tcob Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 It's almost like it fell off a cliff . Nobody knows if or when it's coming . Nothing on Ford .com with the other future vehicles. Is this thing DOA or what ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Everything is leaning toward the Taurus being phased out for sale to the public. They stopped sale of it in Canada and Ford rather use the production capability to build Explorers. I'd venture to say 2017 will most likely be the last year of production, unless something comes out in Chicago or NY auto show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 The U.S. version was cancelled - it's only going to China now. They may drop it altogether or they may wait for a new sedan based on the new CD6 platform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Didn't realized it had been cancelled in Canada. With Fusion sport about to be available with pretty much the same interior space it really doesn't make sense. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stentgraft95 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I know big Al has moved on but I'm a little surprise they didn't recycle the name given Mulally's reaction when he arrived at Ford and found out they quit making the Taurus. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Huh? They haven't killed the old one yet. They could still keep the name on a new vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mettech Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Sure would like to see a Thunderbird as the flagship replacement.. Looking for a full size touring car soon.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Semi-related news... Hyundai Azera is supposedly bowing out after 2017 model year, which would mean Kia Cadenza will go away too. Hyundai Genesis is being redefined as luxury car so it is also leaving the fullsize sedan segment. And earlier news that Mary is keen on killing off Impala after the current iteration runs its course and Dodge Charger supposedly will be downsized with Barracuda if it lives at all. Toyota Avalon, Buick Lacrosse, and Chrysler 300 look to be the final survivors of the non-luxury brand fullsize sedan cage match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Sure would like to see a Thunderbird as the flagship replacement.. Looking for a full size touring car soon.. It's clear that it's not going to be done unless it can share a platform and production capacity without impacting higher volume/higher margin vehicles. China and Australia *might* provide additional volume. I still think a longer wheelbase Fusion would sell just as well as a CD4 Taurus. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 (edited) I still think a longer wheelbase Fusion would sell just as well as a CD4 Taurus.After comparing the internal dimensions of the latest Fusion against the older 2006 Taurus,I was shocked to see that hip, shoulder and rear leg room dimensions were almost identical. Last years production of D3 aTaurus wa over 74K including PI and exports but no retail sales in Canada. I think the case for another large car hinges on leveraging CD4 production in the right plants and clearly Ford is stretched making Enough Explorers now so some reorganisation is going to be at the centre of which products go where, Taurus replacement is down the list of priorities but I bet Ford has not forgotten it Edited January 29, 2016 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StangBang Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I see absolutely no point of the Taurus anymore since the interior space is nearly identical to the Fusion. People wanting more space are buying CUV's anyway that Ford cannot sell enough of. Let the Taurus go I say. Let's see how much longer Fusion and Focus sedan sales hold up before they disappear as well, to be ultimatelyreplaced by more CUV's. The all American family car has undeniably turned into the CUV! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehaase Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 (edited) After seeing the new Honda Civic, Ford really needs to get its act together on the next Focus, or I could see it going the way of the Dodge Dart in North America. (The current car is perfect for Europe.) It needs a roomier interior, reliable automatic transmission, and better fuel economy. Edited January 30, 2016 by ehaase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I see absolutely no point of the Taurus anymore since the interior space is nearly identical to the Fusion. People wanting more space are buying CUV's.... The all American family car has undeniably turned into the CUV! And that's how Ford lost the car market the first time because "everyone" wanted SUV's at the time and wouldn't fix the problem with the cars. The current Taurus biggest problem is interior space (as is the Fusion matches the Taurus in space), that's it. Lacrosse, Impala, Charger and 300 still sale and make a profit with CUVs in the lineups, Ford forgot to do that in fullsize cars?. At this point at least offer the a N/A built, Chinese Taurus if a CD6, rwd replacement isn't in the cards. Yes, CUV numbers are great but don't completely ignore a market because such short outlooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 (edited) The earlier malibu's sales were OK until Cruze arrived, that in turn required GM to make the malibu larger by using Impala/laCrosse wheelbase. By doing that, GM has moved its mid sized cars much closer to its full sized cars. That in turn may cause a lot of Impala buyers to switch to the more cost efficient Malibu There is a place for the new Taurus in both domestic/LEV and export sales, Ford produced 74,000 of them last year so combining a new more efficient taurus with the new CD4 platform is a no brainer, especially if Explorer switches too and what's even better, the basic design work is already done, all that's needed is to incorporate it under supplier contracts.. The best place to build a new Taurus would be Oakville when the Flex and MKT finish. Building Taurus there would allow that side of the plant to have around 6k to 7K/mth production and enable exports not only to the Middle east but to other regions like Australia where it could replace Falcon sales - performance versions with 2.7 EB or 3.5 EB are highly valued. Edited January 30, 2016 by jpd80 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehaase Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Well, it appears at this time that the return on investment for a CD4 Taurus isn't sufficient for Ford to build and sell it here. I guess that the smart people at Ford think there are better ways to invest their money. (Of course, some people on other forums get upset if people refer to the Continental as a tarted up Fusion). