It has long been rumored, but now it’s official. Ford will end production of its Taurus X crossover in February 27th, 2009. Introduced in early 2007, the Taurus X is an improved and renamed version of the Ford Freestyle, which first went into production in 2005.
“The cancellation of the Taurus X will allow us to provide a singular solution to our customers needing a seven-passenger crossover with the Ford Flex, a great vehicle that is both safe and stylish,” the automaker explained in a statement.
Sales of the Taurus X have been declining rapidly, so the move seems logical. That said, sales of the new Flex haven’t been spectacular either, averaging around 2,000 units per month — considerably less than the original goal of over 8,000 per month.
In September, Ford announced it would scale back production at its Chicago plant that builds the Taurus X by cutting a shift. The facility also assembles the Taurus sedan, Mercury Sable, and the new Lincoln MKS.
The MKS has seen strong demand, but the other models are on the decline. With the redesigned 2010 Taurus sedan right around the corner, Ford is hoping demand will increase. Meanwhile, the Mercury Sable has also been rumored for termination, but no announcement has come as of yet.


12/04, 2:39 AM
posted by:
acura_el2000
good, it was just another redundant SUV
12/04, 3:14 AM
posted by:
VictorRaikkonen
To bad Ford itself will not be cancelled.
12/04, 7:48 AM
posted by:
MercMark
I thought it was too similar to the Flex to keep around. I plan on replacing my Mountaineer with a Flex eventually. Kids are already kicking the seat backs so I really like the rear legroom in the Flex.
Only a moron would want Ford to fail.
12/04, 7:56 AM
posted by:
fan
good they cancelled it, there was really no point in having that model in their cluttered suv/4×4/whatever lineup… and it didnt even look interesting, it could as well have been a remodeled ‘93 maverick
12/04, 9:17 AM
posted by:
LaCaLover
The Flex is next to be canned
12/04, 9:42 AM
posted by:
Bimmer
It’s a shame, I liked it Station Wagon look and practicality. I think Flex looks good (like a giant MINI), but (again, like a MINI) it’s overpriced.
12/04, 10:57 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
One of these in either iteration is on my short list to replace my Tracker. I had good luck with the Duratech 6 in a ‘99 Taurus and since I don’t haul kids much anymore I’ll leave the legroom issue to people like MerkMark. Used ones with AWD are a bit of a bargain which doesn’t hurt either, especially when compared to the Edge.
12/04, 11:00 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
i hope they don’t can the Flex next because its actually a nice vehicle. the inside looks really good too imo!
12/04, 11:48 AM
posted by:
Robert
Flex is in no danger of being cancelled. The Sable will quickly follow the Taurus X out of production (I think the order banks for both close in January). Transition to production of the 2010 Taurus and readying the line for Ecoboost is supposed to begin in April, so Sable will definitely be gone by then.
12/04, 12:59 PM
posted by:
Borat
It has very clean look, but MPG is the king, especially when begging for government handout.
12/04, 1:48 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
They still make this thing???…..
12/04, 2:13 PM
posted by:
planet_drive
Nice to see another peice of junk being withdrawn from production. I don’t know why they are keeping the Flex, that thing is so ulgy and looks so long. Sales for the Flex are very very bad and its no surprise. Who wants to buy an ugly unreliable car with the signature of a satanist on their grill??
12/04, 2:45 PM
posted by:
scootness
I think that the posts on this site are getting to be insane! As all you Toyota and Honda and whatever else you drive idiots bitch about how bad the AMERICAN car companys are they are constantly improving their product in both looks, mpg and quality! There is no reason to buy a Toyota for quality! In fact, Ford has been as reliable or better on their vehicles for 2 years now! Get with the program! Read an article that doesn’t just bash AMERICAN car companys for once! As much as you seem to hate the “big 3″, they are a major part of our economy and you want to throw them under the bus every chance you get! The people voting on the bridge loans, “bail-out” as you idiots call it, are just as dumb as you are! The old slogan “Buy American while you still can” is actually coming to fruition! Pretty soon, you won’t be able to!
As for you Ford haters, Ford is the only one of the 3 that can sustain themselves for the next year or two without help! They are looking for a BRIDGE LOAN, just in case the economy gets worse in the next year! Stop hating American or move to Japan or China!
12/04, 2:50 PM
posted by:
sharpie
The Taurus X / Freestyle is a decent car. Ford is indeed getting better in quality. If the marketing and R&D would get with the program, and stay ahead of market change rather than behind, Ford should do well. Their small cars are returning, but of course, Ford is always late to the party, much like it was late for the Crossover boat, which has sailed.
