2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Ford Taurus X

Formerly known as the Freestyle, Ford has renamed its redesigned large crossover the Taurus X. We think the name is lame, but the Freestyle has been due for a redesign since almost the day it debuted. When the Taurus X arrives at dealerships in late summer, it will feature Ford’s new 3.5-liter V-6 engine rated at 260 hp and matched to a six-speed automatic. 

This is a considerable upgrade from the previous Freestyle’s anemic 203-hp V-6, which was mated to a frustrating CVT automatic transmission. There will also be an Eddie Bauer edition offered for the first time, and the Taurus X also features easy-­to-maneuver second-row seats. We’ll have more on the Taurus X later today, but for now there are more photos to peruse below.

Related:
2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Ford Taurus
Ford May Rename Five Hundred ... Taurus

Ford Taurus X Eddie Bauer Edition

Full report and live photos from the show floor.

Comments

[BJ]

Taurus X!!Are u kiddin me!!This is the lamest and dumbest thing i ever heard r seen. Ford is definitely going down!!

[Adrock]

Just when you think the Taurus nameplate is dead, they bring it back! Dumb as dumb can be. Oh well.

What I don't get is how this fits into their name scheme? I thought all cars had an F to start with (trucks too, albeit as numbers instead of names), all vans/sport-utes start with E. Additionally, all Mercury start with M.

Ford is even touting this on their website, like somehow Sable is better than Montego? Um, ok, if you say so...

[evr]

Here is an idea, ford should name all their vehicles Taurus.

[Eric]

Mulally should have reconsidered cancelling his Lexus order - shame is obviously not a concern with Ford

[bowrider]

This was a smart move by Ford, bringing back the Taurus name. The Taurus was once the best selling vehicle and Honda and Toyota scrambled to compete with it. Taurus has name recognition, much more recognition than "Freestyle" or "Five Hundred."

[Bill]

I agree bowrider, but Ford should have never changed the name to begin with! I think what most people are shocked over is Ford's product planners lack of a plan.

[Mike]

Amazing, bring back a nameplate that most recently stood for "outdated" and "outclassed". 20 years ago Taurus might have meant something, but they allowed the nameplate to languish and become a sign of the past. They shouldn't bring it back any more than Dodge should bring back Neon, Stratus, or Intrepid. All those cars were well received by the automotive press, but never improved upon, and after 10 years became running jokes.

Taurus X? I'm stunned by the stupidity of that name. What's next? Taurus M for the 2008 Mustang? Taurus V for a minivan? Taurus GT for the next halo car? Come on, that's SO BAD!

[wade]

I'm almost waiting for Ford to say "Gotcha! you didn't really think we were serious, didja?" Unfortunatly, it looks like Ford really has no clue.

[J]

Why don't they just name it the Taurus Wagon?
This is a BS name in my opinion.

[What?]

I always confused the Freestyle and Freestar. Now Taurus and Taurus X. Well, that certainly clears up the identity crisis. Taurus SEL, Taurus X SEL, how ridiculous.
Its a Zephyr. Not it an MKZ. Its a Montego. No its a Sable. Its a 500. No its a Taurus. Ford really does mean Finally Officially Really Dead.

[sum dude]

Hm, kids usually come up with better names for things. How did Ford go from havin relatively decent vehicles to crap?

[Patrick from Astoria]

You have GOT to be kidding.

This is a joke. Right?

Please say it's a joke.

Please?

[Ken L.]

Ford really needs to take a look at GM's upcoming portfolio of new vehicles. No one in their right mind would come up with a name like "Taurus X" to describe a boring looking front redesign of a Freestyle. If they continue using that tri razor blade on all their vehicles, it'll cause the Fusion and Edge to lose its' appeal due the grill being "too played out".

[segfault]

Arrrgh! Their whole naming convention is messed up now! It's an immutable truth that Ford cars must have names that begin with F, and all Mercurys must have names that begin with M. What are they going to do now?

[Lil'Tom]

Okay, I've had a day to digest this and come up with something insightful. Here's what I think:

Are you #@&%&%# kidding me?

[Rick]

For some reason, Ford has forgotten how to build a good engine and transmission. They make decent cars, but their V6's are forgettable and that CVT tranny was just as bad. Ford finally craked the 250hp ceiling with this veh, something that Nissan and Toyota had done years ago with their 3.5L. Who cares what they name it because at this point they need to produce great cars NOW. Losing 12 billion dollars in '06 was not a fluke with the cheese they were making. With the recently predicted prospect of Toyota becoming #1 looming at their heels, Ford might be burning the midnight oil for its comeback.

[Sulli]

I have to agree with some of the postings about Ford changing names lately, it seems a little confusing and silly; they need to make a plan and stick to it. But I actually think using the Taurus name will be a good thing. A lot of us car guys tend to forget that most of the people that buy cars are not really into them, and having a familiar, relateable name is good. Yes the Taurus may have been a lame duck in its last few years, but in its prime, it was a force to be reckoned with, and plenty of people remember that. In fact my mother, called me today and told me that she heard that there was a new Taurus and wants me to go look at it with her. That's what name recognition gets you.

[Barnegat Heavey]

As a long-time Ford/Mercury owner (including
'Sable', 'Mystique', 'Cougar', 'Windstar',
'Pinto' even), I've got to wonder. I keep buying them & then they stop making them. Is it me who's putting them out of business? If they're going to do the Taurus/Sable again, it can only mean one thing. For their sake, I
should not buy one, but I am tempted...

[asdfasdf]

Yes, the Taurus X is bassically the same as the Taurus Wagon. And I bet many of you are thinking "Who wants a station wagon". But with gas prices going up and the minivan craze going down, I think that the Taurus X is the right car for moms hauling kids around. With more space than the cars it competes with, a reckonizable name, and a fresh design I believe that the Taurus X will do very well...or at least I hope so.

[waldo]

We want a wagon. Not a gas guzzling, top heavy SUV. Even with the CVT, teh FReestyle was a decent performer- at least our rental was. Soon I'll be in the market for one- be it a Freestyle or an X.

I'll admit that Taurus X is very lame, but Taurus is a good move for the 'old 500.

[Mark]

I like the vehicle, not the name. Call it what it is, the Taurus Wagon. Wagons used to be stigmatized, but in my eye, SUV and mini van now have that place, and wagons are sort of retro cool.

I like the Freestyle look. And this one is appealing to mee too. I like the headlight and the grill.

[SmithSanchez]

It is a cool and practical car, an underdog. I know people who drive one and they are very happy with it.

[K]

As a current Sable owner and a former Pinto owner, when I heard they were coming back out with the Taurus and the Sable, my interest was immediately piqued (my poor Sable is on its last legs/wheels). I don't know why they got rid of those cars in the first place - they were their top sellers. I had test-driven the Freestyle, but didn't like its looks, however the Taurus X looks better and I'm seriously considering buying it (but I would probably prefer a Mercury version of it, if one existed). And there's nothing wrong with using name recognition when it comes to marketing - it works!

[robert poppleton]

we own a 2005 limited 500 know it is going to be renamed which i'am sure will not help the resale value. OH THEY DO NOT MAKE THEM ANYMORE HOW DO YOU GET PARTS even if it is the same as the turass.they both look the same to me if ford would have advertised better they would have sold. alot of room, trunk space, all our suitcases eight bowling balls in bags and still had room and 30 miles to the gallon. of course the tires ford puts on them do not last longnoly $900.00 from ford to replace you think there is a problem here