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 I still think a longer wheelbase Fusion would sell just as well as a CD4 Taurus. what are you trying to say here? The Chinese Taurus is a long wheelbase Fusion. Not 100% if its wider or not. Most larger FWD sedans are just bigger/wider versions of their mid-sized brethren these days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Of course, some people on other forums get upset if people refer to the Continental as a tarted up Fusion. And if you ask some people who work at FRAP, they'll tell you we will be building less of those than we do Fusions every day. That was an actual quote I heard today, people actually believe that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 what are you trying to say here? The Chinese Taurus is a long wheelbase Fusion. Not 100% if its wider or not. Most larger FWD sedans are just bigger/wider versions of their mid-sized brethren these days He's saying literally just stretch a Fusion by adding a few inches to the back seat, rather than the completely different body/interior of the Chinese Taurus. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Right - same Fusion sheetmetal rather than a completely different design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Well, it appears at this time that the return on investment for a CD4 Taurus isn't sufficient for Ford to build and sell it here. Or that the timing of D3 product cycle makes introducing a CD4 Taurus pointless at the moment, no need to change Taurus until other associated product cycles change..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Right - same Fusion sheetmetal rather than a completely different design. Here's a thought, slightly lengthen Fusion's wheelbase by let's say 2" to 114", that would make rear leg room 40" and a car that straddles both markets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2b2 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 (edited) it'd need a bigger trunk too, right? C&D April 2013 Edited January 31, 2016 by 2b2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 it'd need a bigger trunk too, right? C&D April 2013 That was a Taurus mule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 (edited) Taurus, Flex, and MKT will be discontinued in the next 12-18 months with no nameplate successors. We should get an official announcement on the MKT and Flex very shortly. Taurus will likely leave retail before it's discontinued entirely. Fusion is positioned smartly to soften the loss of Taurus, at least among the customers Ford cares about (Sport and Platinum). All carmakers will be exiting the large sedan market before the end of the decade, it's a deceased/obsolete segment effectively replaced by mid sizers or crossovers and is shrinking dramatically in a peak market (so it doesn't get better from here). Midsize cars have also peaked so that segment will be facing declines in earnings and volume as that segment also quickly transitions to crossovers. Ford is already scaling back future Fusion product by eliminating production at FRAP at the end of the current product cycle. I don't think there is anyway to overemphasize the permanent change over to new nameplate crossovers from top to bottom, it really is a complete form factor change for mainstream vehicles. I still think people see Crossovers like they view SUVs from decades ago, they now come in a huge blurred array of sizes and options with plenty of cost effective and fuel-sipping options that won't be threatened by fluctuations in gas prices or the economy. Effectively, nobody is going "back" to anything, they never do and they certainly don't have to now. Edited January 31, 2016 by BORG 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Taurus, Flex, and MKT will be discontinued in the next 12-18 months with no nameplate successors. We should get an official announcement on the MKT and Flex very shortly. Taurus will likely leave retail before it's discontinued entirely. Fusion is positioned smartly to soften the loss of Taurus, at least among the customers Ford cares about (Sport and Platinum). All carmakers will be exiting the large sedan market before the end of the decade, it's a deceased/obsolete segment effectively replaced by mid sizers or crossovers and is shrinking dramatically in a peak market (so it doesn't get better from here). Midsize cars have also peaked so that segment will be facing declines in earnings and volume as that segment also quickly transitions to crossovers. Ford is already scaling back future Fusion product by eliminating production at FRAP at the end of the current product cycle. I don't think there is anyway to overemphasize the permanent change over to new nameplate crossovers from top to bottom, it really is a complete form factor change for mainstream vehicles. I still think people see Crossovers like they view SUVs from decades ago, they now come in a huge blurred array of sizes and options with plenty of cost effective and fuel-sipping options that won't be threatened by fluctuations in gas prices or the economy. Effectively, nobody is going "back" to anything, they never do and they certainly don't have to now. Correction: Fusion production at FRAP ends on 2/26/16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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