View source for Ford Taurus

{{Short description|Automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company}}
{{Distinguish|Ford Taunus}}
{{About|the North American car|the Chinese-made version sold in China and the Middle East since 2016|Ford Taurus (China)}}{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Ford Taurus
| image = 2010 Ford Taurus Limited 2 -- 10-31-2009.jpg
| caption = 2010 Ford Taurus Limited
| manufacturer = [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| production = October 1985 – October 2006<br />May 2007 – March 2019
| model_years = 1986–2019 (2007 sold only to fleets)
| class = [[Mid-size car]] (1985–2007)<br />[[Full-size car]] (2007–2019)
| layout = [[Transverse engine|Transverse]] [[front-engine, front-wheel drive]]<br />[[Transverse engine|Transverse]] [[front-engine, all-wheel drive]] (2008–2019)
| predecessor = [[Ford LTD (North America)|Ford LTD]] (for mid-size)
| successor = [[Ford Taurus X|Ford Freestyle/Taurus X]] (station wagon)<br />[[Ford Fusion (Americas)|Ford Fusion]] and [[Ford Five Hundred]] (sedan; for the  fourth generation)<br />[[Ford Taurus (China)|Ford Taurus]] (China)
}}

The '''Ford Taurus''' is an [[automobile]] that was manufactured and marketed by the [[Ford Motor Company]] in the [[United States]] from 1985 to 2019. From 1985 to 2009, Ford marketed the Taurus alongside its [[badge engineering|rebadged]] variant, the [[Mercury Sable]]. Four generations of the high-performance version (named the [[Ford Taurus SHO]]) were also manufactured from 1988-1999 and 2009-2019. 

The original Taurus was a milestone for Ford and the [[Automotive industry in the United States|American automotive industry]], as the first automobile at Ford designed and manufactured using the [[statistical process control]] ideas brought to Ford by [[W. Edwards Deming]], a prominent statistician consulted by Ford to bring a "culture of quality" to the enterprise. The Taurus had an influential design that introduced new features and innovations.<ref name = "Taub" />

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, sales of the Taurus declined as it lost market share to Japanese mid-size sedans and as Ford shifted resources towards developing [[SUV]]s. The Taurus was withdrawn after the 2007 model year, with production ending on October 27, 2006.<ref name="Fox">{{Cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/last-taurus-rolls-off-ford-assembly-line |title=Last Taurus Rolls Off Ford Assembly Line |date=October 27, 2006 |access-date=October 27, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061031225623/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,225932,00.html |archive-date=October 31, 2006 |url-status=live |publisher=[[Fox News]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> As part of a model line revision, the Taurus and the larger [[Ford Crown Victoria]] were to be replaced with the full-size [[Ford Five Hundred|Five Hundred]] and mid-size [[Ford Fusion (Americas)|Fusion]] sedans; the Taurus station wagon was replaced with the [[Ford Freestyle]] wagon, branded as a crossover SUV. During the [[Chicago Auto Show#2007|2007 Chicago Auto Show]], the nameplates of the Taurus and [[Mercury Sable|Sable]] were revived, intended as 2008 mid-cycle revisions of the Five Hundred. The Freestyle was renamed the Ford Taurus X.<ref name="DETROIT">{{cite press release |url=http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=25372 |title=2008 Ford Taurus features more power, style, and more standard safety features |date=February 7, 2007 |publisher=Media. Ford.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306145005/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=25372 |archive-date=March 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 7, 2007}}</ref><ref name="taurusx">{{cite press release |url=http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=25373 |title=Ford strengthens crossover leadership with introduction of new 2008 Taurus X |date=February 7, 2007 |publisher=Media. Ford.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504030750/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=25373 |archive-date=May 4, 2011|url-status=dead |access-date=February 7, 2007}}</ref> For the 2010 model year, Ford introduced the [[Ford Taurus (sixth generation)|sixth-generation Taurus]], marking a more substantial model update, alongside the revival of the Taurus SHO; in 2013, the [[Ford Police Interceptor Sedan]] was introduced as a successor for its long-running Crown Victoria counterpart.

From 1985 to 2007, the Taurus was a mid-size car, offering front-wheel drive. Initially built on the [[Ford DN5 platform|DN5 platform]] (renamed the DN101 platform in 1995 and the D186 platform in 1999), the Taurus became a full-size car in 2007, adopting the Volvo-derived [[Ford D3 platform|D3 platform]], offering front- or [[all-wheel drive]]. The Taurus was produced as a four-door sedan through its entire production, with a five-door station wagon offered from 1986 to 2005.

All generations of the Taurus were assembled by [[Chicago Assembly]] on [[Chicago]]'s [[South Side, Chicago|South Side]].<ref>[https://corporate.ford.com/company/plant-detail-pages/chicago-assembly-plant.html corporate.ford.com]</ref> Prior to its 2006 closure, [[Atlanta Assembly]] also produced both the Taurus and Sable.<ref>[http://www.chicagonow.com/vociferous-envoy/2015/10/the-ford-taurus-celebrates-30-years-born-raised-in-chicago/ "The Ford Taurus Celebrates 30 Years; Born & Raised in Chicago"] - Charles W. Johnson, Chicago Now, October 29, 2015</ref> From its 1985 launch to its initial withdrawal following the 2007 model year, Ford assembled 7,519,919 examples of the Taurus.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.ford-taurus.org/taurusinfo/Specs/Production.php |title=Production Figures |encyclopedia=Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia |publisher=Taurus Car Club of America |access-date=September 25, 2009}}</ref> The fifth best-selling Ford nameplate in North America, the Taurus has been surpassed only by the [[Ford F-Series|F-Series]], [[Ford Escort (North America)|Escort]], [[Ford Model T|Model T]], and [[Ford Mustang|Mustang]].<ref name="ford">{{cite press release |url=http://media.ford.com/newsroom/feature_display.cfm?release=17697 |title=Ford Nameplates join Five Million Club |last=O'Neill |first=Mike |date=May 5, 2004 |publisher=Media.Ford.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015154444/http://media.ford.com/newsroom/feature_display.cfm?release=17697 |archive-date=October 15, 2007 |access-date=April 4, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ford-trucks.com/news/idx/12/247/2005/article/01122005|title=Ford's F-series sets industry sales truck records|last=O'Neil|first=Mike|publisher=Ford Trucks.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015191306/http://www.ford-trucks.com/news/idx/12/247/2005/article/01122005|archive-date=October 15, 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=April 4, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5429 |title=Farewell, Ford Escort|date=July 21, 2000 |publisher=Media.Ford.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504030827/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5429 |archive-date=May 4, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=April 4, 2008}}</ref> Between 1992 and 1996, the Taurus was the best-selling car nameplate in the United States, overtaken by the current title holder in 1997, the [[Toyota Camry]].<ref name="bestselling">{{cite web |url=http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=46007|title=Inside Line: Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable |last=DiPetro |first=John |date=April 18, 2003 |publisher=Edmunds |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615011127/http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId%3D46007|archive-date=June 15, 2006|url-status=dead|access-date=May 29, 2006}}</ref><ref name="det">{{cite news |url=http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0504/19/C01-154989.htm |title=End of Ford Taurus closes era |last=Mayne |first=Eric |date=April 19, 2005|access-date=May 16, 2006|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730140903/http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0504/19/C01-154989.htm|archive-date=July 30, 2012|url-status=dead|newspaper=[[Detroit News]]|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

