The following timeline charts many of the updates and changes that highlight the history of the Taurus wagon.


 
  Development begins on the car that would replace the aging mid-size, rear-wheel drive LTD (pictured). The LTD was a replacement for the Granada, based on the Fairmont "Fox" platform. The LTD was once the biggest and most luxurious of Fords, but in 1979 it was redesigned as the LTD Crown Victoria, leaving the smaller "plain" LTD as the mid size offering.
       
  Development of the new car is well underway for a December 2005 introduction. This picture shows a miniature clay model of the new wagon, and in the background you can see design renderings. One of the goals of the new car was to make a car that was stylistically matched inside and out, using newly developed assembly techniques and with futuristic styling that would not resemble anything else on the road.
       
  In it's first year on the market, the Taurus stuns the market and the critics with it's fresh "European" design. From it's flush mounted headlights to the AC control design, this was new thinking. The wagon was considered one of the most beautiful designs ever offered for that bodystyle. You could choose between a 4 or 6 cylinder engine, 3-speed or 4-speed automatics, and a 5-speed manual. Models include the L, GL, MT5 and LX. Prices range from $11,722 to $15,213.
       
  Taurus becomes the best selling Ford model. Small running changes to fix little problems from 1986 were addressed such as rough idling. Sales were setting records.
       
  Ford drops the 5-speed MT5 wagon models and makes the 3.0 V6 standard for all wagons. Also this year a new, stronger 3.8 V6 engine is offered as an option. Models include L, GL and LX. Prices range from $12,884 to $15,905.
       
  All new door panels are introduced as a first step in a 2-year process to revise the interior. In addition, revisions are made to the front fascia to tie the headlights and grill together better (see picture) and revised rear taillamps.
    1986 left, 1989 right  
       
  This year saw a revised dashboard (see picture) and the addition of a driver's side airbag. Also new were optional anti-lock brakes and variable assist power steering.
    1988 left, 1990 right  
       
    No styling changes, but the engines were updated with electronic fuel injection. The 3.8 V6 came standard this year with the top-line LX wagon, as did 4-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock. The automatic transmission was updated with electronic controls.
       
       


 
  All-new styling from the windshield forward gave the new cars a slimmer, more aerodynamic nose with sleekly integrated headlights. Other changes included new interior instrument panel, new door panels, new stereos, and illuminated switches. Sales continued to climb.
       
  All-new remote key fobs were introduced, as were new flex fuel engines. More and more models were equipped with passenger side airbags. Also 93 models were monochrome: no more contrasting bumper schemes. Steering wheel also changed mid year.
       
  All models now had new body-colored exterior door handles, passenger air bags, and 1-million mile odometers.
       
  Final year of original design didn't see any significant changes for the wagons other than adding air conditioning as standard. The Taurus had become the best selling car in America from 1992 to 1995..
       


 
 



Ford almost completely redesigned the Taurus for 1996. The shape was new and very controversial: one had to look very hard to find a straight line anywhere on the new wagon. Major advancements in noise levels, build quality and durability made this model a very modern car, although there were some carry over elements in the rear cargo area. Some degree of the original "European" sporty handling had been sacrificed for improvements in stiffness and body dynamics. Also controversial was the integrated control panel for the radio and A/C controls: it could not be easily modified for aftermarket stereos. The biggest development, however was the replacement of the aging 3.8 V6 with an completely modern DOHC 24-Valve 3.0 V6 that put out 200 horsepower and 200 pounds-feet of torque. All models now had power windows as standard this year. This was also the last year the Taurus was the best selling car in America. Prices ranged from $20,195 for a GL to $22,715 for an LX.
       
  Minor revisions: fewer colors, door map pockets added, and wagons now came standard with 4-wheel disc brakes. Certain small features such as visor mirrors, door puddle lights and instrument panel lights were revised or deleted to shave costs. Picture shows the flip-fold center console that was standard on column-shift models.
       
  Taillights were all red this year, grilles were enlarged and the Ford logo floated within them. The former top-end LX model was now the entry-level, replaced by the SE which could be optioned up to premium features. Two pieces of trivia: the rear door of the Taurus wagon was actually the rear door of the Sable, and if you ordered the floor shift, you got a totally different dashboard and rear A/C ducts.
       
  Still trying to keep costs down, Ford stopped painting things on the 99s. This included the license plate surround. New this year was an optional "consolette" for column shift models that replaced the flip-fold design. More interior woodgrain was also offered, but sales were down.
       


 
 

Acknowledging concerns with the previous makeover, the new century saw a new Taurus: still sleek, but less dramatic. Wagons only changed the nose, but all bumpers were revised. The interior lost it's monochromatic "oval" design theme in exchange for a much less challenging two-tone design. The integrated control panel was retained, but now rectangular and the CD changer was now in the center console. Trim levels were SE, SES and SEL. The Vulcan V6, enhanced for more power in 1996, was again revised to get 155 hp for 2000. Wheels were up an inch to 16, a new flip-fold console laid horizontally with bigger cupholders, dual exhaust was out, and you could get power adjustable pedals.
       
  Color changes and other small revisions were on order for 2001. You could now get a single disc CD player for your dash, alloys and power locks were standard on SE.
       
  Small options added like auto-dimming rear mirror and mirror "puddle lamps" but otherwise little changed from 2001.
       
  Numerous small changes to delete or cheapen "up market" standard items were made to keep prices competitive. New woodgrain design was introduced and more sound deadening material added. Taurus was slowly being "left to pasture."
       
  An expected major freshening amounted to little more than revising styling cues from 2003, and not necessarily for the better. The wagons retained the same basic rear design as in 1996 with revised bumpers. Steering wheels were revised and there were new gauges. The biggest news was the return of the digital trip computer.
       
  With the introduction of the 2005 Freestyle, Ford didn't do much for the Taurus except delete the SES model, and make standard features into options. You could, however get Homelink for the first time. The last Sable and Taurus wagons were built this year until 2008.
       


 
 

In 2005 Ford introduced the Five Hundred and Freestyle models, ostensibly to replace the Taurus, but not in name. They kept the old Taurus alive, but fading for mainly fleet sales. However, new thinking at Ford in early 2007 decided that the Taurus should return, so the revised 2008 Five Hundred and Freestyle were renamed Taurus and Taurus X.

This new Taurus made the best wagon yet. Similar in size to the previous car, it is considerably taller and has far greater interior room. The third row in this new model faces forward and can be a bench or split. A 3.5 liter V6 with 263 hp attached to 6-speed transmission and with available all wheel makes this the most capable ford wagon ever built.