Ford Taurus X
Encyclopedia
The Ford Taurus X was a 6- or 7-passenger full-size crossover SUV
that was produced by Ford Motor Company
in the United States. It was originally introduced in 2005 as the Ford Freestyle, before being renamed Taurus X for the 2008 model year. In Ford's lineup, it replaced the Ford Taurus
station wagon. The Taurus X ended production on February 27, 2009, as it was slotted between the Flex
(with which it competed directly) and the upcoming fifth generation Explorer starting 2011 sales year. It was sold in the United States
and Canada
, as well as South Korea
and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico
, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam
.
.
The vehicle used the Ford D3 platform
, which it shared with the Ford Five Hundred
, Mercury Montego
, and various Volvos
including the XC90
. Although it shared its platform with the XC90, the two vehicles were significantly different. The Freestyle had three rows of seats with seating for seven, like many large SUVs (e.g. Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition) and minivan
s. The Freestyle featured what Ford describes as "command seating," seating with a higher H-point
, to increase driver visibility
and ease of entry and exit. Power came from a 3.0 L (181 cu in) Duratec V6, with an output of 203 hp at 5750 rpm.
The Freestyle, along with the Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, and the Ford Escape Hybrid, were the first American Ford vehicles to use a continuously variable transmission
(CVT). The Five Hundred and Montego used a belt type CVT, while the Escape Hybrid used a CVT transaxle that utilized a planetary gearset controlled by the electric generator, similar to the Toyota Prius. All Freestyles were equipped with the CVT, but only all-wheel drive (AWD) Five Hundred and Montego models used the CVT (FWD versions used an Aisin F21++ six speed automatic). To Ford's surprise, 55% of buyers selected the Haldex Traction-equipped all-wheel drive model rather than the expected 40%. However, initial Freestyle sales were below Ford's original projections, though sales were showing steady improvement. Some buyers selected the Freestyle as an alternative to the best selling Ford Explorer
.
The Freestyle was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year
award for 2005 (second behind Escape Hybrid).
Models:
SE: Offered only for one year (2006-2007) and not proven to be popular other than for use in rental fleets nationwide, it included basic features such as an A/M-F/M stereo with single-disc CD/MP3 player and four speakers, keyless entry, and steel wheels with hubcaps.
SEL: Offered from 2005-2007, the SEL model had the features of the SE plus the option of leather seating, rear DVD, and an A/M-F/M stereo with a six-disc CD/MP3 changer and seven premium Audiophile speakers. It also offered optional 2nd-row captain's chairs and a standard 3rd-row bench. It also had 17" tires with alloy wheels. The option of two-tone exterior paint was offered.
Limited: Offered from 2005-2007, the Limited model had all the features of the SEL plus standard leather seating, seven speakers, and standard 2nd-row captain's chairs. It also offered monotone paint.
as a 2008 model, alongside its siblings the Ford Taurus
and Mercury Sable
, re-badged, restyled versions of the Ford Five Hundred
and Mercury Montego
.
Ford CEO Alan Mulally said that Ford's scheme to make all its cars names start with the letter F was a bad move, as it made Ford's new cars easily forgettable. As a result of this issue being addressed, the Ford Freestyle was renamed the Taurus X, the Ford Five Hundred
was renamed the Ford Taurus
, and the Mercury Montego
was renamed the Mercury Sable
.
The design of the Taurus X closely resembled that of its former sibling, the Ford Edge
, creating a family face for its crossover segment. The Taurus X made the use of Ford
's new corporate grille, featuring three horizontal, chrome bars with center mounted blue oval. At the time, the Taurus X also offered an Eddie Bauer trim-line, similar to that of the Ford Explorer
. The vehicle, like its predecessor, features three rows of seats with seating for seven, like many large SUVs.
The Taurus X used the Ford D3 platform
and an updated powertrain, which included the discontinuation of the CVT transmission
previously used by the Freestyle, as well as the 3.0 L V6 in favor of the newly developed six-speed 6F
automatic
as well as the all-new 3.5 L Duratec 35
V6
which put out 263 hp at 6250 rpm. The vehicle also received new power options, including power-folding second-row seats and a power lift gate.
