Fourth-generation Ford Taurus

Infobox Automobile


name = Fourth-generation Ford Taurus
aka =
manufacturer = Ford Motor Company
parent_company =
production =2000-2007
assembly = Hapeville, Georgia
Chicago, Illinois
predecessor = Third-generation Ford Taurus
successor = Ford Five Hundred
Ford Fusion
Fifth-generation Ford Taurus
class = Mid-size
platform = Ford D186 platform
body_style = Sedan
Station Wagon
layout = FF layout
engine = 3.0 L SFI "Vulcan" V6
3.0 L DOHC "Duratec 30" V6
transmission = 4-speed "AX4N" automatic
4-speed "AX4S" automatic
wheelbase = Auto in|108.5
length = Sedan: Auto in|197.6
Station wagon: Auto in|197.7
width = Auto in|73.0
height = Sedan: Auto in|56.1
Station wagon: Auto in|57.8
weight = Auto lb|3316
related = Mercury Sable
Lincoln Continental

The Fourth-generation Ford Taurus is an automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company from 2000 to 2007. It was the fourth in six generations of the Ford Taurus.

Overview

Exterior

When the third generation Taurus debuted, it was hurt by criticism of its design, which was formed from oval derived design elements. The design was very controversial, and it strongly limited the appeal of the car. As a result, for the fourth generation Taurus, Ford designed it with a very conservative design in hopes of increasing the car's appeal. Instead of sloping back, this car's trunk stood upright in a more traditional shape, which greatly increased trunk space.cite web |url=http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2000-to-2006-ford-taurus.htm |title=2000-2006 Ford Taurus overview |publisher=Consumer Guide |accessdate=2007-02-13] cite web |url=http://www.taurusclub.com/encyclopedia/G4/index.html |title=Taurus/Sable spotter's guide (Generation 4 2000-2007) |publisher=Taurus Car Club of America |accessdate=2008-04-06] The roof was also raised into a more upright stance to increase headroom, which can be evidenced by the thicker C-pillar and larger area between the tops of the doors and the top of the roof.

The front and rear clips were also redesigned on the Taurus and Sable sedans;all body panels on the sedans were brand new except, as with the second generation, the doors. Station wagons received the new front clips but from the firewall back they were essentially the same as the 1996-1999 wagons. The Taurus now had the turn signals integrated into the headlamps, similar to that of the previous generation Sable. The front bumper was also redesigned to include a larger front grill which, like the previous generation, contained a chrome bar running through the middle containing the Ford logo. The rear clip was redesigned with a larger trunk and trunklid, as mentioned above, as well as giving the Taurus two large taillights as opposed to the rear lightbar used in the previous generation cars. Mounted on the trunklid was a large chrome bar containing the Ford logo, like in the front. In 2004, the front clip was slightly redesigned, and the Taurus got a new front bumper and lights. The grille was made smaller, with the chrome bar removed, replaced by just a large Ford logo in the center. The taillights were slightly redesigned, with larger reverse lights, and the chrome bar above the license plate bracket was changed to the body color.

Interior

The interior was completely redesigned with a more conservative shape, although some features from the previous cars were carried over. The dashboard was redesigned with a more conservative design that went straight across the front, as opposed to curving around the driver like in the previous generation. The "Integrated Control Panel" was carried over yet redesigned, although it was made in a bigger, square shape, and placed in the center of the dash instead of being tilted toward the driver. The Flip-Fold center console was also carried over from the previous generation, although it was revamped as well. When folded out, it now rested against the floor instead of the dashboard, and had revamped cupholders and storage areas. Unlike the previous three Tauruses, this one offered rear cupholders that either slid or folded out of the front console, depending on which console the car was equipped with.

This Taurus' interior was available in two configurations; a front bench seat with a column mounted shifter and the Flip-Fold center console, or bucket seats with a traditional console and a floor mounted shifter. The configuration for a steering column mounted shifter and a center console, which made a brief return in 1999, had been dropped. The interior also contained many new safety features; side airbags, tether straps, and a glow in the dark trunk release mounted inside of the trunk. This interior also contained a new system which Ford called the "Personal Safety System". This system, at the time of a collision, would detect the driver and passenger's positions, and would inflate the airbags to match, possibly preventing airbag-related injuries. For 2004, the interior got a minor revision, with a new steering wheel with a center airbag pad that shaped like an upside-down taco; new gauges; a color-keyed instrument panel cluster surround replacing the black of the 2000-2003 models, and the addition of a diagnostic center in the gauge cluster, that would tell if there were any problems with the car, as well as average fuel economy. It also was able to perform a "system check" per request of the driver, to make sure that the engine was functioning properly.

