Ford Five Hundred: Difference between revisions

Ford Five Hundred
2005 Ford Five Hundred Limited AWD
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford
Production	July 12, 2004–April 12, 2007
Model years	2005–2007
Assembly	United States: Chicago, Illinois (Chicago Assembly)
Designer	George Bucher (2001)[1][2] J Mays[3]
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Transverse, FF layout / F4 layout
Platform	Ford D3 platform
Related	Mercury Montego Ford Freestyle/Taurus X
Powertrain
Engine	3.0 L Duratec 30 V6
Transmission	ZF Batavia CFT30 CVT 6-speed Aisin F21 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	112.9 in (2,868 mm)
Length	200.7 in (5,098 mm)[4]
Width	74.5 in (1,892 mm)
Height	61.5 in (1,562 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford Taurus (fourth generation) Ford Crown Victoria
Successor	Ford Taurus (fifth generation)

The Ford Five Hundred is a full-size, four-door, front- or all wheel-drive sedan^[5] manufactured and marketed by Ford for model years 2005-2007.

Packaging a full-size, high roof/high H-point sedan on mid-size footprint, the Five Hundred was a direct byproduct of Ford's 1999 acquisition of Volvo Cars, and Ford's response to a marked shift in automative tastes — from sedans to minivans and SUVs — and an effort by Ford "to rethink offering the traditional sedan/wagon formula of the past."^[6]

Presented in concept drawings at the 2002 New York Auto Show and formally presented at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, the Five Hundred used a revised variant of Volvo's P2d, platform, Ford's new unibody D3 platform. Internally designated the D258 model, the Five Hundred was co-introduced with a rebadged sedan for Ford's Lincoln-Mercury division, the Mercury Montego as well as a station wagon variant, the Ford Freestyle.

The Five Hundred was manufactured with its D3 siblings, the Freestyle and Montego, at Ford's Torrence Avenue Chicago Assembly. Over model years 2005-2007, the Five Hundred reached a total production of 241,402 excluding export sales.

Rather than discontinuing its still-marketable fourth generation Taurus (critical to the company's fleet sales) and following it with the new D3-based "Taurus," Ford chose to overlap the two models, using a new nameplate for the D3-basaed model.

Group Vice President of Global Design and Chief Creative Officer, J Mays, christened the new model Five Hundred,^[7] recalling Ford's historic use of a "500" suffix to designate top trim levels, as with the Galaxie 500. Thus the new D3-based sedan was marketed alongside the previous generation Taurus and between Ford's smaller Fusion and larger Crown Victoria.

For model year 2008, Ford renamed the Five Hundred as the Ford Taurus; the Montego as the Mercury Sable and the Freestyle as the Ford Taurus X. Outside of North America and South Korea, the Five Hundred nameplate remained in use until production of the generation ended after 2009.

As part of the 1999 acquisition of Volvo Cars and its addition to Premier Automotive Group, Ford Motor Company expanded on its vehicle safety technology capabilities and began development of a D186 Taurus replacement.^[8][9] In 2000, the Ford Prodigy concept car was shown. A 72MPG diesel-electric hybrid designed as part of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles, the Prodigy would introduce much of the exterior styling of the Five Hundred; it was also the first Ford to use the horizontal "three-bar" grille (which made its production debut on the 2006 Ford Fusion).

The Ford Five Hundred entered production on July 12, 2004^[10] at Chicago Assembly (the previous assembly site of the Ford Taurus), and became available to the public in September 2004.

Noted for its rational, minimalist styling, tall interior cabin, high H-point seating and prominent greenhouse recalling the Volkswagen Passat (1997–2005) and Audi A6 (1997–2004), the Five Hundred was designed by George Bucher, Chief Designer,^[1][2] under the direction of Ford Vice President of Design, J Mays.^[3] Ford vice president Phil Martens noted that at a time when the industry was trying to design car-based crossovers, the Five Hundred was the first crossover-based car.^[11]

The Ford Five Hundred uses the Ford D3 platform shared with the Mercury Montego and Ford Freestyle. An evolution of the Volvo P2 platform (used in the Volvo S80), the D3 platform marked the shift to front-wheel drive in full-size Ford sedans; an electro-hydraulic Haldex all-wheel drive system (based on that used on the Volvo S80 and XC90) was optional in all versions of the Ford Five Hundred or Mercury Montego.^[12]

Along with Haldex AWD, several Volvo design features were incorporated into the structure of the Five Hundred, including a modified version of Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) from Volvo, channeling impact forces around the passenger compartment; the front frame rails were redesigned to better absorb impact forces.^[12] Alongside standard dual front airbags, the Five Hundred was available with both side airbags and curtain airbags as an option.^[12]

For the first time in a full-size Ford sedan, the Ford Five Hundred featured independent suspension for both front and rear axles, with MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear axle with coilover shocks; both axles were fitted with stabilizer bars.^[12] As with the Ford Crown Victoria, the Five Hundred was configured with four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (12.5-inch front, 13-inch rear).^[12]

The Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego was powered by a single engine, shared with the Ford Taurus: a 203 hp 3.0L Duratec V6, paired with a 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission (for front-wheel drive versions) or a ZF CVT (for AWD).

