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Ford Taurus I 3.8 V6 (142 Hp) Automatic
Overall Rating
Ford Taurus:
The Ford Taurus is an automobile that was manufactured and marketed by the Ford Motor Company in the United States from 1985 to 2019. From 1985 to 2009, Ford marketed the Taurus alongside its rebadged variant, the Mercury Sable. Four generations of the high-performance version were also manufactured from 1988-1999 and 2009-2019.
The original Taurus was a milestone for Ford and the American automotive industry, as the first automobile at Ford designed and manufactured using the statistical process control ideas brought to Ford by W. Edwards Deming, a prominent statistician consulted by Ford to bring a "culture of quality" to the enterprise. The Taurus had an influential design that introduced new features and innovations....(Read more on Wikipedia)
I Overview:
Ford Taurus (I). With 292 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. With a weight of 1400 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. Acceleration is good (0–100 km/h in 9 s). The top speed reaches 185 km/h. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.
The Ford Taurus I was produced before Euro NCAP testing began (1997). While it met contemporary safety standards for its era, it lacks modern safety features like advanced airbags, electronic stability control, and sophisticated crash structures found in newer vehicles. Its safety performance would be significantly lower by today's standards.
3.8 V6 (142 Hp) Automatic Verdict:
Performance Verdict
A significant improvement over the 4-cylinder, offering better torque and smoother acceleration. The 3.8L V6 makes the Taurus a more capable highway cruiser and provides more confident passing power.
Fuel Economy
Expectedly lower fuel economy than the 4-cylinder, but acceptable for a V6 of its era. It balances power with a still-manageable fuel bill for longer trips.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Revolutionary aerodynamic design for its era
- • Spacious and comfortable interior for a family sedan
- • Good ride quality, especially on highways
- • Available high-performance SHO model offered exciting dynamics
- • Strong value proposition as a new and used vehicle
Cons:
- • Base 4-cylinder engines were underpowered, especially with automatic transmission
- • Some reliability concerns, particularly with early automatic transmissions and certain V6 head gaskets
- • Fuel economy for V6 models was average for the time, not class-leading
- • Dated safety features compared to modern vehicles
- • Interior materials could feel cheap on lower trims
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(I Station Wagon: 1987 - 1991).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Ford |
| Model: | Taurus |
| Generation: | I |
| Modification (Engine): | 3.8 V6 (142 Hp) Automatic |
| Start of production: | 1988 |
| End of production: | 1991 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Sedan |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 142 Hp @ 3800 rpm. |
| Power per litre: | 37.4 Hp/l |
| Torque: | 292 Nm @ 2200 rpm. |
| Engine displacement: | 3797 |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Engine configuration: | V-engine |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel injection system: | Multi-port manifold injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Engine layout: | Front, Transverse |
| Cylinder Bore: | 96.8 mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 86 mm |
| Compression ratio: | 9:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - urban: | 17 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban: | 11 l/100 km |
| Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h: | 9 sec |
| Acceleration 0 - 62 mph: | 9 sec |
| Maximum speed: | 185 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 9.9 kg/Hp, 101.4 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 4.8 kg/Nm, 208.6 Nm/tonne |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 8.6 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1400 |
| Trunk (boot) space - minimum: | 524 l |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 61 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4785 mm [89mm less] |
| Width: | 1793 mm [Same width.] |
| Height: | 1379 mm [21mm less] |
| Wheelbase: | 2692 mm [Same wheelbase.] |
| Front track: | 1562 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1537 mm |
| Minimum turning circle (turning diameter): | 12.1 m [above average] |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Front wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 4 |
| Transmission type | Automatic |
| Front brakes | Ventilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.] |
| Rear brakes | Drum [bad for performance and cooling.] |
| Steering type | Steering rack and pinion |
| Tires size | 205/70 R14 |
| Wheel rims size | 14 |
| Front suspension | Wishbone |
| Rear suspension | Wishbone |
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