What year did the Ford 500 come out?
The Ford Five Hundred debuted as a 2005 model-year sedan, with its official reveal in 2004.
This article traces when the car first appeared, how it entered showrooms, and how Ford later shifted the lineup under the Taurus banner.
Launch and initial years
Key milestones in the Five Hundred's debut and early years are listed below.
- January 2004: Debuted at the North American International Auto Show as the Ford Five Hundred (2005 model year).
- Fall 2004: Reached U.S. showrooms as a 2005 model year vehicle.
- 2005–2007: Sold in the United States as the Ford Five Hundred.
- 2008 model year: Rebranded as the Ford Taurus X (a wagon/SUV-style variant) as part of a mid-cycle refresh; production continued through 2009.
- 2010 model year: The Taurus nameplate was revived in Ford's lineup with a redesigned Taurus, effectively retiring the Five Hundred name.
The timeline shows the Five Hundred's brief run under a single badge before Ford transitioned to the Taurus branding.
Context and significance
The Ford Five Hundred was Ford's full-size, front-wheel-drive sedan offering that emphasized interior space, comfort, and a smooth ride. It was part of Ford's mid-2000s push to refresh its sedan lineup and compete with rivals like the Toyota Avalon and Chevrolet Impala. The model's relatively short lifespan reflected Ford's branding strategy, ultimately consolidating the lineup under the Taurus name for a new generation.
Renaming and its implications
The shift to Taurus X in 2008 and then to Taurus in 2010 helped Ford streamline its large-car lineup, aligning with a broader corporate strategy to simplify names and move toward a common set of product characters across global markets.
Summary
The Ford Five Hundred first appeared for the 2005 model year, with an official reveal in 2004. After a brief run under the Five Hundred badge (2005–2007), Ford rebranded the car as Taurus X for 2008 and then fully replaced it with the redesigned Taurus in 2010.