== Taurus and the quality culture at Ford==

The Taurus was the first car resulting from introduction of a new quality culture at Ford. Between 1979 and 1982, Ford had incurred $3 billion in losses. In the spring of 1980, Ford Chairman Donald E. Peterson initiated a new "team" approach to the design and manufacture of automobiles at Ford, that eventually resulted in the creation of the Ford Taurus.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-06-04-8602090462-story.html|title = Chicago Tribune: Chicago news, sports, weather, entertainment|website = [[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Ford's newly appointed Corporate Quality Director, Larry Moore, was charged with recruiting the famous statistician, [[W. Edwards Deming]] to help jump-start a quality movement at Ford.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Deming Management Method |last=Walton |first=Mary |publisher=Penguin Group |year=1986 |pages=138–139}}</ref> Deming told Ford that management actions were responsible for 85% of all problems in developing better cars. Based on Deming's advice, Ford management was charged with primary responsibility for automobile quality. Ford also adopted a quality culture employing [[statistical process control]] across all aspects of automobile design and manufacture. The Ford Taurus was the first Ford model resulting from this statistical approach to manufacture. In a letter to Autoweek, Donald Petersen, then Ford chairman, said, "We are moving toward building a quality culture at Ford and the many changes that have been taking place here have their roots directly in Deming's teachings."<ref>[http://www.sme.org/cgi-bin/get-press.pl?&&20012513&ND&&SME& Ford Embraces Six-Sigma Quality Goals.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312105954/http://www.sme.org/cgi-bin/get-press.pl?&&20012513&ND&&SME& |date=March 12, 2007 }} Accessed: July 31, 2006.</ref> This new emphasis on quality in the manufacture of the Ford Taurus was reflected in Ford's advertising and marketing. The New York advertising firm [[Wells, Rich, Greene]] took on the Ford account in 1979 and Robert Cox was assigned to the Ford account and by the summer of 1981, "Quality is Job 1" became Ford's calling card in marketing. This emphasis on quality was used heavily in marketing of the Ford Taurus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20160629/RETAIL03/160629819/robert-cox-ad-man-behind-fords-quality-is-job-1-pitch-dies|title = Robert Cox, ad man behind Ford's 'Quality is Job 1' pitch, dies|date = June 29, 2016}}</ref>

==First generation (1986)==
{{Main|Ford Taurus (first generation)}}
[[File:1991 Ford Taurus GL sedan -- 09-07-2009.jpg|thumb|1991 Ford Taurus GL sedan]]
[[File:1st Ford Taurus wagon -- 04-11-2012 rear 2.JPG|thumb|left|1986–1991 Ford Taurus wagon]]
[[File:1990 Ford Taurus GL.jpg|thumb|1990 Ford Taurus GL]]

The first-generation Taurus was launched in 1985 as a 1986 model to strong fanfare and sales, replacing the slow-selling mid-size Ford LTD. (The full-size [[Ford LTD Crown Victoria]] remained as part of the Ford lineup.) The release of the Ford Taurus was one of the most anticipated ever, mostly because it was a first in car design and also the start of new quality standards for Ford. At the time of the Taurus's debut, Ford had been producing mainly rear-wheel drive cars, and [[Chrysler]] and [[General Motors]] were offering more front-wheel-drive vehicles up to mid-range including the [[Chrysler K platform]] and A-body [[Chevrolet Celebrity]]. With the introduction of the [[Ford Escort (North America)|Escort]] and [[Ford Tempo|Tempo]], Ford was making a transition to front-wheel drive. The Taurus displayed a rounder shape than its contemporaries, often likened to a "[[jelly bean]]" or "flying potato",<ref name = "jellybean">{{cite magazine |last = Schneiderman |first = R.M. |date = October 27, 2006 |magazine = Forbes |url = https://www.forbes.com/2006/10/27/ford-taurus-demise-cx_rs_1027autofacescan01.html |title = Ford Taurus, R.I.P.| access-date = June 29, 2007}}</ref> inspired by the design of the [[Audi 100#C3, 1983–92|Audi 5000]] and Ford's European sedan, the [[Ford Sierra]], an updated appearance of a styling approach used in the late 1940s to early 1960s called "[[Ponton (automobile)|ponton]]" styling.<ref name = "Taub"/> Instead of a [[Grille (car)|grille]], the Taurus mainstreamed the smooth grille-less "[[bottom breather]]" nose. The aerodynamic design of the Taurus made the car more fuel-efficient, allowing Ford to meet more stringent [[corporate average fuel economy]] (CAFE) standard applied by the [[United States]] government.<ref name = "Taub"/> The Taurus's success ultimately led to an American [[automobile design]] revolution; Chrysler and General Motors developed aerodynamic cars in order to capitalize on the Taurus's success.<ref name = "Taub">{{Cite book |title = Taurus: The Making of the Car That Saved Ford |first = Eric |last = Taub |date = November 1991 |isbn = 0-525-93372-7 |publisher = [[E. P. Dutton]] |url-access = registration |url = https://archive.org/details/taurusmakingofca00taub }}</ref> It also benefitted from sharing a similar appearance to the limited-production [[Ford Mustang SVO]] introduced two years earlier in 1983.

