What replaced the Ford 500?
The Ford Five Hundred was replaced by the revived Ford Taurus for the 2010 model year.
Ford moved quickly to retire the Five Hundred name after a short run and reintroduce the Taurus badge to refresh its large-sedan lineup. The change reflected both branding strategy and market demand, as Ford aimed to leverage a storied name while offering newer styling, technology, and efficiency in a segment undergoing rapid evolution.
Timeline of the replacement
The following milestones show how the Five Hundred gave way to the Taurus and how Ford repositioned its full-size sedan lineup.
Industry context
In the mid-2000s, automakers faced intense competition in the full-size sedan segment from both domestic rivals and imports. Ford elected to refresh its approach by reviving a well-known name and introducing a more modern design language to appeal to buyers seeking a blend of space, comfort, and value.
- 2005: The Ford Five Hundred enters Ford's lineup as a front-/all-wheel-drive full-size sedan, sharing a platform with the Mercury Montego and targeting family and commuter buyers.
- 2007: Production of the Five Hundred ends as Ford consolidates its large sedan lineup; the Five Hundred's era in the lineup comes to a close for a period, with market demand shifting to other models.
- 2010: Ford reintroduces the Taurus as a redesigned, modern full-size sedan, reviving a familiar nameplate to refresh the brand’s image in this segment.
- 2010 onward: The Taurus becomes the flagship sedan in Ford's lineup, effectively replacing the Five Hundred's market position with updated styling and technology.
These points trace how Ford transitioned from the Five Hundred to a refreshed Taurus, balancing brand recognition with a new design and feature set.
Key differences between the Five Hundred and the Taurus
The following summary highlights how the Taurus differed from the Five Hundred in branding, design, and features.
- Branding and nameplate: The Five Hundred carried a distinct name, while the Taurus revived a familiar badge to broaden appeal and capitalize on brand equity.
- Styling and design language: The Taurus introduced a more contemporary exterior and interior design compared with the Five Hundred's look.
- Interior and features: The Taurus offered updated materials, technology, and safety features aligned with the era's consumer expectations, including improved infotainment options and driver-assistance tech.
- Powertrain and efficiency: The Taurus benefited from newer engine options and tuning, delivering improved performance and efficiency relative to the Five Hundred.
In short, Ford used the Taurus name to signal a fresh start in the full-size sedan market while retaining practical strengths from the Five Hundred.
Summary
The Ford Five Hundred was effectively replaced by the revived Ford Taurus for the 2010 model year, marking a branding refresh and a reinvestment in Ford's full-size sedan segment. The Taurus offered updated styling, technology, and efficiency to recapture buyer interest in a market trending toward newer designs and features. The Five Hundred’s legacy lives on in the Taurus name, which helped redefine Ford's approach to large sedans for the next decade.
