Originally released in 1986, the Ford Taurus was the maker's primary sedan. Over the years it has undergone significant changes. The most recent modification has been the inception of the Ford Taurus X, which replaced the Freestyle in Ford's lineup. This latest edition is a crossover vehicle that embodies both the style of a sedan with the capabilities of an SUV. Though the Taurus X appears significantly different than the original Taurus sedan, they are constructed on the same platform, hence the name sharing.
The Taurus X is a mid-size crossover that seats up to seven passengers. The X is equipped with a 3.5L Duratec 35 V6 that produces 263 horsepower. It also gets fair gas mileage with 16 city MPG and 24 highway MPG. The National Traffic and Highway Safety Administration have awarded the Ford Taurus X with the coveted "Safest Seven-Passenger Crossover in America" award too. Buyers consistently say that they feel safer and more in control behind the wheel of the Taurus X.
Unfortunately for Ford, rumors have been flying that the Taurus X will be discontinued in 2009. With the X possibly only having a one-year run on the market, some say that Ford did not even give it a chance. However, according to critics, the X's spot will easily be swallowed up by the Ford Edge, its other seven passenger crossover. Even at the Chicago Auto Show in 2007, reporters were predicting that the Taurus X did not stand a chance. With an overflowing lineup of crossovers and SUVs, the reviewers said that no one would notice the X. They were not entirely wrong. Sales were nowhere near what Ford had forecasted, but this may not be completely Ford's fault. In general, the American market has become overwhelmed with the lineup of new crossover vehicles; so, buyers may simply have been lured away by another maker's model.
Latest in the rumor mill is that Ford will not completely discontinue the Taurus X. Instead the maker will give the vehicle to its sub company Mercury to compete with its own CUV, the Mercury Mountaineer. Mercury will then have the choice of revising the name and design. Blogs are reporting that buyers have become wary of Ford because of its recent rash of indecision with many of its vehicles. Nevertheless, with the highest crash test rating available, many wonder if Ford will be making the right decision in 2009. Overall, the Ford Taurus X may have a short life, but it's been an interesting one.
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