Ford Vehicle

Taurus x (New for 2008!) Overall: Five Hundred and Freestyle are updated with new looks, more power and given a new/old name. Drivetrain: The 3.0 is out as is the continuously variable transmission and a new 263-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 is in. It was actually surprising that Ford retired the Taurus nameplate in 2006, replacing it with the Five Hundred sedan.

After all, the Taurus had been a best-seller for most of its 20 years, so why drop it along with its hard-fought notoriety? Well, Ford has learned that if you mess with the Taurus brand and loyal buyers, you get the horns. So the Five Hundred and the Freestyle wagon are out and the Taurus and Taurus X (wagon) are in. Over at Mercury, the Montego becomes the Sable.

For the Taurus transformation, the former Five Hundred receives a bolder look highlighted by a grille with three horizontal bars, similar to what you ll find on Ford s smaller Fusion sedan. The hood has also been restyled, new taillights have been added and the side mirrors have been reshaped to reduce wind noise. Still, the Taurus is nearly as conservative as the Five Hundred. Thankfully, that s not all. Ford went to work making the passenger compartment as quiet as it is roomy.

Beneath the skin, the engine is attached to the body structure with vibration-reducing hydraulic mounts. According to Ford, revisions to the suspension provides an improved ride. Last year s power-deficient Five Hundred was simply no match for the strong-running Chrysler Advertisement 300, Dodge Magnum wagon and Dodge Charger.