| Ford's 2008 Taurus X has one of the roomiest, most versatile interiors of any people-mover on the market today, and it's ideally suited as a family vehicle, with a great ride and a powerful engine. With straight five-star crash test results, the Freestyle was already ranked one of the safest cars on the road, too; as the Taurus X, with several safety improvements, it can only get better. |
| The 2008 Ford Taurus X has one of the roomiest interiors of any vehicle its size, with three rows of versatile seating, and it's available in six- or seven-passenger configurations. With a special "stadium style" seating arrangement, the third-row occupants sit higher up than the second row, affording better visibility and more legroom than they would otherwise have.
With the second and third rows folded flat, the Taurus X provides more than 85 cubic feet of cargo space. Furthermore, the front passenger seat folds flat to fit items up to nine feet long.
A 263-horsepower, 3.5L Duratec 35 V6 engine delivers almost 30 percent more power than the previous engine, and is now matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. A new intelligent all-wheel drive system is optional and can send up to 100 percent of torque to the front or rear wheels; the system can anticipate which wheels need more power, in some conditions, before they slip.
Safety is a strong point for the Taurus X, which carries top five-star results in federal frontal and side crash tests. Seat-deployed side air bags protect the driver and passenger, and safety canopy side curtain air bags are there for outward occupants in all three rows. AdvanceTrac electronic stability control is standard on all Taurus Xs, along with anti-lock brakes.
The Taurus X is available in base SEL, Eddie Bauer, and top Limited trims. Standard equipment on the SEL includes keyless entry, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, a roof rack, a power driver's seat, leather trim for the steering wheel and shift knob, and a CD sound system with auxiliary input.
The Eddie Bauer model adds a unique two-tone paint scheme, 18-inch alloy wheels, wiper-activated headlamps, and special badging, while the top Limited brings 18-inch bright aluminum wheels, heated power mirrors with puddle lamps, heated front power seats, woodgrain trim, adjustable pedals, a reverse sensing system, the top Audiophile sound system with six-disc changer, and Sync, a voice-activated hand-free interface system for mobile phones and media players using Bluetooth and USB.
Major options include a voice-activated navigation system, Sirius satellite radio, a DVD player with eight-inch screen. There's also an available power rear liftgate, with controls in the center console, rear cargo area, and on the key fob. |
| Formerly called the Freestyle, the 2008 Ford Taurus X carries over as essentially the same vehicle but with a more powerful 3.5L V6 engine and new six-speed automatic transmission, yielding dramatically improved acceleration, according to Ford. A new version of the intelligent all-wheel drive system also debuts for 2008. Last year's CVT automatic has been discontinued.
All Taurus X models now have standard AdvanceTrac electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes, and new footwell reinforcements, side-impact crash sensors, and redesigned interior door panels improve crash protection. |