As of 2011, the Ford Explorer
has replaced the Freestyle as a midsized crossover SUV. It is based on the updated Ford Taurus
platform that moved it to a full-sized 4-door sedan. Unfortunately, the EcoBoost engine seen in the Taurus SHO is not offered in the Explorer. However, a Police Interceptor CUV is offered in place of the Ford Explorer Police Interceptor, following the Ford Taurus Police Interceptor that uses the EcoBoost engine. Both vehicles feature the updated 3.5L V6 engine that has 305 horsepower plus a six-speed automatic transmission and 4X2 or 4X4 options. It also offers the EcoBoost 2.0L I4 engine, which is not offered on the Base (Explorer) model.
Models:
SEL: The SEL was the base model Ford Taurus X offered for a year (2008-2009). It had cloth seating, optional Ford SYNC, Bluetooth, and alloy wheels.
Eddie Bauer Edition: Following the other SUV's in Ford's lineup, the EB Edition included two-tone unique leather seating, standard Ford SYNC, and standard Pueblo Gold Metallic two-tone exterior paint. It was only offered for 2008.
Limited: Serving as the top-of-the-line Ford Taurus X, the Limited offered all the features of the EB Edition plus chrome-plated alloy wheels and monotone paint. It had 18" tires and wheels.
Like the Freestyle, the Taurus X featured what Ford describes as "command seating," seating with a higher H-point
, to increase driver visibility and ease of entry and exit.
Crossover SUV
A crossover SUV is a vehicle built on a car platform and combining, in highly variable degrees, features of a sport utility vehicle with features from a passenger vehicle, especially those of a station wagon or hatchback.Using the unibody construction typical of passenger vehicles, the crossover...
that was produced by Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
in the United States. It was originally introduced in 2005 as the Ford Freestyle, before being renamed Taurus X for the 2008 model year. In Ford's lineup, it replaced the Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
station wagon. The Taurus X ended production on February 27, 2009, as it was slotted between the Flex
Ford Flex
The Ford Flex is a full-size crossover manufactured by Ford Motor Company. Its styling is based on the Ford Fairlane concept unveiled at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The production vehicle made its debut at the 2007 New York International Auto Show. Sales of the Flex began in...
(with which it competed directly) and the upcoming fifth generation Explorer starting 2011 sales year. It was sold in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, as well as South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
.
2005–2007
Initially going to be called the Ford CrossTrainer in development before adopting the Freestyle name as part of Ford's then-naming strategy of naming all cars with the letter F, the Freestyle was previewed at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show with a Freestyle Concept before entering production for the 2005 model year. The vehicle was assembled at Chicago AssemblyChicago Assembly
Chicago Assembly is Ford Motor Company's oldest continually-operated automobile manufacturing plant. It is located at E. 130th Street and Torrence Avenue in the Hegewisch community area of Chicago, Illinois...
.
The vehicle used the Ford D3 platform
Ford D3 platform
The Ford D3 platform is a Ford global full-size car automobile platform. It was designed by Volvo before the Ford purchase and debuted with the Volvo S80 sedan in early 1999. The platform is designed for either front- or all wheel drive with an extended wheelbase option.-Overview:Ford's D3...
, which it shared with the Ford Five Hundred
Ford Five Hundred
The Ford Five Hundred is a full-size sedan that was produced by the Ford Motor Company during the 2005 to 2007 model years in North America. In North America, the name evoked the classic Fairlane 500 and Galaxie 500 models of the 1950s through 1970s.-Overview:The Five Hundred was introduced at the...
, Mercury Montego
Mercury Montego
The Mercury Montego was a mid-size vehicle in the Mercury line of Ford Motor Company from 1968 to 1976. The namplate first appeared in 1967 in Canada as part of the Mercury-derived Meteor line. After 1976, the basic design of the Montego was updated and the nameplate disappeared as the Cougar...
, and various Volvos
Volvo Cars
Volvo Car Corporation, or Volvo Personvagnar AB, is a Swedish automobile manufacturer founded in 1927, in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Volvo was originally formed as a subsidiary company to the ball bearing maker SKF. When Volvo AB was introduced on the Swedish...
including the XC90
Volvo XC90
The Volvo XC90 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by Volvo Cars since it was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show 2002. It is based on the P2 platform, shared with the first generation Volvo S80 and other large Volvo cars...
. Although it shared its platform with the XC90, the two vehicles were significantly different. The Freestyle had three rows of seats with seating for seven, like many large SUVs (e.g. Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition) and minivan
Minivan
Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
s. The Freestyle featured what Ford describes as "command seating," seating with a higher H-point
H-point
In vehicle design and especially automotive design, the H-point is the theoretical, relative location of an occupant's hip, specifically the pivot point between the torso and upper leg portions of the body, either relative to the floor of the vehicle or relative to the height above pavement level...