The first generation was available with either a V6 or an inline four-cylinder engine and came with either a [[manual transmission|manual]] (MT-5)<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.mcall.com/1986/10/04/taurus-mt-5-room-performance-and-superior-value-road-test/|title = Taurus Mt-5 - Room, Performance And Superior Value Road Test|last = KUCINSKI|first = LEONARD|date = October 4, 1986|work = The Morning Call}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.ford-taurus.org/taurusinfo/Specials/MT5.php|title = Taurus MT5|date = January 11, 2007|website = Ford Encyclopedia|publisher = Taurus Car Club of America, Inc.}}</ref> or [[automatic transmission]]. (The Taurus's twin, the [[Mercury Sable]], has never offered a manual transmission in any of its incarnations.) Like its exterior, the Taurus's interior was ahead of its time, and many features originating from it are still used in most cars today.<ref name = "Taub"/> Its interior was designed to be extremely user-friendly, with all of its controls designed to be recognizable by touch, allowing drivers to operate them without taking their eyes off the road.<ref name = "Taub" /> For example, the switches to the power windows and power locks were designed with one half of the switch raised up, with the other half recessed, in order for its function to be identified by touch.<ref name = "Taub" /> To further enhance this quality, the car's [[dashboard]] has all of the controls in the central area within reach of the driver. The left side of the dash curves slightly around the driver to make controls easily accessible, as well as creating a "cockpit" feel.

The interior offered numerous trim levels, from spartan or luxurious, as well as various seating configurations,<ref> &mdash; e.g., with a traditional column-mounted shifter and front bench seat, with bucket seats and a center console with a floor-mounted shifter, or with bucket seats and a console with a column-mounted shifter. These options were also extended to the Sable and, beginning in MY 1988, the [[Lincoln Continental]] as well. Models available with a manual transmission were available with bucket seats, center console and floor-mounted shifter.</ref> The most trim level, the L, featured an AM radio and a front cloth bench seat, while the LX, the more luxurious model, came with more numerous features as standard equipment.

The Taurus was well received by both the public and the press. In addition to numerous other awards, the Taurus was made the 1986 [[Car and Driver 10Best|Car and Driver Ten Best List]] and was named the 1986 [[Motor Trend Car of the Year]].<ref name = "COTY86">{{Cite journal |last = Hanson |first = John |title = Car of the Year 1986: It is Going To Be a Bull Market For The Ford Taurus |journal = [[Motor Trend]] |issue = February 1986 |pages = 23–36 }}</ref> Production reached over 200,000 for the 1986 model year and the millionth Taurus was sold during the 1989 model year.<ref name = "Taub" /> By the end of model year 1991, first generation production had reached more than two million.<ref name = "TCCA numbers">{{cite web |publisher = Taurus Car Club of America |url = http://www.ford-taurus.org/taurusinfo/Specs/Production.php |title = 1986–1997 Ford Taurus production numbers| access-date = September 12, 2008}}</ref>

==Second generation (1992)==
{{Main|Ford Taurus (second generation)}}
[[File:91-95 Ford Taurus sedan.jpg|thumb|1994–1995 Ford Taurus sedan]]
[[File:2nd-Ford-Taurus-GL-wagon-rear.jpg|thumb|1992 Ford Taurus wagon]]

The Taurus received its first redesign in late 1991 for the 1992 model year, using the same chassis and with revisions to every exterior body panel other than the doors &mdash; largely as major facelift to the first generation design,<ref name = "bestselling" /> gaining several inches in length and over 200 pounds in curb weight,<ref name="TCCA">{{cite web|url=http://www.ford-taurus.org/taurusinfo/G2/index.php|title=Taurus/Sable Spotter's Guide: Second Generation (1992–1995)|publisher=Taurus Car Club of America|access-date=April 5, 2008}}</ref> and marketed solely with V6 engines and automatic transmissions. The Taurus SHO made its return, with an automatic transmission option joining the manual transmission.

The interior was also completely revised, gaining an optional passenger-side airbag, which became standard for model year 1994 and  becoming the first mid-size sedan marketed in the United States with standard dual airbags.<ref name = "bestselling" />

The second generation become the best-selling car in the [[United States]], maintained the title throughout its duration,<ref name = "bestselling" /> and reached a production of 1.4 million before ending in 1995.<ref name = "TCCA numbers" />
{{-}}

==Third generation (1996)==
{{Main|Ford Taurus (third generation)}}
[[File:96-97 Ford Taurus .jpg|thumb|1996–1997 Ford Taurus sedan]]
[[File:'96-'97 Ford Taurus LX Wagon.JPG|thumb|left|1996–1997 Ford Taurus LX wagon]]
[[File:1996 Ford Taurus (DP) Ghia sedan (2010-07-05) 01.jpg|thumb|1996–1998 Ford Taurus Ghia sedan (export)]]
[[File:1996 Ford Taurus (DP) Ghia sedan (2010-06-17) 02.jpg|thumb|left|1996–1998 Ford Taurus Ghia sedan (export)]]
For the 1996 model year, Ford presented the third generation of the Ford Taurus. Although not completely new, the chassis was heavily upgraded, becoming the DN101 generation. Alongside the Mercury Sable, the Ford Taurus shared its underpinnings with the redesigned Lincoln Continental and all-new Ford Windstar.

In 1996, its starting cost was about $18,000 ({{Inflation|index=US|value=18000|start_year=1996|fmt=eq}}).<ref name="wolfstreet.com">{{Cite web|url=https://wolfstreet.com/2019/02/13/sticker-shock-prices-of-new-cars-trucks-flat-for-22-years-says-cpi-even-as-the-price-of-a-taurus-jumps-55/|title = Reverse Sticker Shock? No Inflation for New Vehicles for 22 Years, Says Consumer Price Index, as Taurus Prices Soared 55%|date = February 14, 2019}}</ref>

In a break from the familiar styling of the previous two generations (that chief designer [[Jack Telnack]] had likened to a "pair of slippers"),<ref name="News96">{{cite journal|last=Sedgwick|first=David|title=Taurus for '96 will dare to stand out in a competitive sedan market|journal=[[The Detroit News]]|pages=1C–2C}}</ref> Ford had sought to again make the Taurus stand out for buyers of mid-size sedans, giving the vehicle a much more extensive restyling than its 1992 predecessor. Moving away from straight lines, the 1996 Taurus sought to include rounded lines, moving past the cab-forward design of the Chrysler LH sedans. Alongside the Ford Blue Oval emblem itself, the Taurus repeated the shape several places in its exterior;<ref name="bestselling" /><ref name="MW">{{cite book|title=Car: A Drama of The American Workplace|last=Walton|first=Mary|date=May 1997|publisher=[[W. W. Norton]]|isbn=0-393-04080-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/cardramaofameric00walt}}</ref> in a controversial design element, the rear window of the Taurus was oval, as were the side windows of the Mercury Sable. To allow better differentiation between models, the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable were given separate rooflines; Taurus/Sable station wagons were fitted with the doors of Sable sedans.

