What was to become the best selling car in America for the majority of the early and mid 90's began with the debut of the 1986 Ford Taurus. Presented as the successor to the LTD, the Taurus was available as a midsize front wheel drive sedan and a 5-door wagon that was attractive enough to turn heads with its unique, grille-less aerodynamic style. The Taurus's aerodynamic design brought a new level of visual appeal to the mostly nondescript midsize car segment and was not only attractive, it also provided increased fuel efficiency. It's tasteful and practical interior was highlighted with quality materials and a commendable fit and finish that helped make the Taurus Ford's best selling car just one year after its introduction.
But those who were not ready to make the shift from sport coupe to family sedan were treated to the high performance Taurus SHO in 1989, which featured a 220 horsepower V6 engine with a finely tuned suspension that sent competing sedan manufacturers scrambling to provide a similarly equipped vehicle.
The Taurus underwent its first redesign in 1992 and then again in 1996. While the changes to the 1992 model year included the addition of key safety equipment and a tasteful update in style, the 1996 changes included more powerful engines. Updates for the 2000 model year were mostly cosmetic and this particular version sold until 2006. It was in 2006 that Ford announced they would be discontinuing the Taurus, which at that point had been reduced to two trims and one engine and available as a sedan only. Over the years, the Taurus seemed to lose most of its unique appeal, but its safety and reliability ratings remained intact making the Taurus an increasingly popular fleet vehicle. In fact, in preparation for its discontinuation, the 2007 Taurus was removed from the consumer marketplace and made available only as a fleet vehicle.
In its previous form, the Taurus was in fact discontinued. Yet, Ford originally underestimated the power and popularity of the Taurus brand name, and what was originally intended to be the 2008 Ford Five Hundred became the new 2008 Ford Taurus. The fundamental differences between this new Taurus and its predecessors can be found under the hood. The new Taurus is equipped with a more powerful 3.5 liter V6 engine paired with a 6 speed automatic and is available with all wheel drive. Additional improvements include a retuned suspension, upgraded cabin and increased sound insulation. Many of the favorite features of both the previous versions of the Taurus and the Five Hundred are found in the 2008 Taurus, including a roomy back seat, outstanding crash test scores, a comfortable yet controlled ride and a big trunk, all of which have helped make the 2008 Taurus one of the best ever and worthy of consideration by those seeking a full size sedan.
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