For
d Taurus: Launching the Future In the mid-1980s, Ford Motor Company needed a fresh start. The company's reputation had taken a hit due to quality issues with its vehicles, and competitors like Honda and Toyota were gaining ground in the American market. Enter the Ford Taurus, a brand new sedan that would go on to become one of the most successful and iconic cars in American automotive history. The Taurus was designed as a replacement for the aging Ford LTD, and its development was a massive undertaking. Ford invested $3 billion in the project and built an entirely new factory in Chicago to produce the car. The Taurus was developed with a number of innovative features, including a sleek, aerodynamic design that was inspired by European luxury cars. When the Taurus was unveiled to the public in December 1985, it was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews. The car's futuristic design and advanced engineering were unlike anything that had ever been seen before in the American auto industry. The Taurus's success in the marketplace was equally impressive, with the car quickly becoming one of the best-selling sedans in the United States. Over the years, the Taurus has undergone several redesigns and updates, but it has consistently remained a popular choice among American car buyers. In 1992, the Taurus made automotive history when it became the first car to offer both a driver-side airbag and a passenger-side airbag as standard equipment. In 1996, the Taurus was also the first car to offer an infotainment system that included a touch screen display. Despite its popularity, the Taurus faced some challenges in the 2000s. As consumer preferences shifted towards SUVs and crossover vehicles, sales of sedans like the Taurus began to decline. In 2006, Ford even announced that it would be discontinuing the Taurus line. However, the car was ultimately saved due to strong public demand, and a revamped version of the Taurus was released in 2008. Today, the Taurus remains an important part of Ford's lineup, although the company has announced that it will be discontinuing the car for good in 2019. Nevertheless, the Taurus's legacy as a groundbreaking and innovative vehicle will live on for years to come. For many Americans, the Taurus will always represent the dawn of a new era in the American auto industry, a time when American car companies were capable of creating vehicles that could compete with the best that Europe and Asia had to offer.