The Ford Taurus, once America’s most popular family car, is in the sales doldrums and could be axed, or replaced by a model sourced from China.
That’s the conclusion of analysts who spoke to Automotive News. They noted that while Ford has launched a new Taurus this year (below), it’s built in and specifically for China.
The Taurus sold in the US was first released in 2009 and facelifted (above) in 2012. Since then it has received little love, while GM has rolled out a new Chevrolet Impala and a Toyota a much more handsome new Avalon.
Sales in the full-size class, where the Taurus competes, are down this year and look to keep falling. Internal competition from the smaller, but roomier, cheaper and much more popular Fusion doesn’t help. As well, police fleets are preferring the Explorer based Interceptor Utility to the Taurus based Interceptor sedan.
If Ford does leave the full size field, its sole entrant will be the new Lincoln Continental.
Source: Automotive News
