1992 - 1995 Ford Taurus - Aspiring to Mediocrity
Ford's Taurus, the automotive equivalent to Wonder bread, isn't such a bad car on the surface. Sure it's no European sports sedan, but in its second generation the "Quality is Job 1" team improved almost every aspect.
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| Despite complaints that Ford didn't go far enough in its redesign, this 1992 Ford Taurus 4 Dr LX sedan is quite modern in appearance compared to the previous generation. (Photo: Ford Motor) |
Attempting to hold on to its number one North American sales status Ford spent USD$650 million, the equivalent of CAD$905 million at today's rather robust exchange rate, upgrading the Taurus and Sable sibling for the 1992 model year. The end product was a sleeker, more polished looking car that was quick to win over the Ford faithful and a few expatriates to boot.
While the redesign was subtle, adding about 50 mm (2 in) to its overall length, it did the trick. The headlights were slimmer and rounded on their inner edges, looking more flush mounted than the previous lenses. Gone was the giant gap under the lower lip of the hood, replaced with a cleaner, comparatively seamless appearance.
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| This 1996 Taurus LX shows the differences from old to new. (Photo: Ford Motor) |
A similar refining treatment transformed the car's backside as well, narrowing the taillights while reshaping them to appear more distinct than the previous car. The rear window was raked steeply in an attempt to give it a racier appearance. All the trim was made body-color too, including the nicely integrated bumpers that now wrapped around to flow directly into the bodyside moulding, immediately elevating the dollar value quotient.