Ford Taurus History
The Ford Taurus is a mid- to full-size sedan built with comfort and technology in mind. It saved the brand from near-oblivion when it was first introduced in the 1980s, but it now represents Ford's largest sedan, still with its aerodynamic design, sporty handling and available performance models.
See our 2013 Ford Taurus review for pricing with options, specifications, and gas mileage ratings
Today, the 2013 Taurus continues as a larger, more premium sedan than it originally was, while the Ford Fusion most-closely continues the affordable, aerodynamic, design-forward mid-size sedan tradition originally started by that first-generation Taurus.
The ur-Taurus was positively ground-breaking—it truly was a different kind of American car when it bowed as a 1986 model. The look was derided by some as a "jellybean," but in context against the stuffy General Motors and Chrysler offerings, the Taurus looked fresh, and radical, and completely different than anything else available on the market.
The combination of styling and a very space-efficient front-wheel-drive design gave the Taurus a leg up on its domestic competition, though its powertrains were decidedly mediocre--at least, until the SHO edition arrived. The Ford Taurus suddenly made a lot of sense—as well as fashion sense—for U.S. families.
Ford didn’t mess with a good thing for several years (and it thankfully discontinued the tepid base four-cylinder engine), and Taurus sales boomed. A thorough 1992 update made the Taurus appear a little lower and more aerodynamic in front, and the Taurus was slightly roomier and longer.In its redesign of the Taurus for 1996, Ford simply struck out. Perhaps in response to some critics who had called the 1992 redesign conservative, the automaker gave the Taurus a more radical redesign that emphasized ovals, gentle curves, and elliptical shapes inside and out, but it brought serious deficiencies like meager trunk space and tight headroom in back.
Ford then backtracked a bit in 2000, bringing up the roofline and trunkline and making the front and rear styling of the Taurus a lot more conservative. It also backtracked on powertrains
Beginning in 1989, Ford offered a special high-performance Taurus SHO version, which used a special Yamaha-built 3.0-liter V-6 that made a then-very-impressive 220 horsepower. Later version of the SHO, from '96 to '99, got a 3.4-liter V-8 engine that made 235 horsepower but weren't as appreciated.
Looking at '86 all the way through 2006, most Taurus models are equipped with Ford's 'Vulcan' V-6 engine, which delivered adequate but never remarkable performance. The 200-horsepower Duratec 3.0-liter was offered from the late '90s through 2005 and makes the Taurus more enjoyable.
Over the years, alternatives to the Taurus have included the Chevrolet Impala, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Avalon, and Toyota Camry.
Ford wound down Taurus production in 2006, after introducing both the slightly smaller Ford Fusion and the larger Ford Five Hundred. Then in 2007, under the leadership of Alan Mulally, Ford renamed the roomy but conservative Five Hundred the Taurus (also renaming the Freestyle the Taurus X).
For 2010, the Taurus was redesigned into a sleeker, less conservative-looking sedan, sacrificing a little bit of headroom for a lower roofline. In the years since then, the Ford Taurus has been a repeat IIHS Top Safety Pick and offers several advanced-tech features like adaptive cruise control and Ford's MyKey programmable access system. The Taurus SHO has also returned, with a 365-horsepower twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6, six-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive.
The Taurus again got a significant refresh for 2013. With restyled front and rear appearances, as well as more soft-touch surfaces and a quieter interior--as well as the introduction of the MyFord Touch interface to upper trims--the 2013 Ford Taurus keeps its look contemporary next to the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion. Ride and handling in the new Taurus have been improved, while there's even more onboard tech—including multicontour seats with Active Motion, Intuitive Park Assist, rain-sensing wipers, and other active-safety features.
But the big news for the current Taurus came with the addition of a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine option. In the Taurus, the EcoBoost four makes 237 hp and delivers 31 mpg or more on the highway. The familiar 3.5-liter V-6? It now makes 290 hp, with mileage boosted by 1 mpg.
A replacement for the Taurus is due in the 2015 model year, and it's expected to be a stretched version of the award-winning 2013 Ford Fusion--TheCarConnection's Best Car To Buy.