The interior saw a complete redesign. To simplify production, all versions of the Taurus were fitted with bucket seats; six-passenger versions were fitted with a flip-forward center seat cushion also meant for use as a center console, while five-passenger versions were fitted with a floor shifter and center console.<ref name="Gen III">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.ford-taurus.org/taurusinfo/G3/index.php|title=Taurus/Sable Spotter's Guide Generation 3|date=October 30, 2006|publisher=Taurus Car Club of America|encyclopedia=Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia|access-date=February 25, 2007}}</ref> To improve ergonomics, radio and climate controls were centralized on an oval-shaped console on the dashboard.<ref name="Tribune">{{cite journal|last=Pierson|first=John|title=How Ford Added a Dash of Design To Its New Taurus|journal=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref>

Reaction to the third-generation Ford Taurus was mixed; Ford found that customers disliked the oval-shaped exterior. For 1996, the Ford Taurus continued as the best-selling car in the United States. At the time, 51 percent of all Taurus sales for 1996 went to [[Car rental|rental fleets]], in contrast to the [[Honda Accord]] and [[Toyota Camry]], of which most sales were to private customers through [[Car dealership|retail outlets]].<ref name="CG encyclopedia">{{Cite book |title = Encyclopedia of American Cars |author = ((The Editors of Consumer Guide)) |year = 2006 |isbn = 1-4127-1354-4 |publisher = Publications International}}</ref> In 1997, the Ford Taurus lost its best-selling status to the Toyota Camry.<ref name="bestselling" />

For 1996, Ford Australia imported the Ford Taurus sedan as the "Taurus Ghia" alongside its locally produced [[Ford Falcon (EL)|Ford Falcon EL]], but imports ceased after only one year because of poor sales.<ref name="Australia">{{cite web|url=http://news.drive.com.au/drive/used-car-reviews/ford-taurus-19961998-20100824-13o9c.html|title=Ford Taurus 1996–1998|access-date=October 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325180608/http://news.drive.com.au/drive/used-car-reviews/ford-taurus-19961998-20100824-13o9c.html|archive-date=March 25, 2012}}</ref> Ford New Zealand imported both Ford Taurus sedans and station wagons from 1996 to 1998 with success alongside the RWD Australian Ford Falcon/Fairmont/Fairlane.

===NASCAR===
[[File:GregBiffleCar.jpg|thumb|The No. 16 NASCAR Ford Taurus of [[Greg Biffle]]]]
The third-generation Taurus had a presence in [[NASCAR]], replacing the [[Ford Thunderbird|Thunderbird]] for the 1998 season. The Taurus became the first four-door sedan to be approved for competition.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-racing/nascar/season-recaps/1990s/1998-nascar.htm |title=HowStuffWorks "1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Chronology" |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721003748/http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-racing/nascar/season-recaps/1990s/1998-nascar.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first Taurus driver to win the [[Winston Cup]] (the NASCAR sponsor of the time) [[List of NASCAR champions|championship]] was [[Dale Jarrett]], who drove the No. 88 [[Ford Quality Care]]/[[Ford Credit]]-sponsored cars owned by [[Robert Yates (NASCAR owner)|Robert Yates]]. The first Taurus driver to win the [[Busch Series]] championship was [[Greg Biffle]], who drove the No. 60 [[W. W. Grainger|Grainger Industrial Supply]]-sponsored cars owned by [[Jack Roush]].

In total, the Ford Taurus has won three Winston Cup championships and two Busch Series championships.

==Fourth generation (2000)==
{{Main|Ford Taurus (fourth generation)}}

[[File:'00-'03 Ford Taurus SEL Wagon.JPG|thumb|left|2000–2003 Ford Taurus SEL wagon]]
[[File:04Taurus.jpg|thumb|left|2004–2007 Ford Taurus sedan]]
[[File:05-07 Ford Taurus SE sedan.jpg|thumb|right|2004–2007 Ford Taurus SE sedan]]
[[File:2005 Ford Taurus SE interior.jpg|thumb|2005 Ford Taurus SE interior]]
The Taurus received another redesign for 2000, which replaced many of the oval-derived design elements of the previous model with sharper creases and corners, an aspect of Ford's [[New Edge (design language)|New Edge]] styling language. To reduce the car's price and keep it competitive, Ford reduced costs on the car in 1999, such as giving the Taurus sedan rear [[drum brake]]s on [[Anti-lock braking system|ABS]]-equipped vehicles (previously, upgrading to ABS included the addition of rear disc brakes), eliminating the dual [[exhaust system|exhaust]] on the higher end models, and trimming many other small features.

Ford designed the fourth generation with more conservative styling. Instead of sloping back, the car's trunk stood upright, increasing trunk space by another two cubic feet.<ref name="Consumerguide00">{{cite web |url=http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2000-to-2006-ford-taurus.htm |title=2000–2006 Ford Taurus overview |publisher=Consumer Guide |access-date=February 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206022040/http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2000-to-2006-ford-taurus.htm |archive-date=February 6, 2007 }}</ref><ref name = "G4">{{cite web |url=http://www.ford-taurus.org/taurusinfo/G4/index.php |title=Taurus/Sable spotter's guide (Generation 4 2000–2007) |publisher=Taurus Car Club of America |access-date=April 6, 2008}}</ref> The roof was more upright to increase headroom.

The interior was also redesigned with features from the previous Taurus generations carried over. The dashboard was given a squarer design. The "integrated control panel" concept was carried over but redesigned, with a bigger, squarer shape, and it was placed in the center of the dash instead of being angled toward the driver. The flip-fold center console was also carried over from the previous generation, although it was revised as well. When folded out, it now rested against the floor instead of the dashboard, and had reworked cup holders and storage areas.<ref name = "G4" /> In another change from previous versions, the fourth generation offered rear cup holders that either slid or folded out of the front console, depending on which console the car was equipped with.<ref name = "G4" />