A distinguishing feature of the Five Hundred is its 61.5" overall height — over 5 inches taller than the Ford Taurus marketed alongside it. The high-roof design allowed an elevated H-point (hip point). As with the first-generation Ford Focus, the seats of the Five Hundred were positioned relatively high off the floor, providing an upright seating position and improved visibility, access, and egress. The rear seat was positioned higher than the front seats. The Ford Five Hundred featured a folding rear seat to supplement the 21 cubic foot trunk (larger than the Lincoln Town Car). With the option of a folding front passenger seat, a Five Hundred was able to carry objects up to ten feet long inside the vehicle.

While visibility was one factor behind the higher seating position, safety was another as well. Derived from the Volvo Side Impact Protection System (SIPS), a hydroformed cross-car steel beam underneath the front seats was welded between the B-pillars (directly below an identical beam above the B-pillars).^[12][13]

George Bucher, Ford's chief designer said "it was a challenge to sculpt a Ford-styled body around a Volvo chassis, and added that designers used what he calls plainer surfaces with taut lines to give the car a modern look without losing its passenger-car proportions."^[13]

At introduction, Ford marketed the Five Hundred in three graduating trim levels: SE, SEL, and Limited. An all wheel drive system was available across the range. Base prices start at US$22,795 for a front-wheel drive SE and range to US$28,495 for an all-wheel drive Limited. Interior trim featured a new hydrographic system for simulated carbon fiber on the SE trim and wood on SEL and Limited.^[14]

MY 2005: 2005 Trim level equipment included:

SE - SE equipment included cloth upholstery, power driver's seat, keyless entry, power accessory delay, power trunk release, power mirrors, power locks, power windows with automatic driver's side window, 17" painted alloy rims, an AM/FM stereo with single-CD player, body color mirrors and handles, black front grille, simulated carbon fiber interior dash and console trim and air conditioning with rotary controls.

SE options included CVT transmission, chrome grille, traction control, and a "Safety and Security" package with side and curtain airbag, anti-theft perimeter alarm, heated side mirrors, and security approach lamps.

SEL - SEL equipment additionally included Message center with trip computer, vehicle information center and compass, electrochromic auto-dim rearview center rear view mirror, heated side mirrors, fog lamps, perimater security alarm, automatic headlamps, automatic temp control, chrome grille, AM/FM stereo with 6-disc in dash CD player with MP3 capability and steering wheel audio controls, power front seats, simulated wood interior dash and console trim and an auto-dimming rear view mirror.

SEL options included CVT transmission, rear parking sensors, marketed as Reverse Sensing System, power moonroof, traction control, shirred leather seats and a Safety package with side and side curtain airbags.

Limited - The Limited trim level included shirred leather heated seats, two-position memory driver's seat and mirrors, analog clock, Audiophile sound system with a subwoofer and an AM/FM stereo with 6-disc in dash CD player and MP3 capability, chrome mirrors, and a trunk cargo net.

Limited trim options included CVT transmission, rear parking sensors, marketed as Reverse Sensing System, power moonroof, and integrated Homelink transmitter.

MY 2006 updates: Ford offered the SE, SEL and Limited trim levels for 2006, with an optional navigation radio by Pioneer with Sirius Satellite Radio (Limited); power moonroof and leather seating newly optional on SE trim, traction control became optional (FWD models). A 2006 mid-year running change removed the exterior mid-door side trim molding (all trim levels) in favor of a small sill molding at the bottom edge of the door.

MY 2007 updates: For 2007, Ford discontinued the SE trim level. Both SEL and Limited trims manufactured after September 4, 2006 received side and side curtain airbags, marketed as the Safety Canopy. Shirred leather became optional on the SEL trim. The powertrain warranty was revised to 5 years / 60,000-mile (97,000 km). SEL option packages included a "Safety and Security" package (before September 2006) with side and curtain airbag, anti-theft perimeter alarm, heated side mirrors, and security approach lamps; "Convenience Package with 6-disc in-dash CD changer with MP3 capability, dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control, automatic headlamps, fog lamps and outside temperature display; "Interior Power" package with 8-way power driver’s seat and power-adjustable pedals; and Chrome Package with 18-inch eight-spoke alloy wheels and a chrome trim mesh grille.

