Ford To Rebadge Five Hundred As Taurus
#1
Ford To Rebadge Five Hundred As Taurus
#4
This was what Ford should have done originally. Taurus is a recognizable name. Who the heck remembers the 500 Galaxies from the 1970's?
Here's two bad examples of changing well established names on "restyled" cars. The Buick Lucerne replaced both the Park Avenue and Le Sabre. The last year those two were built, sales were over 300,000 units. The Lucerne is dying on the vine. Sales haven't even come close to half that 300,000 figure.
Oldsmobile rebadged the Cutlass as an Intrigue...sales went down the toilet. People walked into showrooms, took one look and walked out. They hadn't a clue to what an Intrigue was. Oldsmobile, the oldest (1897) American car, folded within four years.
Here's two bad examples of changing well established names on "restyled" cars. The Buick Lucerne replaced both the Park Avenue and Le Sabre. The last year those two were built, sales were over 300,000 units. The Lucerne is dying on the vine. Sales haven't even come close to half that 300,000 figure.
Oldsmobile rebadged the Cutlass as an Intrigue...sales went down the toilet. People walked into showrooms, took one look and walked out. They hadn't a clue to what an Intrigue was. Oldsmobile, the oldest (1897) American car, folded within four years.
#5
#6
Originally Posted by NumberDummy
This was what Ford should have done originally. Taurus is a recognizable name. Who the heck remembers the 500 Galaxies from the 1970's?
Here's two bad examples of changing well established names on "restyled" cars. The Buick Lucerne replaced both the Park Avenue and Le Sabre. The last year those two were built, sales were over 300,000 units. The Lucerne is dying on the vine. Sales haven't even come close to half that 300,000 figure.
Oldsmobile rebadged the Cutlass as an Intrigue...sales went down the toilet. People walked into showrooms, took one look and walked out. They hadn't a clue to what an Intrigue was. Oldsmobile, the oldest (1897) American car, folded within four years.
Here's two bad examples of changing well established names on "restyled" cars. The Buick Lucerne replaced both the Park Avenue and Le Sabre. The last year those two were built, sales were over 300,000 units. The Lucerne is dying on the vine. Sales haven't even come close to half that 300,000 figure.
Oldsmobile rebadged the Cutlass as an Intrigue...sales went down the toilet. People walked into showrooms, took one look and walked out. They hadn't a clue to what an Intrigue was. Oldsmobile, the oldest (1897) American car, folded within four years.
#7
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#8
^^^^^the same reason why ford hasnt killed mercury. they will drastically lose loyal buyers. think about how many tc and gm owners would buy a vic?? probably slim to none. mercury would be a good brand if they would update the damn cars a little and stop making them so close to their ford counter-parts. the milan was a great start lets just hope they can continue
Last edited by linkinluver07; 02-06-2007 at 03:06 PM.
#9
Lets see, take a car that's not selling all that great, rename it a for a model that has just gone out of production and that Ford allowed to fall behind the competition, and that a vast majority of people think of mostly as a rental, county/city gov't fleet vehicle. Makes perfect sense to me.
I would like to think and hope this name change works but I have my doubts, time and most importantly sales figures will tell.
I would like to think and hope this name change works but I have my doubts, time and most importantly sales figures will tell.
#10
#13
It makes some sense if you think about it. They couldn't name it Taurus when it first came out because they were still building the last gen (and it was never intended to replace it directly, but to slot right above it). Now that final year of production on the old Taurus has been completed they have the perfect opportunity to advertise this car as the "all new Ford Taurus" and then list its numerous safety and quality awards.
Currently, most people have no idea that the 500 even exists. The average consumer won't know that the '08 Ford Taurus is just a reskinned 500 with some other upgrades. To the average consumer this is just the next evolution of the Taurus... and it is quite a leap above the last gen Taurus.
It gives them a fresh advertising plate and all the years of Taurus to back it up.
In the end, it certainly isn't going go hurt anything and it might just be the thing that the 500 needs to take off with sales.
Currently, most people have no idea that the 500 even exists. The average consumer won't know that the '08 Ford Taurus is just a reskinned 500 with some other upgrades. To the average consumer this is just the next evolution of the Taurus... and it is quite a leap above the last gen Taurus.
It gives them a fresh advertising plate and all the years of Taurus to back it up.
In the end, it certainly isn't going go hurt anything and it might just be the thing that the 500 needs to take off with sales.
#14
The Ford 500..not the Indy 500
How many remember the 1954 Lincoln Futura Dream Car? Most of y'all have seen it, as George Barris made a few changes and the Lincoln Futura was turned into the first Batmobile.
How many remember the Falcon Futura..the Fairmont Futura?
Futura was the name originally planned for the 500. There were to be two models, the standard Futura and the upscale Futura 500.
But guess what. Ford, after using the Futura nameplate off and on since 1954, stopped using the name after 1983.
Pep Boys then adopted the Futura name for a line of their tires.
When Ford approached Pep Boys seeking permission to use the Futura name for their new car, Pep Boys refused.
So, only the 500 portion of the name found its way into Ford's new front wheel drive sedan.
Someone goofed.
How many remember the Falcon Futura..the Fairmont Futura?
Futura was the name originally planned for the 500. There were to be two models, the standard Futura and the upscale Futura 500.
But guess what. Ford, after using the Futura nameplate off and on since 1954, stopped using the name after 1983.
Pep Boys then adopted the Futura name for a line of their tires.
When Ford approached Pep Boys seeking permission to use the Futura name for their new car, Pep Boys refused.
So, only the 500 portion of the name found its way into Ford's new front wheel drive sedan.
Someone goofed.
Last edited by NumberDummy; 02-06-2007 at 06:34 PM.