Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossovers/CUVs, Ford
Ford Taurus X to ride off into the sunset in February
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Ford Taurus X
When the Freestyle failed to capture the attention of the crossover-buying public, Ford took action. Designers slapped a three bar grille on the front end, got creative with the headlights and upped the power with a Duratec 3.5L V6 engine. And they changed the Freestyle's name to the Taurus X. Well, either nobody noticed or they just didn't give a damn. Ford is finally set to end the roomy crossover's misery in February 2009 when the last model is built at Ford's Chicago plant. Ford cited in a brief release that ditching the Taurus X will enable the Dearborn-based automaker to focus its attention on the seven-passenger Flex. Since the Flex is both cooler and better than the Taurus X in every way, we'd say that was a good call. Farewell, Taurus X. We'll miss your, uh...13 cup holders.
Gallery: 2008 Ford Taurus X
[Source: Ford]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Flashpoint 11:11AM (12/04/2008)
Ford's got really stupid naming strategy's now.
I totally agreed with them when their SUV's started with E's and had to do with "jouneys":
Excursion, Expedition, Explorer and Escape.
Then everything went to sht and they come up with Freestyle and 500 and Flex.
Then they go back to the old names and make the 500 the new "Taurus" and the Freestyle a "Taurus X"????
Stupid.
Just rename the Freestyle the "Excursion" and stop producing the Explorer or the Flex and decide which vehicle you want to keep - which would likely be the Flex instead of the Explorer.
The new Taurus based on the MKS looks great but the current Taurus is UGLY - like a cop car.
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exkart 12:56PM (12/04/2008)
I like driving them, people move out of the way :)
TJ 3:02PM (12/04/2008)
Jake... a little over the top there, huh?
name calling like that for a single model that made it for only one product cycle? geez..
markholli 11:13AM (12/04/2008)
Oh gosh...I hate goodbyes...
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:15AM (12/04/2008)
I saw one for the first time 3 days ago. I've never seen a Freestyle.
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Torrent 11:19AM (12/04/2008)
taurus who?
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Prestor John 12:37PM (12/04/2008)
Taurus Bulba, Darkwing Duck's most implacable foe.
Jared 11:20AM (12/04/2008)
It is too bad that Ford never really supported the Freestyle with marketing. I think it is a far more attractive than the Flex, and a better choice for most families than an Explorer.
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Gregg 12:27PM (12/04/2008)
To your eye maybe. When I see one on the street (Freestyle or X) it looks dumpy and dated. The car buying public has agreed. The Taurus/Montego/Sable/Freestyle interlude was a voyage too far into the careful and mundane. It even bored minivan owners.
rickhamilton620 12:31PM (12/04/2008)
Agreed, the Taurus X and Freestyle were (and still are) quite competent crossovers, I like to think of it as sort of the modern interpretation of the first gen Honda Odyssey-one of the best kept new car secrets of it's time.
It's just that Ford never marketed the darn things at all.
I only remember one ad for both cars, the bizzare yet endearing "divorce" one from a long time ago:
http://www.slate.com/id/2148392/
And they didn't even keep that one. Sure hope the flex doesn't suffer the same fate.
TJ 12:36PM (12/04/2008)
"first gen Honda Odyssey-one of the best kept new car secrets of it's time."
Which was a copy of the Mazda MPV in and of itself...
cs 1:11PM (12/04/2008)
"Which was a copy of the Mazda MPV in and of itself..."
TJ -
How was the 1995 front wheel drive Accord-based first-gen Honda Odyssey, with a fold-in-floor third row seat, a copy of the 1989 rear wheel drive/available four wheel drive Mazda MPV? Just because they had swing out rear doors?
The 1999 Odyssey was much larger, long wheelbase Chrysler van sized. The front wheel drive 2000 Mazda MPV was about the size of the '95 Odyssey but had sliding doors, and had the in-floor third row and 2nd row seats that were either split or pushed together just like the '99 Odyssey...it was almost like a short wheelbase '99 Odyssey.
Judy Zik 1:29PM (12/04/2008)
Wow that could actually be tempting. Between the sales slump and it's unpopularity come next summer Ford dealers might be just about giving these away. A couple of years later as an unloved orphan it will be a real cheap used car. The styling isn't the most inspiring but I don't find it offensive. The best part would be what's underneath. One of the safest, most solid vehicles ever sold under a Ford badge. Plus basically sharing everything with the Flex and Taurus and the engine being in half the Ford lineup it's not like parts will be hard to get.
TJ 11:20AM (12/04/2008)
Wow, you really change your minds quickly.
"Designers slapped a three bar grille on the front end, got creative with the headlights and upped the power with a Duratec 3.5L V6 engine."
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/13/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-ford-taurus-x-limited/
"Going from Freestyle to Taurus X involved more than than just slapping on a new grille and taillights"
"Farewell, Taurus X. We'll miss your, uh...13 cup holders."
"the design is attractive and functional."
"There's plenty of storage space throughout the interior"
"Getting into the back row is relatively easy thanks to the one-touch flip and fold second row seats"
"The front seats proved to be comfortable for a run from Ann Arbor to Muskegon"
"Taurus X's interior offers a number of configuration options that allow drivers to take advantage of the middle name in CUV"
"Driving the Taurus X was actually a more pleasant experience than the Saturn Outlook we tried recently."
"It feels much stronger and never seems to strain itself. Dipping into the throttle brings effortless acceleration and pulling out to pass triggers smooth quick downshifts from the new six-speed"
"The suspension does a good job of keeping Michigan roads at bay without feeling mushy"
"lane changes on gravel roads showed smooth, seamless operation from the stability control system"
"On the road, the Taurus X was nicely hushed "
"Wind noise was almost nonexistent and the sounds that did come through from the engine compartment were muted and never felt strained."
"A day-long round-trip across Michigan proved to be an effortless run with plenty of room for four to stretch out and no one feeling cramped or particularly cranky at the end."
Yep. You'll miss the cupholders.
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MemphisNET 11:29AM (12/04/2008)
Chris didn't write the review, Sam Abuelsamid did.
MemphisNET 11:30AM (12/04/2008)
Hit enter too fast...
There was nothing wrong with the Tx -- it's just boring and doesn't set itself apart from the competition or from its own family members.
TJ 11:37AM (12/04/2008)
I agree with your assessment about not setting itself apart from other Ford products to the extent necessary.... but going from a good review to what amounts to a good riddance seems a little too schizophrenic...even for a blog with different authors. It shows that Chris has spent little to no seat time in one, and is riding the same misconceptions that have driven it to its grave.
MemphisNET 11:43AM (12/04/2008)
Again, Chris (the contributor of this post) didn't write the review. Sam Abuelsamid did. Just because they're part of the same website doesn't mean they have to share the same view.
SGV 1:09PM (12/04/2008)
As far as I am concerned there is only one Autoblog, and these inconsistencies don't look exactly good. I really couldn't care less who writes the reviews and who writes the obituaries. I would if they would write them Op Ed, but that is not the case.
Excellent call TJ!
Donald 1:49PM (12/04/2008)
Agree with both TJ and SVG. This was a competent vehicle, coming at a time when Detroit has to prove that it can provide competent vehicles. The Freestyle/Taurus X biggest problem was its bland styling.
This isn't the first time Autoblog has posted conflicting views of the same vehicle. Reviews are posted at Autoblog reviews, not reviews of so-and-so author. That goes for any online/print review. And comments of a derisive nature about a car that was lauded in a previous post only furthers questions about the ability of the Autoblog staff to write impartial reviews of vehicles, and whether the reviews written really have any merit, or are just regurgitating the press release the manufacturer provides during a test drive.