Ford Taurus IV photos

Debuting for the 2000 model year, the fourth-generation Ford Taurus discarded the polarizing oval design of its predecessor in favor of more traditional, upright styling. The roofline was raised by two inches to improve rear headroom, and the rear decklid was redesigned to increase trunk capacity. Offered as a sedan and a station wagon (until wagon production ended after 2004), the fourth generation focused heavily on value, family comfort, and fleet market requirements.

Power came from two 3.0-liter V6 engines: the pushrod Vulcan V6 (offered with flex-fuel E85 and CNG dual-fuel options) and the DOHC Duratec 30 V6 outputting up to 200 horsepower. Both engines were coupled to a 4-speed automatic transmission. Safety highlights included optional side-impact airbags and power-adjustable pedals. After 2004, sales shifted heavily toward rental and government fleets until production officially ended in late 2006 for the 2007 model year.