==Initial discontinuation and revival==
During its fourth generation, the Taurus saw a significant sales slump compared to its predecessors.<ref name="det"/> Having already lost its status as the best-selling car in America when it was surpassed by the [[Honda Accord]] and [[Toyota Camry]] in 1997, by 2005, it had fallen to fourth-place behind the [[Nissan Altima]], which made Ford decide to discontinue the entire Taurus line.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/top-10/top-10-best-selling-vehicles-for-2005.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110114090022/http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/top-10/top-10-best-selling-vehicles-for-2005.html| archive-date = 2011-01-14| title = Top 10 Best-Selling Vehicles for 2005 — Edmunds.com}}</ref> Production of the Taurus wagon was discontinued on December 8, 2004;<ref name = "G4" /> sedan retail sales halted after a short 2006 model year, and the Taurus became sold exclusively to [[Fleet vehicles|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 of its "[[The Way Forward]]" [[Corporate restructuring|restructuring plan]]. The last Ford Taurus rolled off the assembly line around 7:00am,<ref>{{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}}</ref> destined for delivery to [[S. Truett Cathy]], owner of [[Chick-fil-A]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://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 | access-date = 2007-08-14 | first=Bernard | last=McGhee}}</ref> 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.<ref name= "outofgas">{{cite news | url = http://www.seattlepi.com/business/289400_lasttaurus20.html | title = Ford Taurus out of gas | publisher = seattlepi.com | date = 2006-10-20 | access-date = 2007-08-14 | first=Tom | last=Krisher}}</ref> The Taurus was replaced in Ford's lineup by the [[Ford Five Hundred|Five Hundred]] and [[Ford Fusion (Americas)|Fusion]] sedans, while the Taurus wagon was replaced by the [[Ford Taurus X|Freestyle]] [[crossover SUV]].
{{quote box
| quote = How can it go away? It's the best selling car in America.
|source=[[Alan Mulally]], 2006<ref name="Alan"/> 
| width = 250px
}}
[[File:2004-2006 Ford Taurus Sedan.jpg|thumb|left|The last Taurus sedan was an SEL model like this one.]]
[[File:Auto Show 032.jpg|thumb|The 2008 Ford Five Hundred prototype, which was renamed "Taurus" upon Alan Mulally's request]]
The discontinuation of the Taurus sparked debate given its once-strong position in the market and Ford's well-publicized financial problems at the time. Analysts, customers and some interviewed Ford employees criticized the company for failing to invest in the car and keep it competitive, instead focusing all of its resources on developing and marketing trucks and SUVs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maynard |first=Micheline |date=2006-10-28 |title=End of the Line for Ford Taurus |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/28/business/28ford.html |access-date=2022-09-08 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name = "Dateline">{{Cite video | title = Final Ford Taurus interview | publisher = ABC News | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwuCm8hNXgI | date = 2007-07-26}}</ref> A [[USA Today]] editorial entitled "How Ford starved its Taurus" noted that the Taurus's death was part of a broader trend of the [[Big Three (automobile manufacturers)|Detroit Big Three]] willingly abandoning once-successful nameplates and divisions in search of "the next big thing", while their foreign competitors have been gaining market share by continuously improving their veteran nameplates.<ref>{{cite news | title = How Ford starved its Taurus | url = https://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-10-24-ford-taurus_x.htm | publisher = USA Today | date = 2006-10-25 | access-date = 2006-10-25}}</ref> This criticism was echoed by ''[[Weblogs, Inc.#Autoblog|Autoblog]]'', which held the Taurus up as an example of how Ford abandoned its successful products to chase emerging trends to varying degrees of success, a practice they blamed for Ford's struggles at the time.<ref name = "Autoblog">{{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 | access-date = 2007-07-26}}</ref> ''[[The Truth About Cars]]'' similarly lamented how Ford neglected the Taurus to the point where it became a "rental car".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/ford-taurus-oedipus-wrecks/ | title = Ford Taurus: Oedipus Wrecks | date = September 2006 | publisher = The Truth About Cars | access-date = 2008-04-05 | archive-date = January 8, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090108175651/http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/ford-taurus-oedipus-wrecks/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Newly hired Ford CEO [[Alan Mulally]] expressed similar opinions, telling the [[Associated Press]] the decision "perplexed" him when he learned about it; he recalled asking subordinates, "How can it go away? It's the best selling car in America!"<ref name = "Alan">{{Cite web | url = https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna17033668 | title = CEO insisted in bringing "Taurus" back | publisher = [[MSNBC]] | date = 2007-02-07 | access-date = 2007-07-26}}</ref> As the successor Five Hundred was struggling in the marketplace, Mulally viewed the decision to discontinue the Taurus as a "mistake that needed to be fixed", noting, "The customers want it back. They didn't want it to go away. They wanted us to keep improving it."<ref name = "Alan" /> At the time, Ford had already unveiled a face-lifted Five Hundred at the 2007 [[North American International Auto Show]], which had revised styling and a more powerful engine. Partially blaming the Five Hundred's struggles on its name, Mulally decided that the revised vehicle should be marketed as the Taurus, the name he believed the Five Hundred sedan should have used from the beginning<ref name = "Alan" /> as he believed Ford was better off continuing to use its older nameplates that maintained decent [[brand equity]] rather than trying to build up new ones.<ref>{{Cite video | title = Ford CEO Alan Mulally on the new Ford Taurus | publisher = Autoinsider news | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYlNOtqI8tc | date = 2007-07-26}}</ref> The revised Five Hundred and Freestyle were showcased as the Taurus and Taurus X, respectively, at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show and went on sale that summer.

==Fifth generation (2008)==
{{Main|Ford Taurus (fifth generation)}}
[[File:2008 Ford Taurus SEL .jpg|thumb|2008 Ford Taurus SEL]]

The fifth-generation Taurus entered production in 2007 as a 2008 model and was developed directly from the [[Ford Five Hundred]], chiefly with a mild exterior [[Facelift (automobile)|facelift]] and revised engine and transmission. Ford designated the model as the Taurus, after the demise of the concurrently marketed fourth-generation Taurus and to take advantage of its customer recognition and dealer demand.<ref>{{cite web|title=Five Hundred To Be Renamed Taurus|url=http://www.stangbangers.com/News_FordFiveHundred.htm|publisher=stangbangers.com|access-date=July 26, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217111308/http://www.stangbangers.com/News_FordFiveHundred.htm|archive-date=February 17, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Changes to the fifth-generation Taurus from the Five Hundred included a new front end and the 263&nbsp;hp 3.5&nbsp;L [[Ford Cyclone engine|Duratec 35]] V6, replacing the {{convert|203|hp|abbr=on}} [[Ford Mondeo V6 engine|Duratec 30]] 3.0&nbsp;L [[V6]]. The [[Ford Five Hundred|Five Hundred]]/Freestyle's [[List of Ford transmissions|ZF-Batavia]] [[continuously variable transmission|CVT]], which had a maximum torque rating of {{convert|221|lbft|Nm|0|abbr=on}}, was also replaced with a [[GM-Ford 6-speed automatic transmission|Ford–GM joint venture six-speed automatic]] with additional torque of the Duratec 35. The [[Aisin]] AW six-speed automatic which was used on FWD Five Hundred and Montegos was also replaced by the new Ford six-speed.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Ford slaps a once-successful nameplate on its refreshed and reinvigorated Five Hundred |last1=Siler | first1 = Steve |first2=Mike | last2 = Dushane |magazine=Car and Driver |url=http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/07q1/2008_ford_taurus-auto_shows |date=February 2007 |access-date=February 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818000259/http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/07q1/2008_ford_taurus-auto_shows |archive-date=August 18, 2009}}</ref>