, to increase driver visibility
Driver visibility
In transport, driver visibility is the maximum distance at which the driver of a vehicle can see and identify prominent objects around the vehicle. Visibility is primarily determined by weather conditions and by a vehicle's design. The parts of a vehicle that influence visibility include the...
and ease of entry and exit. Power came from a 3.0 L (181 cu in) Duratec V6, with an output of 203 hp at 5750 rpm.
The Freestyle, along with the Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, and the Ford Escape Hybrid, were the first American Ford vehicles to use a continuously variable transmission
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
(CVT). The Five Hundred and Montego used a belt type CVT, while the Escape Hybrid used a CVT transaxle that utilized a planetary gearset controlled by the electric generator, similar to the Toyota Prius. All Freestyles were equipped with the CVT, but only all-wheel drive (AWD) Five Hundred and Montego models used the CVT (FWD versions used an Aisin F21++ six speed automatic). To Ford's surprise, 55% of buyers selected the Haldex Traction-equipped all-wheel drive model rather than the expected 40%. However, initial Freestyle sales were below Ford's original projections, though sales were showing steady improvement. Some buyers selected the Freestyle as an alternative to the best selling Ford Explorer
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a sport-utility vehicle sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990, as a replacement for the smaller but related Ford Bronco II. It is manufactured in Chicago, Illinois...
.
The Freestyle was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year
North American Car of the Year
The North American Car of the Year is an automobile award voted annually in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The jury consists of no more than 50 automotive journalists.-Example:-Pre-1994:-1994-1999:-2000-2009:...
award for 2005 (second behind Escape Hybrid).
Models:
SE: Offered only for one year (2006-2007) and not proven to be popular other than for use in rental fleets nationwide, it included basic features such as an A/M-F/M stereo with single-disc CD/MP3 player and four speakers, keyless entry, and steel wheels with hubcaps.
SEL: Offered from 2005-2007, the SEL model had the features of the SE plus the option of leather seating, rear DVD, and an A/M-F/M stereo with a six-disc CD/MP3 changer and seven premium Audiophile speakers. It also offered optional 2nd-row captain's chairs and a standard 3rd-row bench. It also had 17" tires with alloy wheels. The option of two-tone exterior paint was offered.
Limited: Offered from 2005-2007, the Limited model had all the features of the SEL plus standard leather seating, seven speakers, and standard 2nd-row captain's chairs. It also offered monotone paint.
2008–2009
This vehicle was initially unveiled at the 2007 Chicago Auto ShowChicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is held annually in February at Chicago's McCormick Placeconvention complex. It is among the largest auto shows in North America....
as a 2008 model, alongside its siblings the Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
and Mercury Sable
Mercury Sable
The Sable was a very important sedan for both Mercury and the American auto industry.Ford had lagged in introducing mid-size front wheel drive cars to compete against General Motors' Chevrolet Citation and its best-selling Chevrolet Celebrity/Pontiac 6000/Oldsmobile Cutlass/Buick Century quartet as...
, re-badged, restyled versions of the Ford Five Hundred
Ford Five Hundred
The Ford Five Hundred is a full-size sedan that was produced by the Ford Motor Company during the 2005 to 2007 model years in North America. In North America, the name evoked the classic Fairlane 500 and Galaxie 500 models of the 1950s through 1970s.-Overview:The Five Hundred was introduced at the...
and Mercury Montego
Mercury Montego
The Mercury Montego was a mid-size vehicle in the Mercury line of Ford Motor Company from 1968 to 1976. The namplate first appeared in 1967 in Canada as part of the Mercury-derived Meteor line. After 1976, the basic design of the Montego was updated and the nameplate disappeared as the Cougar...
.
Ford CEO Alan Mulally said that Ford's scheme to make all its cars names start with the letter F was a bad move, as it made Ford's new cars easily forgettable. As a result of this issue being addressed, the Ford Freestyle was renamed the Taurus X, the Ford Five Hundred
Ford Five Hundred
The Ford Five Hundred is a full-size sedan that was produced by the Ford Motor Company during the 2005 to 2007 model years in North America. In North America, the name evoked the classic Fairlane 500 and Galaxie 500 models of the 1950s through 1970s.-Overview:The Five Hundred was introduced at the...
was renamed the Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
, and the Mercury Montego
Mercury Montego
The Mercury Montego was a mid-size vehicle in the Mercury line of Ford Motor Company from 1968 to 1976. The namplate first appeared in 1967 in Canada as part of the Mercury-derived Meteor line. After 1976, the basic design of the Montego was updated and the nameplate disappeared as the Cougar...
was renamed the Mercury Sable
Mercury Sable
The Sable was a very important sedan for both Mercury and the American auto industry.Ford had lagged in introducing mid-size front wheel drive cars to compete against General Motors' Chevrolet Citation and its best-selling Chevrolet Celebrity/Pontiac 6000/Oldsmobile Cutlass/Buick Century quartet as...
