Comments on: New Ford Taurus Spy Shot Revealed

By: omnivore

omnivore — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:27:22 +0000

I don’t think this is technically an evolution of the Mondeo … according to the Edmunds article linked up-thread, the Mondeo is more nearly the size of the Fusion. I think they’re just evolving the Mondeo’s look, not its platform. More’s the pity.

By: daryn

daryn — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:28:14 +0000

Dear Ford,

Please – for the love of god – do yourself a favor and build this car.

By: Lichtronamo

Lichtronamo — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:18:14 +0000

You look at this and wonder why J Mays still have their jobs as it clearly rejects the VW/audiesqe mingled with Red White and Blue styling direction set forth by Mays. Martin Smith’s kinetic design is clearly the world wide direction of Alan Mullaly’s One Ford plan.

By: dwford

dwford — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:27:26 +0000

I’m surprised Ford hasn’t got to you yet…

By: SherbornSean

SherbornSean — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:00:10 +0000

That is one big Lancer.

By: hwyhobo

hwyhobo — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:35:20 +0000

The louvers are gone, the louvers are gone!

Since this is a European Mondeo evolution, how about the same body styles Mondeo can be had in, like wagon? And how about a CDI engine?

By: postjosh

postjosh — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:31:55 +0000

it’s just nice to read bob saying something positive about ford after all that tough love!

the nice thing about the current taurus is that it’s just a skosh bigger than camcord.

By: Pch101

Pch101 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:09:34 +0000

Looks a lot like the new Falcon to me. Which isn’t a bad thing at all, but it may not be enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_-02oZJTKE

By: jgh

jgh — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:06:18 +0000

Ford shouldn’t waste time or money with legal eagles chasing spy photos – instead they need to get off their hands and BUILD THAT CAR as fast as humanly possible.

The 5-hundy, while far from a looker, was a great car to drive with excellent packaging. The Taurus re-dux put braces on (and forgot to take them off), did a hack nose-job on it, but at least gave it a good ticker. Unfortunately, my opinion is it looks hodge-podge at best.

If this is the Taurus to come, package it as well as the current one, keep the underpinnings and power the same, and build it yesterday already.

By: Adub

Adub — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:43:41 +0000

The car looks way better than what Honda and Toyota are trying to sell. If they can get the reskin out quick, they’ll make some sales. The current Gilette Mach 3 look is terrible!

By: Suto

Suto — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:32:59 +0000

Headlights look like a squintier Sonata (which looked like an Audi) Overall front shape looks a little like a Mazda 6, with maybe a Legacy grill. Not too offensive. I still remember seeing the original Taurus in the Robocop poster and thinking “Wow, that police car looks like a spaceship!” Of course, I was 5.

By: TriShield

TriShield — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:24:57 +0000

Jalopnik is the first place that got a hold of this image and it spread like wildfire since.

I think the car looks an awful lot like the European Ford Mondeo, which is a good thing. It’s also packing a turbocharged V6 and will offer AWD.

If Ford can make the interior look as nice as it’s Aussie and European offerings and nix the snot green illumination for Ford blue they’ll really have something on their hands.

By: Sajeev Mehta

Sajeev Mehta — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:24:38 +0000

That’s sharp! The Euro-Ford connection is pretty obvious. A SHO with EcoBoost and AWD sounds like a much cooler ride than an Avalon, Maxima, etc.

Still, this won’t bring back the 1980s. When the D3 first arrived, Ford made the move to split the original Bull’s market in two, and unless the Fusion disappears, its not gonna be that big of a hit.

But this looks like a good offering for a segmented market. (that’s partially segmented because of Ford itself)

By: 86er

86er — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:17:09 +0000

v65magnafan1

OK. I might be the last remaining Crown Vic fan in existence.

You most certainly are not.

Antone

If they get the interior ergonomics and fit-and-finish correct, along with a refined 4 cylinder… they may have a volume hit.

A 4 in a car this size? That is what the Fusion is for. This vehicle’s intended competition is the Avalons and Maximas of the world.

By: Jeff Puthuff

Jeff Puthuff — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:08:51 +0000

I agree with chip—it’s an evolution of the Mondeo. Look at the hood crease where it meets the A pillar. And see how the C pillar stretches behind the rear wheel. Not a bad design in the least. But, the big if is this is truly the next Taurus…

By: N85523

N85523 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:08:03 +0000

Hmmm, Jalopnik looks to have had this or a similar photo up only to be requested removed by Ford.

By: Steve_S

Steve_S — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:40:12 +0000

I like it.

By: bunkie

bunkie — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:29:21 +0000

Bangle isn’t the only original designer. The Cadillac folks certainly have their own design language, one that lots of people like.

By: guyincognito

guyincognito — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:28:44 +0000

Its a much better front end than the current design, but it still has the same profile, the same proportions and what looks to be the same rear end. I highly doubt anyone in the market for this vehicle could distinguish it from the previous design. Although since no one is in the market for a current Taurus maybe some marketing could generate some sales for this…

By: Domestic Hearse

Domestic Hearse — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:21:25 +0000

Not bad.

As all have stated, derivative, but in many good ways.

Is it a “game changer” in the way the original Taurus was? Will it “save the company” like the first edition Taurus?

No.

The original Taurus – love it or hate it – made you look. Made you take notice. Made you form an opinion. And made many people buy.

The original Taurus had a completely new design language and it wasn’t long until other manufacturer’s design studios cribbing it!

The original was out front when introduced, this one (while better than the current Taurus nee Five-Hundred), is still mid-pack.

By: chip

chip — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:19:50 +0000

It’s simply a Ford Mondeo you silly rabbit!

http://tinyurl.com/58bx7y

By: The Luigiian

The Luigiian — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:09:31 +0000

Looks really nice. The front reminds me a little bit (not much, but a little bit) of the Ford Interceptor concept. It looks like it’s a bit manly in its styling. If it’s got a good engine and interior, it’ll be a hit.

By: mxfive4

mxfive4 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:03:39 +0000

This is the current market:
– people bash a $60+k Jaguar because it has hints of Aston Martin
– people bash a $70k Volkswagen because it looked like big Passat
– People love the the “new” Challenger because it looks like the old Challenger
– Just a few months ago people were complaining that the new Accord looked like bits of a BMW and a Hyundai

Let’s face it the most original designer out there is Chris Bangle and no one likes his work (we ll at least his recent work).

There is very little “original” design these days, and what little there there is we don’t generally have a taste for.

By: Hank

Hank — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:00:48 +0000

Looks good.

By: golden2husky

golden2husky — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:59:59 +0000

Dump the front fender vents; Already way to played out. Looks good otherwise. Provide a variety of powerplants and two trans choices with each (yes a manual, not a manumatic), thank you. Also offer a SHO replacement, and allow the best suspension to be had with the high mileage engine, not just the hipo engine. And while I am not exactly a Ford guy, I am willing to at least look before automatically dismissing it.