Models and engines

The models were completely rearranged for the 2000 model year. The most basic model was the LX, with the SE as the mid priced model, a new trim named "SES" as the value model, and the SEL as the highest end model, with it slotting just under the Mercury Sable LS. The SES and LX models were dropped in 2005, leaving the SE as the base model and the SEL as the top of the line model.

The SEL trim line got slightly redesigned for 2003, to give it a more upscale image. Among the changes it got was that it got a new instrument cluster, wheels, as well as the dash getting slightly redesigned, with woodgrain trim replacing the black trim. It also got woodgrain on the steering wheel rim and around the power window switches on the front doors. Cite web | last = DiPetro | first = John | date = 2003-04-18 | publisher = Edmunds | url = http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=46007 | title = Inside Line: Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable | accessdate = 2006-05-29] Also in 2003, Ford created a Centennial Version Taurus to celebrate Ford's 100th anniversary. This special Taurus included many extras, such as lighter wood trim, special leather seats, headlights with black accents, special wheels, a special leather case for the owner's manual, a leather jacket that said "Ford:100 years", a similar watch, and a letter from William Clay Ford, Jr. Production was limited to 3,000 units.cite web | url = http://www.taurusclub.com/encyclopedia/Specials/Cent.html | title = Centennial Taurus | publisher = Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia | publisher = Taurus Car Club of America | date = 2007-01-21 | accessdate = 2007-02-13]

For 2002, 2003 and 2004, the SES model received a "Sport" package, which consisted of different rims, and the Duratec engine standard. In addition, the exterior of the vehicle received Sport badging on the front quarter-panels, the chrome bar on the grille was changed to the body color, the interior received two-toned cloth seats, a two-toned dash applique, special "Sport" floor mats, and a leather covered steering wheel. This model was only offered in four colors.

The engines were carried over from the previous generation, with the Vulcan being the only available engine on the LX and SE, producing convert|155|hp and convert|185|ft.lbf|N.m|abbr=on of torque, and as the base engine on the SES. The Duratec engine was optional on the SES and standard on the SEL, producing convert|200|hp. For 2005, with the LX and SES models being dropped, the Duratec was only available on the SEL, and in 2006 the Duratec was dropped altogether, with the Vulcan becoming the standard and only engine available on the SEL. All models came with the four speed AX4N transmission, although a few 3.0 litre Vulcan models up until 2003 received the similar AX4S transmission.cite web |url=http://www.taurusclub.com/encyclopedia/Engine/Trans.html#ax4n |title=Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia: Transaxles (AX4N) |work= |publisher=Taurus Car Club of America |date=2|accessdate=2008-04-05]

Variants

Mercury Sable

Like that of its Ford Taurus counterpart, a fourth generation Mercury Sable was launched for the 2000 model year. Also like the Taurus, this Sable shared the same basic design as the Third generation, although it got a new front fascia, rear fascia, wheels and interior. Like previous generations, this Sable shared all mechanical parts with the Taurus, while retaining a different body. Only the doors, door handles, wheels, and interior were shared with the Taurus. This Sable was offered in three models: GS, LS, and LS Premium, which offered a number of extra comfort features over the standard LS. A LS Platinum edition was also briefly offered. As with the planned discontinuation of the Taurus nameplate, the Mercury Sable was discontinued after the 2005 model year , and was replaced by the Mercury Montego and Mercury Milan. The Sable nameplate would later be revived for the 2008-2009 model years.