.
The design of the Taurus X closely resembled that of its former sibling, the Ford Edge
Ford Edge
The Ford Edge is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by Ford, based on the Ford CD3 platform shared with previous generation Mazda6 and marketed in rebadged form as the Lincoln MKX...
, creating a family face for its crossover segment. The Taurus X made the use of Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
's new corporate grille, featuring three horizontal, chrome bars with center mounted blue oval. At the time, the Taurus X also offered an Eddie Bauer trim-line, similar to that of the Ford Explorer
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a sport-utility vehicle sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990, as a replacement for the smaller but related Ford Bronco II. It is manufactured in Chicago, Illinois...
. The vehicle, like its predecessor, features three rows of seats with seating for seven, like many large SUVs.
The Taurus X used the Ford D3 platform
Ford D3 platform
The Ford D3 platform is a Ford global full-size car automobile platform. It was designed by Volvo before the Ford purchase and debuted with the Volvo S80 sedan in early 1999. The platform is designed for either front- or all wheel drive with an extended wheelbase option.-Overview:Ford's D3...
and an updated powertrain, which included the discontinuation of the CVT transmission
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
previously used by the Freestyle, as well as the 3.0 L V6 in favor of the newly developed six-speed 6F
GM-Ford 6-speed automatic transmission
General Motors and Ford Motor Company cooperated in 2002 to create a new automatic transaxle, designed for transverse engine applications in cars and light trucks...
automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
as well as the all-new 3.5 L Duratec 35
Ford Cyclone engine
The Cyclone engine is Ford Motor Company's latest DOHC V6 family of gasoline engines. It will gradually replace the Mondeo family of V6 engines over the next several years. The first version, a 3.5 L Duratec V6, appeared in September 2006 in the Lincoln MKZ...
V6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
which put out 263 hp at 6250 rpm. The vehicle also received new power options, including power-folding second-row seats and a power lift gate.
As of 2011, the Ford Explorer
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a sport-utility vehicle sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990, as a replacement for the smaller but related Ford Bronco II. It is manufactured in Chicago, Illinois...
has replaced the Freestyle as a midsized crossover SUV. It is based on the updated Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
platform that moved it to a full-sized 4-door sedan. Unfortunately, the EcoBoost engine seen in the Taurus SHO is not offered in the Explorer. However, a Police Interceptor CUV is offered in place of the Ford Explorer Police Interceptor, following the Ford Taurus Police Interceptor that uses the EcoBoost engine. Both vehicles feature the updated 3.5L V6 engine that has 305 horsepower plus a six-speed automatic transmission and 4X2 or 4X4 options. It also offers the EcoBoost 2.0L I4 engine, which is not offered on the Base (Explorer) model.
Models:
SEL: The SEL was the base model Ford Taurus X offered for a year (2008-2009). It had cloth seating, optional Ford SYNC, Bluetooth, and alloy wheels.
Eddie Bauer Edition: Following the other SUV's in Ford's lineup, the EB Edition included two-tone unique leather seating, standard Ford SYNC, and standard Pueblo Gold Metallic two-tone exterior paint. It was only offered for 2008.
Limited: Serving as the top-of-the-line Ford Taurus X, the Limited offered all the features of the EB Edition plus chrome-plated alloy wheels and monotone paint. It had 18" tires and wheels.
Like the Freestyle, the Taurus X featured what Ford describes as "command seating," seating with a higher H-point
H-point
In vehicle design and especially automotive design, the H-point is the theoretical, relative location of an occupant's hip, specifically the pivot point between the torso and upper leg portions of the body, either relative to the floor of the vehicle or relative to the height above pavement level...
, to increase driver visibility and ease of entry and exit.
Yearly American sales
| Calendar Year | Total American sales |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 8,509 |
| 2005 | 76,739 |
| 2006 | 58,602 |
| 2007 | Freestyle:23,765 Taurus X:18,345 |
| 2008 | 23,112 |
| 2009 | 6,106 |