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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Money & Work • Automotive

Ford Taurus

The Ford Taurus is a full-size sedan nameplate produced by Ford Motor Company.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

The Ford Taurus is a full-size sedan produced by Ford Motor Company from 1985 to 2019. It became a landmark model for its aerodynamic design and the high-performance SHO variant, and was sold in Canada as a familiar family car.

What it is

The Ford Taurus was introduced for the 1986 model year and quickly became one of Ford's most important passenger cars. It was sold primarily in North America, including Canada, alongside a Mercury-badged companion, the Mercury Sable, which ran from 1985 to 2009.

Why it mattered

The original Taurus stood out for its aerodynamic, rounded styling, which shifted U.S. sedan design away from boxier shapes. It became a major competitor in the family-car market and influenced Ford's design language for years.

Key details

Ford produced a high-performance version called the Taurus SHO (Super High Output) across multiple generations. The Taurus line was discontinued after the 2019 model year as Ford reduced its passenger-car lineup in favor of SUVs and crossovers.

In short

  • Launched in 1985 for the 1986 model year.
  • Known for groundbreaking aerodynamic styling.
  • Included a performance SHO variant.
  • Discontinued after 2019 as Ford shifted to SUVs.
Canadian angle

The Taurus was sold in Canada and was a familiar Ford sedan for Canadian buyers during its production run.

Quick questions

What is the Ford Taurus?
It is a Ford passenger car nameplate used for a sedan sold mainly in North America.
When was the Ford Taurus introduced?
Ford introduced the Taurus for the 1986 model year, with production beginning in 1985.
When was the Ford Taurus discontinued?
Ford ended Taurus production after the 2019 model year.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Taurus
    Supports: Production dates, model history, Mercury Sable companion model, and general overview.
  2. Cars.com — https://www.cars.com/research/ford-taurus/
    Supports: Model-year debut, six-generation evolution, and discontinuation after the 2019 model year.
  3. J.D. Power — https://www.jdpower.com/cars/history/ford/taurus
    Supports: Taurus introduction in 1986 and its role in reshaping the American family car.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Taurus_SHO
    Supports: SHO meaning, performance-variant status, and production timeline.