2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Ford Taurus

Ford introduced three “new” vehicles today. We’ll start with the Taurus. We saw the Taurus last month at the Detroit auto show when it was still called the Five Hundred. This is the exact same vehicle we saw there, only with a different nameplate. We’re not going to inundate you with too many images of this one, but the Taurus X and Mercury Sable are actually different and we'll post more about them shortly.

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

Full report and live photos from the show floor.

Comments

[Ryan]

If they took away the grille, it would look like a 1986 Taurus.

[piki]

Looks outdated with any name slaped to it period

[J.T]

Think it's doomed to be fleet rental cars renaming it the Taurus/Sable. Should have kept Five Hundred/Montego monikers and just do the updated styling like planned. It looks nice now but with the 1st generation names don't know now...

[Rick]

Dear Ford and GM:

If you are going to market the exact same car (except for a few different emblems on the steering wheel and hub-caps) could you at least make an effort to distinguish SOMETHING between the two???

PSSSST! We know your secret! Sable/Montego and Taurus/Freestyle (or whatever the name of the week is) are the exact same car.

We are not as dumb as you think (or as you). We've known since the mid-80's when you really started going overboard with "platform sharing".

Fine, share the platforms - but put a different body on the car. So stupid that you are, if there were no Sable, everyone who wanted a Sable would get a Taurus. Taurus would have a higher count of annual sales (since it's not competing WITH ITSELF) and maybe your mediocre, boring cars might seem worth a second (or first) look.

There's some market strategy for ya FREE!

Hey Mulally!!!!! Ya hiring???

[Al]

Ford execs don't have a clue. The 500 didn't sell because it didn't have a real engine.
Now it has a real engine, they slap on the nameplate of a tired, middle-of-the road model that invokes images of an outdated mediocre rental car.
This may have worked earlier if the Taurus name had been used on the Fusion, which was a logical replacement.
If Ford wanted to change the name of the 500, something like Galaxie, Fairlane or LTD would have been more appropriate. These legendary nameplates invoke memories of large powerful top of the line Fords. Who will aspire to a Taurus?
With Taurus, they are flogging a dead bull. With great ideas like these, Ford will soon be joining the bull.

[Pete]

I was waiting for the new 500 to come out with the 3.5 liter engine.
There is no way I am buying this car called a Taurus.

[Bob]

My guess is Ford is getting ready to launch thier new more upscale full size rear drive Galaxy or Fairlane, and want to keep the Five Hundred as a step below model so they put the Taurus name on it, plus like they said more mainsteam buyers are familiar with the name.

[Jay]

Will Ford toss in an extra transmission? I'm on my fourth with my Explorer. Never again will I buy a Ford product.

[Keith O]

Giving a mediocre car the name of another mediocre car is NOT a recipe for success. Ford should have kept the original names and totally redesigned the cars. Once again, Ford is proving that it probably deserves to disappear.

[matt]

they should make a 2008 Taurus SHO with a mustang V8 that would be cool with over 300hp

[asdfasdf]

The Taurus was the best selling car 5 straight years in a row, and 80% of the public knows the name. Now a better engine and a better looking exterior than the Five Hundred, plus the good press that it has gotten, the public is well aware of the new vehicle. It seems to me that Ford has a formulation for success.

[Scott]

I've just purchased a used Taurus because I couldn't afford a new 500 (I outgrew my Mustang). Everybody I know didn't know what a 500 was. Taurus, like Mustang, has a strong following. Ford followed what the customer wanted, a smart move. Looks great, my next car will be a Taurus. I like the larger engine and upgrades -- what a natural progression of a great car.

[Ryan]

The new Taurus has gotten great reviews and it looks good too. I have seen a lot of negative comments because it is a "throw back" name. The Taurus was a great selling car in the 80's and I think this is a genious move on Ford's part. I will seriously consider trading my Honda Civic for one.

[howard]

the comments about quality are non issues so far with me on Ford products as i only lease for the duration of the car warranty.

but, the factory did enhance the engine performance, and gave us AWD which is this region is GOLD for winter traction and puts this car in the Chrysler 300 realm.

i saw one at the local dealer last week.
nice looking car in black.
an AWD car.
and the rear trunk... good god... the sales person said 6 golf bags will fit into it.
your talking huge. 21.2 cubic feet is their measurement. it's really big.

the interior was exceptionally quiet. so much so that i noticed it right off.

anyhow, i still think the Detroit crowd which manages Ford should offer a few higher performance options and a hybrid power train option (as they have tons of room to stuff).