Ford Motor Co. unveiled the 1996 version of its Taurus, the country's best-selling car, here this week as foreign and domestic automakers launched the new year at the North American International Auto Show.
The show's media days began with designation of the Chrysler Cirrus and the Chevrolet Blazer as North American Car and Truck of the Year. Chosen by an international panel of automotive journalists, the awards were drawn from nominations of 30 cars and five trucks that were new or substantially new for the 1995 model year.Also on tap at the Detroit show:
- First public showing of Chrysler's 1996 minivans, the first total redesign of the Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and Chrysler Town & Country since the company created the minivan market segment more than a decade ago.
- Premieres of General Motors Corp.'s new full-size sport utility vehicles, the four-door Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon.
- Display of 17 concept cars, including several that could be previews of vehicles that will be built and sold in the next couple of years.
The 1996 Taurus is Ford's first complete remake of the car since it was introduced in 1985 and captivated midsize car buyers with its rounded, aerodynamic shape.
"Our goal (was to) create cars that have the same dramatic impact on automotive design as the original," said Doug Gaffka, design manager for the Ford team that created the new Taurus and its lookalike Mercury sister, the Sable.
The new Taurus and Sable take some cues from the originals, but they are stretched and smoothed and feature what is known in the industry as a "cab-forward" design. Ford calls it the "cockpit-forward" look.
Wheels are positioned far toward the vehicle corners, maximizing interior space and producing a long, sloping windshield and short overhangs at front and back.
"We started with an elliptical theme," said Jack Telnack, Ford's vice president for design. "We wanted a one-piece overall silhouette."
The changeover to the 1996 model may cost Taurus its best-seller crown this year. Taurus took the top spot from Honda Accord in 1992, and Accord has ranked a fairly close second ever since.
As Ford's factories are slowed in the coming months to retool, its production of Taurus will decline and Honda may move ahead.
Chrysler Corp. will find itself in a similar situation with its market-leading minivans.
Like the Taurus, the 1996 Chrysler minivans are new designs, from the pavement up.