- Refined 3.0-litre V6 engine
- Comfortable ride
- Refined, quiet interior
- Awkward pedal positions
- Poor rear headroom
- Shallow boot
- Ungainly styling
Review: Ford DN Taurus (1996)
Overview
Released in March 1996, the Ford DN Taurus was a large, front-wheel drive sedan. Manufactured in the United States, the Taurus was powered by a 3.0-litre ‘Duratec 30’ V6 engine had an aluminium block and cylinder heads, double overhead cams, four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.3:1. The Taurus was solely available with a four-speed automatic transmission (with overdrive).
Compared to the locally-built EL Falcon which it sold alongside, the DN Taurus was 124 mm longer (at 5030 mm), 6 mm narrower (1855 mm), 8 mm lower (1445 mm) and had a 34 mm shorter wheelbase (2757 mm). The Taurus had MacPherson strut front suspension and independent ‘Quadralink’ rear suspension. Furthermore, the Taurus had speed-sensitive, power-assisted rack and pinion steering.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taurus Ghia | 3.0-litre petrol V6 | 4sp auto | 149 kW at 5750 rpm | 272 Nm at 4500 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the DN Taurus included dual front airbags and ABS.
Features
Standard features for the DN Taurus included 15-inch alloy wheels, a six speaker sound system with radio and cassette player, climate control air conditioning, a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat, cruise control, front fog lights, 60/40 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, a height adjustable steering wheel, power windows, power mirrors, an immobiliser and alarm system. The Taurus was also fitted with tinted windows which filtered out virtually all UV light and greatly reduced infra-red light.
An optional ‘Luxury Pack’ included a six-stack CD player, leather seat trim, driver’s seat lumbar adjustment (powered), four-way adjustable front head restraints, a leather trimmed steering wheel, floor mats and a luggage compartment net.
Review: Ford DP Taurus (1996-98)
Overview
Released in December 1996, the DN Taurus introduced minor trim changes, though standard safety equipment and features were unchanged. In September 1998, the Taurus imports were discontinued due to poor sales – these were frequently attributed to the Taurus’ elliptical styling and price premium relative to the Ford EL Fairmont.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taurus Ghia | 3.0-litre petrol V6 | 4sp auto | 149 kW at 5750 rpm | 272 Nm at 4500 rpm |
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