When did they stop making Ford Five Hundreds?
The Ford Five Hundred stopped production after the 2007 model year, and Ford relaunched the car under the Taurus name beginning with the 2008 model year.
The Ford Five Hundred was Ford’s full-size sedan introduced for the 2005 model year. It was built on the D3 platform and shared mechanics with its Mercury Montego sibling. After a brief run, Ford retired the Five Hundred name and reintroduced the model as the Ford Taurus for 2008, a branding decision aimed at refreshing sales and aligning the lineup with the Taurus badge historical consumer recognition.
Background and timeline
The following timeline highlights the key production milestones of the Five Hundred and its rebirth as the Taurus.
- 2004: Ford unveils the Five Hundred as a 2005 model-year sedan at the North American International Auto Show; production begins later in 2004 for the 2005 model year.
- 2005–2007: The Five Hundred is sold in the United States as Ford Five Hundred, on the D3 platform, competing in the large sedan segment.
- 2007: Ford confirms plans to rename the model to Taurus for the 2008 model year as part of a brand refresh; the Five Hundred name is retired after this model year in the U.S.
- 2008: The model is launched as the Ford Taurus for the 2008 model year, adopting updated styling and branding while sharing underlying mechanics with the Five Hundred.
- 2009–2011: The Taurus continues through subsequent generations, with styling and feature updates over time; production eventually ends in 2019 for the Taurus in North America.
In summary, Ford stopped producing the Five Hundred after 2007 and moved forward with the Taurus name starting in 2008, a change that persisted in various generations until the Taurus’ eventual discontinuation in 2019.
Rebranding and market response
Ford decided to retire the Five Hundred name and adopt Taurus to capitalize on name recognition and streamline its sedan lineup. The following list outlines the main drivers and outcomes of this strategy.
Key drivers of the change
- Brand consolidation: Using the Taurus nameplate offered stronger recognition for Ford’s full-size sedan lineup.
- Marketing and sales: The Five Hundred’s sales were modest, prompting a branding refresh aimed at boosting interest.
- Product refresh: The 2008 Taurus featured updated styling, interior upgrades, and revised features to appeal to family-sedan buyers.
Ultimately, the Five Hundred nameplate was retired after the 2007 model year; the Taurus badge continued to evolve in subsequent generations until 2019. The Five Hundred remains a historical footnote in Ford’s model history.
Summary
The Ford Five Hundred was produced for the 2005–2007 model years and discontinued after 2007. In 2008, Ford relaunched the car under the Taurus name, continuing the same platform with updated styling and branding. The Taurus nameplate persisted in North America until its final model year in 2019, marking the end of Ford’s modern-era full-size sedan lineup.
When did Ford stop making GT500?
Ford might have discontinued the GT500 following the 2022 model year, but Shelby-modified Mustangs are still being built every day.
When did Ford stop making the 500?
The last Ford 500 was made in 2007, marking the final model year for the car. Production ended in April 2007, and the model was renamed the Ford Taurus for the 2008 model year, which featured an updated engine.
- Final model year: 2007
- Production end date: April 12, 2007
- Successor: The Ford Taurus, which returned for the 2008 model year
- Reason for change: The 500 was re-engineered and renamed the Taurus, likely due to a combination of customer feedback regarding its underpowered engine and the slow acceleration of some versions.
Why was the Ford Five Hundred discontinued?
The Five Hundred's 203hp engine and unassuming styling became points of criticism, and sales fell markedly short of company projections — requiring substantive discounts by its second model year.
What years are the Ford Five Hundred?
The name "500" has been used by Ford on several models, most notably the Ford Five Hundred (2005–2007) and older versions like the Fairlane 500 and Galaxie 500. The Ford Five Hundred was produced for the 2005, 2006, and 2007 model years before being replaced by the 2008 Ford Taurus.
This video discusses the Ford Five Hundred and its replacement by the Ford Taurus: 30sTony's Fords and MustangsYouTube · Jul 6, 2024
- Ford Five Hundred: This was a full-size sedan from 2005 to 2007, intended to replace the Taurus and Crown Victoria. The model was renamed the Taurus for 2008 due to poor sales and the belief that the Taurus name was more recognizable.
- Older "500" models: Ford used "500" in other model names over the years, including the Fairlane 500 (1957–1959) and the Galaxie 500 (1962–1964), reports Wikipedia.
This video provides a retrospective on the Ford Five Hundred: 57sAntique TAGSYouTube · Apr 16, 2024
