 2005, the Taurus was available only for fleet customers.
The center in 2004, the Ford Five Hundred was designed as the successor to the Taurus. At the renaming but there was strong criticism, and the Five Hundred was not accepted by buyers as a worthy successor to the Taurus. The Ford management was accused regarding a twenty- successful years model ignorance. The criticism was not without effect on the through various failures insecure anyway Management; from the 2008 model year was the profoundly revised Five Hundred back the Taurus name use.
Ford Taurus Sedan (2003-2006)
Rear view
Taurus (2007-2009)
Ford Taurus Sedan (2007-2009)
The built since 2004 Ford Five Hundred was in the summer of 2007 for the 2008 model year, a basic facelift and is now again under the name Taurus ( the sister model Montego now as Sable ) offered. As with the Five Hundred there was no wagon version, but an SUV variant called Taurus X, the Five Hundred, this was the Ford Freestyle.
The main changes compared to the Five Hundred related modification in the design with a dreistrebigen grille similar to the Ford Fusion, modified front and rear lights and a new standard engine 3.5 - liter engine with 193 kW ( 263 hp), which is also the Ford Edge came and the previous three-liter V6 with 149 kW replaced (203 hp). Instead of the previous CVT a conventional six-speed automatic was used.
Taurus ( since 2009)
Ford Taurus Sedan (2009-2012)
Mid-2009, now the sixth generation of the Taurus on the U.S. market was introduced.
The customer has with the start of sales of the new model, only the choice of three equipment lines. There are two 3.5 -liter engines with 196 kW ( 267 hp) and 272 kW ( 370 hp) in the offer. The production of the Taurus X has been adjusted with the model change in summer 2009 as a successor to Flex is built since 2008, the Ford.
After the production of the Ford Crown Victoria in August 2011 has also been completed, the Taurus since the top model in the Ford Group sedan segment represents a version of authorities is offered as a Police Interceptor sedan as a successor to the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.
Facelift
For model year 2013, the Taurus received a facelift in fall 2012. In addition to a modified grille and the performance of the 3.5 liter engine was raised to 290 hp.
Awards
- 2009: Top Safety Pick 2010