The Taurus sedan twin, the [[Mercury Sable#2008|Mercury Sable]] nameplate, was revived and applied to the restyled [[Mercury Montego#2005–2007|Mercury Montego]].<ref name="DETROIT"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leftlanenews.com/like-taurus-mercury-sable-nameplate-to-return.html |title=Like Taurus, Mercury Sable nameplate to return |publisher=Leftlanenews.com |access-date=February 7, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=25374 |title=Mercury Sable Returns to Showrooms With More Power, Style and Sophistication |publisher=Ford Motor Company|access-date=February 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712211918/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=25374 |archive-date=July 12, 2007 }}</ref> For the 2009 model year, Ford revived the "SE" trimline for the Taurus. The SE sold for $24,125 according to Ford's website and served as the base model for the vehicle.

The fifth-generation Taurus was sold in the Middle East as the Ford Five Hundred from 2008.<ref name = "drivearabia">{{cite web |url=http://www.drivearabia.com/news/2008/02/10/so-we-got-a-ford-five-hundred/ |title=So we got a Ford Five Hundred |date=February 10, 2008 |publisher=DriveArabia.com |access-date=February 11, 2008}}</ref>

It was determined that Ford's strategy to redesignate new cars in the lineup with new names beginning with the letter ''F'', as in [[Ford Focus (North America)|Ford Focus]], [[Ford Fusion (North America)|Ford Fusion]], and [[Ford Taurus X|Ford Freestyle]], was not a good marketing move, as some of the renamed cars had highly recognizable iconic names. Car buyers in the U.S. did not associate the new ''F'' names with Ford, and were confused by the name changes.<ref name = "DETROIT" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-five-hundred-to-be-renamed-taurus.html |title=Five Hundred to be renamed "Taurus" |publisher=MSNBC.com |date=February 6, 2007 |access-date=February 7, 2007}}</ref> Mulally believed that the Taurus had an immediately strong [[brand equity]], and that it would take years for consumers to have a similar recognition of the Five Hundred.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8N48NI80.htm | last = Krisher | first = Tom |title=Officials say Ford to revive Taurus name |publisher=BusinessWeek.com |date=February 6, 2007 |access-date=February 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225221742/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8N48NI80.htm |archive-date=February 25, 2011 }}</ref>

The 2008 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable were awarded the Top Safety Pick ratings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five-star ratings by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The five-star rating given to the Taurus and the Sable is the highest safety rating being given by the government agency. It was also the first Ford of America model to come as standard with side airbags.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/52973/cars/2008_ford_taurus_mercury_sable_receive_highest_safety_ratings.html|title = 2008 Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable Receive Highest Safety Ratings}}</ref>

==Sixth generation (2010)==
{{Main|Ford Taurus (sixth generation)}}
[[File:2010 Ford Taurus -- 03-13-2010.jpg|thumb|right|2010 Ford Taurus SEL]]
[[File:2010 Ford Taurus Limited rear -- 10-31-2009.jpg|thumb|right|2010 Ford Taurus Limited]]
The 2010 Ford Taurus was presented at the Detroit International Auto Show in 2009 at [[Cobo Hall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jalopnik.com/5128405/2010-ford-taurus-a-flagship-returns |title=2010 Ford Taurus: A Flagship Returns – 2010 ford taurus |publisher=Jalopnik |date=January 11, 2009 |access-date=December 12, 2009}}</ref> The press preview of the Taurus and Taurus SHO was held in Asheville, North Carolina, from June 15 to 19, 2009.

The Taurus scored well in test drives and the media was pleased with some of its new optional features.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1021620_first-drive-2010-ford-taurus |title=2010 Ford Taurus First Drive |publisher=Thecarconnection.com |date=June 22, 2009 |access-date=December 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430044933/http://www.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1021620_first-drive-2010-ford-taurus |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some of these features included all-wheel drive, cross traffic alert, collision warning, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. However, others criticized the lack of interior room and reduced sight lines despite its full-sized exterior,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/automobiles/27ulrich-best.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=Ford%20Taurus%20disappointing&st=cse&scp=1 | work=The New York Times | title=A Holiday From Wishful Thinking | first=Lawrence | last=Ulrich | date=December 27, 2009 | access-date=May 2, 2010}}</ref> and Edmunds noted that the eighth-generation [[Honda Accord]] (which competes in the mid-size category) had superior driving dynamics and a more efficient design, while offering almost as much interior space as the Taurus despite considerably smaller external dimensions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insideline.com/honda/accord/2009/comparison-test-2010-ford-taurus-vs-2009-honda-accord.html |title=2010 Ford Taurus vs. 2009 Honda Accord Comparison Test on Inside Line |publisher=Insideline.com |date=July 20, 2009 |access-date=December 24, 2010}}</ref>

The base price of the base SE model was $25,995, mid-level SEL $27,995, and top-level Limited $31,995. Ford had hoped to sell 10–15% of the sixth-generation Tauruses as high-performance SHO models.

The SHO (Super High Output), released in August 2009,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1021595_driven-2010-ford-taurus-sho |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111094253/http://www.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1021595_driven-2010-ford-taurus-sho |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 11, 2013 |title=First Drive Ford Taurus Sho |publisher=Thecarconnection.com |date=June 19, 2009 |access-date=December 24, 2010 }}</ref> was powered by a twin-turbocharged, gasoline direct-injection EcoBoost 3.5L V6 engine. It produced up to {{convert|365|hp}} and {{Convert|350|lbft|Nm|abbr=on}} of torque. [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|EPA-estimated]] fuel economy ratings were 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway AWD. The SHO base price was $37,995, which included the EcoBoost V6 mated to an upgraded 6-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and numerous exterior and interior trim upgrades. A fully loaded SHO could reach $45,395. There was also an available performance package which included upgraded brake pads, a 3.16:1 final drive ratio (compared to the standard 2.77:1), recalibrated electronic power steering, further suspension tuning, a re-calibrated AdvanceTrac system (Ford's combined [[traction control system]] and [[electronic stability control]]) with sport mode and "true off", summer-only tread-compound Goodyear Eagle F1 245/45ZR20 tires, and an electric air pump with a [[canned tire inflator]] in lieu of a spare tire. Most options for the SHO remained available, with the Performance Package including options such as power moonroof, heated/cooled seats, multi-contour seats, auto-sensing lights and wipers, automatic high-beams, adjustable pedals, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), and satellite navigation. Options from the Driver Assist option group, however, were unavailable simultaneously with the Performance Package. Those options include adaptive cruise control, collision warning system, Lane Keep Assist, and Active Park Assist.