The Five Hundred was engineered with a quality control system known internally as Total Vehicle Geometry (TVG).^[12] Designed by Volvo, TVG was heavily computer-based, allowing access for designers, engineers and suppliers to all data and results related to prototypes at all stages of the design process.^[12] With improved participation and access, precision of fit and finish was increased on prototype parts, decreasing the time needed for preliminary production vehicles, so-called pilot vehicles.^[12]

Using new powertrain electronics, the Five Hundred employed a CAN bus system with a Black Oak controller and PowerPC machine language and floating-point calculations for improved execution times.^[15]

Wikinews has related news:

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The Five Hundred ended production on April 12, 2007, as did the Mercury Montego and Ford Freestyle.^[16] For the 2007 North American International Auto Show, Ford introduced a mid-cycle 2008 update of the Five Hundred and Montego; the new sedans had front and rear fascia styling, new interiors, and new powertrains with a 263 hp 3.5L V6 and a new 6-speed automatic transmission.

Although the changes were positively received, Ford CEO Alan Mulally chose to rename all three D3 platform cars, with the Five Hundred and Montego becoming the fifth-generation Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable; the similarly updated Ford Freestyle continued as the Ford Taurus X. Although the Taurus had been out of retail markets since 2006 (the Sable, since 2005), Mullaly cited the larger brand familiarity of the Taurus/Sable nameplates as the reason for the renaming of the two D3 sedans.

For the 2010 model year, the Ford Taurus underwent a complete redesign. Although retaining the D3 chassis, the exterior and interior was completely changed, to add more aggressive styling.^[17] This became the final generation Taurus for North America. As the Mercury brand was being phased out in 2010, 2009 marked the final year of the Sable nameplate.

Alongside the Ford Five Hundred, several versions of the D3 platform were marketed by Ford Motor Company, with all variants produced in the same Chicago assembly facility.

Mercury marketed a rebadged counterpart of the Five Hundred, reviving the Mercury Montego nameplate (last used in 1976) and marketing it between the Grand Marquis (which remained for sale) and the 2006 Milan (replacing the Sable alongside the Montego).

The Montego was a close rebadgeo f the Five Hundred with revised grille, bumper fascia, wheels, satin aluminum interior trim, and two-tone interior with black-toned wood trim.^[12] The Montego was offered with standard HID headlamps and LED taillamps (at the time, the largest set of LED taillamps ever introduced).^[12]

As with the Five Hundred, the Montego was marketed in front- and all-wheel drive configurations, sharing the same powertrains. Two trims were offered: Luxury (between Five Hundred SE and SEL) and Premier (Five Hundred Limited).

For model year 2008, when Ford renamed the Five Hundred the Taurus, Mercury renamed the Montego the Sable. For 2010, both cars were replaced by the sixth-generation Taurus.

In its development as one of the vehicles to replace the Ford Taurus, the model lineup of the Five Hundred/Montego was reduced to the four-door sedan exclusively. The five-door station wagon was repackaged as a distinct vehicle on the platform, returning as a wagon-like SUV; the rear-facing third-row jump seat of the Taurus (seen since 1986) was replaced by a forward-facing third row. Previewed by the 2005 Mercury Meta One concept vehicle, the Ford Freestyle was slightly larger than the Ford Explorer (though much smaller than the Ford Expedition). In contrast to its sedan counterparts, the Freestyle was only marketed by Ford; no Mercury version was sold.

Sharing a chassis with the Five Hundred, the Freestyle used a 3.0L V6 engine; though offered with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, all examples were fitted with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Freestyle shared a large degree of feature commonality with the Five Hundred (though the two vehicles were fitted with different dashboards); the Freestyle adopted exterior design elements from larger Ford SUVs, including the Explorer and Expedition.

For 2008, the Freestyle became the Ford Taurus X, ultimately replaced by the Ford Flex during 2009.

The Five Hundred was well received for its SUV-like packaging with a raised overall height, elevated seating and large interior volume — as well as its extensive safety features. In contrast, its performance was considered acceptable, if lackluster. ^{[20][21][22][23]} And where design team had aimed for guilt-free, unpretentious luxury,^[24][25] its styling proved divisive — called either handsome and elegant^[26] or exceedingly conservative.^{[27][28][29][30][31]} Mays himself would later call the Five Hundred too conservative, likening the vehicle to a beautifully tailored Brooks Brothers suit.^[32] The vehicle's greenhouse was noted for closely recalling Volkswagen and Audi designs from Mays' own tenure with the Volkswagen Group.^[33][27][28]

In 2014, Ford designer J Mays said "I don't think the Five Hundred or Freestyle was one of my brighter moments in Ford, but designing a car is not a solo effort and a lot of people have input on the kind of product they want. I've been at the company 13 years and I've been through five CEOs. Some of those CEOs have had more conservative tastes than others."^[34] Mays later conceded of the Five Hundred's styling: "It's just lacking in the emotional appeal that we should have put into it. We were being good team players, and we did our best to wrap what was a best-in-class package with sheetmetal, and we ended up with a car, I think, that compromised itself in terms of style. But we will never make that mistake again. In fact, we haven't made a mistake like that since we did it. I think of all the cars I've designed in my career, I regret not pushing harder on that car."^[35]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ford Five Hundred.

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