12/04, 2:57 PM
posted by:
A4
yeah this is a great family wagon… i actually saw a dark red one on the road the other day mustve been a day or two old, and it looked pretty damn sharp all clean and waxed. Certainly a more fuel efficient alternative, its a shame it has to go.
12/04, 2:57 PM
posted by:
planet_drive
^^ Most Americans area welcoming the fact that no longer people will be able to buy American. Most people how buy domestic cars are very ignorant people who buy it only for foolish pride. In the end they are paying money for an inferior product which will have the resale value of expired milk. I just laugh when thinking 10 years from now when some dumb ignorant hick in the south will no longer be able to buy a chevy lol good bye american auto industry, the rest of the world has beat you, and now its too late for you to get back up on your feet. Its pathetic how the “big” 3 are begging for money. Thats like the 43 year old son asking his aging and cash strapped parents to borrow some money because he doesn’t have enough to pay the rent. I would never buy a car built by a total loser company. Thankfully most Americans feel the same way.
12/04, 3:41 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Thank God they finally axed this car. Don’t even know why Ford came out with it in the first place.
Don’t like the Flex at all either…
But if I was to get a CUV from Ford it’d be a Lincoln MKX all the way.
12/04, 4:31 PM
posted by:
Get Real
The Freestyle/TaurusX debuted with a CVT transmission NOBODY wanted to touch.
Plus Ford in their wisdom slapped a big MSRP on it.
Add a weak engine with bad mpg and you doom the vehicle to failure.
Oops, don’t forget the commercials with the obnoxious short fat bald guy TELLING you to buy it.
This crossover should be selling, the market is out there, Ford just can’t get it right.
12/04, 4:45 PM
posted by:
megeebee
I’ve often wondered why Ford would need both the Taurus X AND the Flex………Andf the Explorere……..AND the Escape………..AND the Edge.
Sales of the Freestyle started out bad and worsened from there (very much like the Five Hundred and Montego). The “Taurus” name has not had the magic (for either the wagon or the sedan) that Mr. Mulally seemed to think it had.
.
12/04, 6:15 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
They shouldn’t have this upcoming small crossover. That just puts it at odds with the Escape, which is a good car.
The Taurus X is actually really nice, especially after they “redesigned” it. Drives good, space. Who cares what Ford says, it’s a damn station wagon!
Escape
Taurus Wagon
Explorer/Edge
Expedition/Flex
12/04, 6:22 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
And I think some of you are missing something. A new Expedition goes for about $31-43k. The Flex is larger, more efficient, arguably better looking, higher quality, so far more reliable, etc., for $28-37k. The Flex really isn’t that expensive. I’m sure they could sell it around $26k if they dropped a few features, but who would want that? The problem is, it’s out of the price bracket for most mini-van buyers, the people their targeting
12/04, 6:50 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
It’s about time. This thing was a bland-mobile. And why do I keep hearing that the MKS sales are strong when I have only seen one so far when they came out?
12/04, 9:14 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
Well, they are sort of cancelling the Taurus X.. but never fear, the next Explorer due in 2010/2011 will be riding on the same unibody platform as the Taurus, so it will basically be a Taurus X!
12/04, 9:18 PM
posted by:
VWgrouP
Well there ya go.
12/04, 10:01 PM
posted by:
waywardboi
Scootness you hit the nail right on the head!
I don’t know about most of the idiots on this site but just about everyone I know will be impacted by the collapse of either 1 or all of the domestic auto companies PEOPLE this is America and those are our ICONS and we should be proud of each of them Ford Chrysler and GM. When we needed to beat the crap out of Japan AND Germany those companies made it possible> When we needed a middle class America THOSE companies made it possible and feasible. Sure they made some junk name one company that didn’t NONE give them a break they are all we have and WE as Americans should be DAMNED proud of what we have just like the rest of the world is proud of what they have (even the British and Italians who have made nothing but junk but they slap a high price on it and call special and we fall for it. These companies but thousands of americans to work and college IF THEY FALL WE ALL FALL!!!!!!! And I for one aint ready to be shipped back to Africa and I’m sure that if you idiots liked your motherlands SO much you would still be there so GET WITH THE PROGRAM THIS IS AMERICA!!!!!!!!
12/08, 2:31 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Too expensive as the Freestyle, crowded out by stablemates as the taurus X.
What a dumb name!