===2013 facelift===
First revealed at the 2011 [[New York Auto Show]], the Taurus received a mid-cycle refresh for the 2013 model year. The body featured a new front fascia and slightly updated rear fascia with LED taillamps, as well as all-new wheel options. The SHO model featured revised styling elements. Refinements were made to the 3.5 EcoBoost V6. Power in the 3.5L naturally aspirated V6, standard in non-SHO models, was up to 288&nbsp;hp. With this engine, [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|EPA-estimated]] fuel economy ratings were 19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway in FWD models, and 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway in AWD models. There was a new engine option for non-SHO models, a 2.0L EcoBoost inline-4 developing up to 240&nbsp;hp and 270&nbsp;lb-ft of torque while delivering a best-in-class 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. All models received upgrades to the steering and braking systems to improve driveability, including standard [[torque vectoring]] and curve control, improving tracking at higher speeds. Updates to the instrument dials were added, which were fully digital, clearer, and more colorful. [[MyFord Touch]] was added as part of Taurus's [[Ford Sync|Sync]] system.<ref>{{cite web|first= Steven J. | last = Ewing |url=http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/20/new-york-2011-2013-ford-taurus-and-taurus-sho-bow-in-the-big-ap/ |title=New York 2011: 2013 Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO bow in the Big Apple |publisher=Autoblog.com |access-date=December 27, 2011}}</ref>

===Discontinuation (North America)===
On April 25, 2018, Ford announced plans to discontinue the Taurus (along with the [[Ford Fiesta|Fiesta]], [[Ford Focus|Focus]], and [[Ford Fusion (Americas)|Fusion]]), in order to focus more on its line of trucks and SUVs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2018/04/25/ford-kill-fusion-taurus-and-fiesta-cars/552148002/|title=Ford to kill Fusion, Taurus and Fiesta cars|work=[[USA Today]] |access-date=April 26, 2018|language=en|first =J.C. | last=Reindl|date=25 April 2018|via=Detroit Free Press}}</ref> The announcement was part of a plan by Ford Motor Company to cut costs and increase profits. This was in response to a shift in perceived consumer demand towards SUVs and pickup trucks, and away from sedans.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ford-motor-results/ford-posts-higher-quarterly-net-profit-beats-wall-street-estimates-idUSKBN1HW2UH|title=Ford accelerates cost-cutting plan, will drop most U.S. sedans|last=Carey|first=Nick|work=U.S.|access-date=April 26, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> On September 5, 2018, Ford ended all national and promotional advertising (including sales and special offers) for its entire sedan lineup, including the Taurus.<ref>[http://www.autonews.com/article/20180905/RETAIL03/180909886/ford-stops-national-ads-for-sedans-including-fusion-still-in?X-IgnoreUserAgent=1 "Ford stops national ads for sedans, including Fusion still in production"] from Automotive News (September 5, 2018)</ref> On March 1, 2019, the last Ford Taurus built in the United States rolled off of the assembly line at the Ford Chicago plant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2019/03/01/ford-marks-end-of-taurus-production-legacy-of-innovation.html|title=Ford Marks End of Taurus Production|website=Ford Motor Company Media|access-date=March 3, 2019}}</ref> At its demise it cost $28,000.<ref name="wolfstreet.com"/>

==Seventh generation (2016)==
{{Main|Ford Taurus (China)}}
[[File:Ford Taurus 01 China 2016-04-12.jpg|thumb|Ford Taurus]]
[[File:Ford Taurus 03 China 2016-04-12.jpg|thumb|Ford Taurus]]
The seventh generation of the Ford Taurus was introduced at the [[Shanghai Auto Show#2015|2015 Shanghai Auto Show]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.leftlanenews.com/shanghai-live-2016-ford-taurus-88256.html|title=Shanghai LIVE: 2016 Ford Taurus}}</ref>  Unrelated to the previous six generations, the seventh generation was developed by [[Changan Ford Automobile Co., Ltd.|Changan Ford]] in conjunction with [[Ford Australia|Ford of Australia]].  Serving as the flagship of the Changan Ford joint venture, the Taurus is an extended-wheelbase variant of the [[Ford Fusion (Americas)|Ford Fusion]] ([[Ford Mondeo (fourth generation)|Mondeo]]), differing primarily in its 3.9-inch longer wheelbase and formal rear roofline.

Manufactured since November 2015, Changan Ford produces its version of the Taurus in its [[Hangzhou]] facility.  Produced solely for the [[Automotive industry in China|Chinese market]], there are currently no considerations towards export of the model line.<ref name=":0" />

Derived from the [[Ford CD4 platform]], the seventh-generation Taurus shares its platform architecture with the Ford Fusion and the Lincoln Continental. The standard engine is a [[Ford EcoBoost engine#2.0 L (2010–2015)|2.0L EcoBoost]] inline-4 (an option for the sixth-generation Taurus) and a [[Ford EcoBoost engine#2.7 L Nano|2.7L EcoBoost]] V6 (used in the Fusion and Lincoln Continental); a 6-speed automatic is paired to both engines.   {{Clear}}

