Introduced in 1985, the Ford Taurus was a milestone in automotive design. As the best-selling car in the U.S. for five straight years, beginning in 1992, the Taurus experienced peak annual sales of more than 400,000 units. Production of the original Taurus ended in October 2006. Now it’s back, and with a new sister model.

The 2008-model Taurus X was introduced due to growing demand in the crossover segment and will complement the current Ford Edge. The new 2008-model Taurus will go on sale this summer, replacing the Ford Five Hundred. The Taurus X will go on sale in late summer, replacing the Ford Freestyle.

Both the 2008-model Ford Taurus and Taurus X feature Ford’s 3.5L Duratec V-6 engine, deliver an estimated 260 hp (an increase of nearly 30 percent from the previous engine) and 245 lb.-ft. of torque. The standard 6-speed automatic transmission provides 44-percent better acceleration, according to Ford.

New taillights, a signature three-bar chrome grill, crisp accent lines, and a new rear fascia give the 2008 Taurus a facelift, and according to Ford, give the vehicle the same appeal of the Ford Fusion. The Taurus has a large trunk at 21.2 cu. ft., and is available in two trims: Taurus SEL and Taurus Limited.

The new Taurus X crossover builds on the strength of its namesake. Crossovers have already surpassed SUVs in annual vehicle sales, and Ford predicts they will become the largest or second-largest segment in the U.S. by the end of the decade.

The three-row, seven-passenger Taurus X complements the Ford Edge. The exterior of the Taurus X picks up design cues from the Edge, including step-up headlamps and a three-bar chrome grille. Taurus X sports a new rear fascia, Fusion-inspired taillamps, and chrome dual exhaust tips. A new roof rack gives the Taurus X a tough, rugged design.

The structure of the Taurus is engineered with crush zones designed to direct excess energy around the passenger compartment into a high-strength safety cage.

The Taurus was rated America’s safest full-sized car by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and received 5-star ratings in frontal-impact (driver and passenger) and side-impact (front and rear seats).

Both the Taurus and Taurus X have what Ford calls “SPACE” (Side Protection and Cabin Enhancement) Architecture — a cross-car beam under the front sear to reinforce the structure of the vehicle and further direct energy away from passengers.