2008 Ford Taurus

Changes to the new Taurus from the existing Five Hundred include a newly styled front end, with the signature 3-bar chrome grille from the Fusion, and the addition of the 265 hp 3.5 L Cyclone engine from the Ford Edge, replacing the 203 hp 3.0 L V6. The Five Hundred's continuously variable transmission, which was power-limited to a maximum of about 210 hp, is also replaced with a more conventional six-speed automatic. The similarly facelifted Freestyle will be renamed the Taurus X. The Taurus X will also drop the CVT transmission and 3.0 L V6 used in the Freestyle in favor of the 3.5 L engine and six-speed 6F automatic. The Taurus sedan twin, the Mercury Sable nameplate, will also be revived from the Mercury Montego. The 2008 Ford Taurus will have a base price of $23,245 (for the SEL front-wheel drive model) to $28,695 (for the Limited all-wheel drive model).