Initial discontinuation and nameplate revival

Taurus sales had slumped significantly in the years prior to its demise, losing significant market share to Japanese sedans.Cite news | url = http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0504/19/C01-154989.htm | last = Mayne | first = Eric | date = 2005-04-19 | publisher = Detroit News | title = End of Ford Taurus closes era | accessdate = 2006-05-16] Due to waning popularity and customer demand, Ford decided to slowly discontinue the Taurus. Production of the Taurus wagon was discontinued on December 8, 2004; sedan retail sales halted after a short 2006 model year, and the Taurus became sold exclusively to fleets in the United States, while still being sold to retail customers in Canada. Production ended on October 27, 2006, as Ford idled the Atlanta plant, as part its "The Way Forward" restructuring plan. The last Ford Taurus rolled off the assembly line around 7:00am, [cite news | url = http://www.leftlanenews.com/last-ford-taurus-built-today.html | title = Last Ford Taurus built today | publisher = Left Lane News | date = 2006-10-27] destined for delivery to S. Truett Cathy, owner of Chick-fil-A. [cite news | url = http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-10-27-taurus-farewell_x.htm | title = Last Ford Taurus rolls off Atlanta Assembly line | publisher = USA Today | date = 2006-10-27 | accessdate = 2007-08-14] Mr. Cathy's original restaurant was located across from the Ford Atlanta plant. There was no official event or function of any kind to mark the end of production.cite news | url = http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/289400_lasttaurus20.html | title = Ford Taurus out of gas | publisher = seattlepi.com | date = 2006-10-20 | accessdate = 2007-08-14] Rather than investing in an older nameplate, Ford had decided to replace the Taurus with the fullsize Five Hundred and midsize Fusion sedans, as well as replacing the Taurus wagon with the Freestyle crossover SUV.The discontinuation of the Taurus was controversial. While many believed that the Taurus was discontinued because it could no longer compete in the growing sedan market,cite news | url = http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061023/AUTO01/610230304/1148 | title = Storied Ford Taurus reaches end of line | publisher = Detroit News | date = 2006-10-23 | accessdate = 2007-08-14] others believed that if Ford wanted to save the car, they could have easily done so.Cite video | title = Final Ford Taurus interview | publisher = ABC News | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwuCm8hNXgI | date = 2007-07-26] Autoblog went as far as calling the Taurus the biggest fall from grace in history, and even blamed Ford's current financial problems on their failure to keep the Taurus competitive, as well as how they focused nearly all of their development resources and marketing on trucks and SUVs.cite web | url = http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/19/so-long-friend-ford-producing-the-last-taurus-next-week/ | title = So long, friend. Ford producing last Taurus next week | publisher = Autoblog | accessdate = 2007-07-26] The Truth About Cars published a review/editorial also showing their disappointment at how Ford neglected the Taurus to the point where it became a "rental car" [cite web | url = http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/ford-taurus-oedipus-wrecks/ | title = Ford Taurus: Oedipus Wrecks | publisher = The Truth About Cars | accessdate = 2008-04-05]

MSNBC interviewed many Ford workers who felt that Ford unjustly abandoned the car that had done so much to revitalize Ford and the US industry. In an October 25, 2006 USA Today editorial, "How Ford starved its Taurus" it was noted that the Japanese stick with their winners and make them better (such as the Toyota Corolla, which has been in continuous production since the 1960s), [cite web | url = http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/corolla/history.html | title = Toyota Corolla history | publisher = Edmunds.com | accessdate = 2008-04-04] while Detroit automakers retires cars or entire division nameplates in search of "the next big thing". [cite news | title = How Ford starved its Taurus | url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-10-24-ford-taurus_x.htm | publisher = USA Today | date = 2006-10-25 | accessdate = 2006-10-25] However, after Alan Mulally took position as Ford's CEO, rumors were rampant that he was interested in reviving the Taurus. These were fueled by the fact that he said in an interview with the Associated Press that he was baffled to find out that the Taurus had been discontinued when taking position as CEO at Ford, as well as stating that he believed that discontinuing the Taurus was a mistake, and that the Five Hundred should have been named "Taurus" from the beginning.Cite web | url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17033668/ | title = CEO insisted in bringing "Taurus" back | publisher = MSNBC | date = 2007-02-07 | accessdate = 2007-07-26] The rumors of a possible Taurus revival were confirmed in mid 2007, when the revamped versions of the Five Hundred and Freestyle were unveiled as "Taurus" and "Taurus X" at the 2007 In a later interview, Mulally explained that the fact that the Taurus was well known and had a positive brand equity associated with it strongly influenced his decision to revive the name. [Cite video "> title = Ford CEO Alan Mulally on the new Ford Taurus | publisher = Autoinsider news | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYlNOtqI8tc | date = 2007-07-26]

References and Notes

External Links

* [http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/taurus Offical Ford Taurus website]
* [http://www.taurusclub.com Taurus Car Club of America]