Ford Freestyle
Ford Freestyle
The Ford Taurus X is a 6- or 7-passenger full-size crossover SUV that was produced by Ford Motor Company in the United States. It was originally introduced in 2005 as the Ford Freestyle, before being renamed Taurus X for the 2008 model year. In Ford’s lineup, it replaced the Ford Taurus station wagon. The Taurus X ended production on February 27, 2009, as it was slotted between the Flex (to whom it made direct competition on the market) and the upcoming fifth generation Explorer starting 2011 sales year. It is sold in the United States and Canada, as well as South Korea and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.
The Taurus X is a new name for the crossover SUV that used to be called the Ford Freestyle earlier. However, the 2008 Ford Taurus X model has a host of improvements within, outside and underneath when compared to the old Freestyle model.
Similar to the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans, the Taurus X is somewhat based on the same architecture as the Volvo S80 luxury sedan and Volvo XC90 SUV and incorporates the same Swedish Haldex all-wheel-drive system as the Volvo on AWD versions. The newer Taurus X model brings some suspension changes. The new power train makes it more exciting to drive the 2008 Ford Taurus X than the older model. The new engine generates more power, and ensures greater speed to the truck (Ford says up to 44 percent quicker). The newer model also gets about 10 percent better fuel economy.
The Taurus X that is designed to compete with Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Murano, Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook etc fits into the product lineup ahead of the five-seater Ford Edge crossover SUV that’s built similar to the Fusion model and before the larger luxurious and square cornered truck namely the upcoming 2009 Ford Flex.
Voice-activated DVD navigation system, reverse sensing system, power liftgate ($475), auxiliary HVAC system, DVD entertainment system, AdvanceTrac electronic stability control, power moonroof, heated seats, Sirius satellite radio equipment, and 18-inch seven-spoke chrome wheels are the options that come with the Ford Taurus X model.
The safety features in the car include front, side and curtain airbags, ABS and traction control. Five star ratings have been provided to the car in all four crash categories and a Top Safety Pick has been awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In this model, the All-wheel drive is optional while latch child seat anchors and rear safety locks are standard.
A 3.5-liter V-6 replaces the 3.0-liter engine in the Taurus X. Horsepower jumps from 203 to an estimated 260, and acceleration is estimated to be about 44 percent faster. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional.
Standard features include four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system. Also other standard features include side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for all three rows. The side curtain airbags include Ford’s Safety Canopy system, that can maintain the airbags’ inflation for several seconds during a rollover.
The vehicle specs are as follows:
Wheelbase, in. 112.9
Overall Length, in. 200.3
Overall Width, in. 74.9
Overall Height, in. 67.6
Curb Weight, lbs. 4033
Cargo Volume, cu. ft. 85.5
Standard Payload, lbs. –
Fuel Capacity, gals. 19.0
Seating Capacity 7
Front Head Room, in. 39.4
Max. Front Leg Room, in. 40.8
Rear Head Room, in. 39.7
Max. Rear Leg Room, in. 40.4
Engines dohc V6
Size, liters/cu. in. 3.5 /213
Horsepower @ rpm. 263 @ 6250
Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. 249 @ 4500
Availability Standard
EPA City / highway mpg
6-speed automatic 15/22
Below you will find the owner’s manual for the Ford Freestyle ordered by year. Each owners manual is in .pdf format and available free to download to your computer!