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Why does Ford's US sedan market get such boring styling? When I took a trip to Australia in 2002, I saw a Taurus Ghia (Gen III). It had slightly better styling than the U.S. counterpart in the form of Sable-type headlights, wraparound corner bumper lights, and a sharper looking bumper altogether. The interior seems to have had a standard center console shifter as well.
http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/ghia1.jpg' alt='' width='280' height='210' class='attach' />[/url]
[url=http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/ghia2.jpg][img]http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/ghia2.jpg' alt='' width='105' height='79' class='attach' />[/url]
That aside, it looks like 1996-1997 were the only years the Taurus was there. Why? I think it has to do with Ford's boring US design team. The Focus? Euro design flat out. The Gen II Contour? Based on the European Mondeo. What have Ford's sedan designers in Dearborn been doing? Yes, the Gen IV Taurus is nice, but it still lacks a certain panache. Now, look at some of the offerings by Ford Australia, specifically the Ford Falcon. This could be a Taurus replacement that would finally turn heads. With specs ranging from the basic to the luxury, form the sports sedan to the station wagon, the Falcon has proven its worth in the Aussie market. (they even had a "Ute" model until recently... remember the Ford Ranchero/Chevy El Camino? They live still down there). The Falcon even has a V8 option. Take a look a this:
[url=http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon1.jpg][img]http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon1.jpg' alt='' width='480' height='292' class='attach' />[/url]
[url=http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon2.jpg][img]http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon2.jpg' alt='' width='491' height='296' class='attach' />[/url]
[url=http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon3.jpg][img]http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon3.jpg' alt='' width='420' height='198' class='attach' />[/url]
[url=http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon4.jpg][img]http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon4.jpg' alt='' width='489' height='365' class='attach' />[/url]
[url=http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon5.jpg][img]http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon5.jpg' alt='' width='475' height='230' class='attach' />[/url]
...and don't get me started on the Ford Performance Vehicle line!
Ford Australia Passenger Vehicles:
[url=http://www.ford.com.au/showroom/passenger/Passenger_Vehicles.asp]http://www.ford.com.au/showroom/passenger/...er_Vehicles.asp[/url]
Ford Performance Vehicles Australia:
[url=http://www.fpv.com.au]http://www.fpv.com.au[/url]
http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/ghia1.jpg' alt='' width='280' height='210' class='attach' />[/url]
[url=http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/ghia2.jpg][img]http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/ghia2.jpg' alt='' width='105' height='79' class='attach' />[/url]
That aside, it looks like 1996-1997 were the only years the Taurus was there. Why? I think it has to do with Ford's boring US design team. The Focus? Euro design flat out. The Gen II Contour? Based on the European Mondeo. What have Ford's sedan designers in Dearborn been doing? Yes, the Gen IV Taurus is nice, but it still lacks a certain panache. Now, look at some of the offerings by Ford Australia, specifically the Ford Falcon. This could be a Taurus replacement that would finally turn heads. With specs ranging from the basic to the luxury, form the sports sedan to the station wagon, the Falcon has proven its worth in the Aussie market. (they even had a "Ute" model until recently... remember the Ford Ranchero/Chevy El Camino? They live still down there). The Falcon even has a V8 option. Take a look a this:
[url=http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon1.jpg][img]http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon1.jpg' alt='' width='480' height='292' class='attach' />[/url]
[url=http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon2.jpg][img]http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon2.jpg' alt='' width='491' height='296' class='attach' />[/url]
[url=http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon3.jpg][img]http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon3.jpg' alt='' width='420' height='198' class='attach' />[/url]
[url=http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon4.jpg][img]http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon4.jpg' alt='' width='489' height='365' class='attach' />[/url]
[url=http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon5.jpg][img]http://homepage.mac.com/aslater18/tcca/falcon5.jpg' alt='' width='475' height='230' class='attach' />[/url]
...and don't get me started on the Ford Performance Vehicle line!
Ford Australia Passenger Vehicles:
[url=http://www.ford.com.au/showroom/passenger/Passenger_Vehicles.asp]http://www.ford.com.au/showroom/passenger/...er_Vehicles.asp[/url]
Ford Performance Vehicles Australia:
[url=http://www.fpv.com.au]http://www.fpv.com.au[/url]