When did Ford quit making the 500?
The Ford Five Hundred was last produced for the 2007 model year, after which Ford dropped the Five Hundred name and relaunched the car as the Ford Taurus in 2008.
What follows is a closer look at the model’s lifecycle, including why Ford chose to rename the car and what that shift meant for its mid-size sedan lineup.
Timeline of the Ford Five Hundred
Timeline highlights below summarize when the Five Hundred appeared, when production ended, and how Ford redirected the model’s identity afterward.
- 2005 model year: The Ford Five Hundred goes on sale as a new mid-size sedan aimed at family and fleet buyers.
- 2007 model year: Production ends after the Five Hundred’s third model year, retiring the nameplate.
- 2008 model year: Ford relaunches the car as the Ford Taurus, reviving a familiar name on a redesigned sedan built on a related platform.
In short, the Five Hundred existed for the 2005–2007 model years, with the Taurus name taking its place starting in 2008.
The transition to Taurus
The shift from Five Hundred to Taurus was driven by marketing strategy, brand consistency, and sales considerations. Ford sought to leverage the Taurus name’s long-standing recognition in the midsize segment while updating the design and features to compete more effectively with rival sedans.
Key factors behind the rename
- Refresh the model lineup by reviving a well-known name in the Ford stable.
- Consolidate marketing and product messaging under a single, recognizable mid-size sedan—Taurus.
- Capitalize on the Taurus heritage to attract buyers who remembered the older Taurus while offering modern features and styling.
- Use the underlying platform to streamline development and production while updating aesthetics and technology.
The result was a smoother transition for dealerships and customers, aligning Ford’s mid-size sedan strategy with a familiar brand identity.
Summary
Ford discontinued the Five Hundred after the 2007 model year and replaced it with the Taurus for the 2008 model year, marking a name change rather than a complete halt in mid-size sedan production. The Taurus revival continued Ford’s effort to streamline its lineup and refresh its image in a competitive market.
When did Ford stop making the 500?
The Ford Five Hundred (code name D258) was a full-size sedan produced by the Ford Motor Company from 2005 - 2007, succeeding the aging Ford Taurus program (which was phased out for 2007). In North America, the name is intended to recall the Fairlane 500 and Galaxie 500 models of the 1950s through 1970s.
Why was the Ford Five Hundred discontinued?
Yet, despite its adequate performance and an affordable price tag, the Ford Five Hundred was short-lived, receiving mixed reception and declining sales — soon turning out to be one of Ford's biggest failures.
Did Ford discontinue the GT500?
Since 1967 the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 has been the symbol of raw American power. The last production version, which ended after the 2022 model year, was a supercharged 5.2L V8 with 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque.
What did the Ford 500 replace?
When Ford did finally put the 500 into production, a large amount of that interest died because the production car had had its styling toned down and the drivetrain switched from RWD to FWD. This car was actually supposed to replace the Crown Victoria as Ford's big car before 2007.