==Eighth generation (2023)==
{{Main|Ford Mondeo (fifth generation)}}
[[File:Ford Taurus 2023 (Front end, GCC Market).jpg|thumb|Ford Taurus Titanium]]
The fifth-generation Ford Mondeo is marketed in [[GCC countries|GCC]] countries as the Ford Taurus, replacing the Chinese-sourced Taurus.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Foote |first1=Brett |title=All-New Ford Taurus Debuts As Rebadged Mondeo For The Middle East |url=https://fordauthority.com/2022/04/all-new-ford-taurus-debuts-as-rebadged-mondeo-for-the-middle-east/ |access-date=26 May 2022}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==Sales==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Calendar year
! Taurus (US)
! Police interceptor<br />sedan (US)
|-
| 1999<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theautochannel.com/news/press/date/20010103/press033466.html |title=Ford Motor Company Sets New Full Year U.S. Sales Record |publisher=Theautochannel.com |access-date=April 28, 2009}}</ref>
| 368,327
| rowspan=13 {{n/a}}
|-
| 2000
| 382,035
|-
| 2001<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.ford.com/pdf/Dec2002sales.pdf |title=Ford Motor Company's December U.S. Sales Climb 8.2 Percent |publisher=Ford Motor Company |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430101525/http://media.ford.com/pdf/Dec2002sales.pdf |archive-date=April 30, 2011 }}</ref>
| 353,560
|-
| 2002<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2004/01/05/175829.html |title=Ford's F-Series Truck Caps 22nd Year in a Row as America's Best-Selling Vehicle With a December Sales Record |publisher=Theautochannel.com |date=November 17, 2004 |access-date=April 28, 2009}}</ref>
| 332,690
|-
| 2003
| 300,496
|-
| 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/01/04/204860.html |title=Ford Achieves First Car Sales Increase Since 1999 |publisher=Theautochannel.com |date=November 17, 2004 |access-date=April 28, 2009}}</ref>
| 248,148
|-
| 2005
| 196,919
|-
| 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.ford.com/article_download.cfm?article_id=27379 |title=Ford Motor Company 2007 sales |date=January 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212180838/http://media.ford.com/article_download.cfm?article_id=27379 |archive-date=February 12, 2009 }}</ref>
| 174,803
|-
| 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.ford.com/images/10031/dec08sales.pdf |title=F-Series drives Ford to higher market share for third consecutive month |date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=Ford Motor Company |access-date=May 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206054304/http://media.ford.com/images/10031/dec08sales.pdf |archive-date=February 6, 2009 }}</ref>
| 68,178
|-
| 2008
| 52,667
|-
| 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=31604 |title=FORD CAPS 2009 WITH 33 PERCENT SALES INCREASE, FIRST FULL-YEAR MARKET SHARE GAIN SINCE 1995 {{pipe}} Ford Motor Company Newsroom |publisher=Media.ford.com |date=January 5, 2010 |access-date=December 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826033739/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=31604 |archive-date=August 26, 2010 }}</ref>
| 45,617
|-
| 2010<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=33704 |title=FORD'S 2010 SALES UP 19 PERCENT – LARGEST INCREASE OF ANY FULL-LINE AUTOMAKER; FOUNDATION SET FOR GROWTH IN 2011 {{pipe}} Ford Motor Company Newsroom |publisher=Media.ford.com |date=January 4, 2011 |access-date=December 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902084030/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=33704 |archive-date=September 2, 2011 }}</ref>
| 68,859
|-
| 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Dec11sales.pdf |title=2011 Ford Brand Sales up 17 Percent for the Year in U.S. |publisher=Media.ford.com |date=January 4, 2012 |access-date=January 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131003153/http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Dec11sales.pdf |archive-date=January 31, 2012 }}</ref>
| 63,526
|-
| 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Dec12sales.pdf |title=Ford Cars, Utilities and Trucks All Post U.S. Sales Gains in 2012 |publisher=Media.ford.com |date=January 3, 2013 |access-date=January 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123110331/http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Dec12sales.pdf |archive-date=January 23, 2013 }}</ref>
| 66,066
| 8,309
|-
| 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North%20America/US/2014/01/december13sales.pdf |title=Ford Motor Company Delivers Best Sales Year Since 2006|publisher=Media.ford.com |date=January 3, 2014 |access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref>
| 69,063
| 10,897
|-
| 2014<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jan 5, 2015 |title=Ford Posts Best U.S. December Sales Results since 2005; Ford Once Again Best-Selling Brand and Best-Selling Vehicle |url=https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North%20America/US/2015/01/05/december2014sales.pdf |access-date=Sep 8, 2022 |website=Ford News}}</ref>
| 52,395
| 10,234
|-
| 2015<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jan 5, 2016 |title=New Products Make Ford America's Best-Selling Brand for Sixth Straight Year; F-Series No. 1 Vehicle for 34th Year |url=https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North%20America/US/2016/01/05/december2015sales.pdf |access-date=Sep 8, 2022 |website=Ford News}}</ref>
| 39,051
| 9,765
|-
| 2016<ref>{{cite web |url=https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North%20America/US/2017/01/04/December-2016-Sales-Release-with-tables.pdf |title=Ford U.S. December Retail Sales up 5 Percent – a 12-Year High; Ford America's Best-Selling Brand for Seventh Year|publisher=Media.ford.com |date=January 4, 2017 |access-date=January 6, 2017}}</ref>
| 34,626
| 9,472
|-
| 2017<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jan 3, 2018 |title=Ford SUVs Post Record Sales While F-Series Marks 41 Years as America's Best-Selling Pickup; Ford Achieves 8th Consecutive Year as the Country's Favorite Brand |url=https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North%20America/US/2018/01/03/dec17-sales.pdf |access-date=Sep 8, 2022 |website=Ford News}}</ref>
| 33,242
| 7,994
|-
| 2018<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jan 3, 2019 |title=Ford F-Series Marks 42 Straight Years as America's Best-Selling Pickup, Topping 900,000 Sold in 2018; Ford Hits Nine Straight Years as America's Best-Selling Brand; Lincoln SUV Sales Up |url=https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North%20America/US/2019/01/03/sales-dec-18.pdf |access-date=Sep 8, 2022 |website=Ford News}}</ref>
| 28,706
| 7,382
|-
| 2019<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jan 6, 2020 |title=F-Series Hits 43rd Straight Year as America's Best-Selling Pickup; Ford Achieves 10 Straight Years of Leadership as America's Best-Selling Brand; Lincoln SUV Sales Best in 16 Years |url=https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North%20America/US/2020/01/06/sales-4q2019.pdf |access-date=Sep 8, 2022 |website=Ford News}}</ref>
| 9,924
| 3,427
|-
| Total
| 2,988,898
| 67,480
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Ford Taurus models]]
* [[Ford Taurus SHO]]
* [[Ford Police Interceptor]]
* [[Ford Taurus X]]
* [[Mercury Sable]]
* [[Ford Five Hundred]]

==References and footnotes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category inline}}

{{Ford Taurus}}
{{Ford vehicles}}
{{Ford United States & Canada timeline 1980 to present}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ford Taurus| ]]
[[Category:1980s cars]]
[[Category:1990s cars]]
[[Category:2000s cars]]
[[Category:2010s cars]]
[[Category:All-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:Cars discontinued in 2019]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1986]]
[[Category:Flexible-fuel vehicles]]
[[Category:Ford vehicles|Taurus]]
[[Category:Front-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:Full-size vehicles]]
[[Category:Mid-size cars]]
[[Category:Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States]]
[[Category:Police vehicles]]
[[Category:Sedans]]
[[Category:Station wagons]]