Ford Five Hundred
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| Ford Five Hundred | |
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| Missing image Ford500car.JPG 2005 Ford Five Hundred | |
| Manufacturer: | Ford Motor Company |
| Class: | full-size sedan |
| Production: | 2005 — present |
| Predecessor: | Ford Taurus |
| Body Styles: | 4-door sedan |
| Engines: | 3.0 L Duratec V6 |
| Similar: | Mercury Montego |
| Related: | Ford Freestyle Volvo S80 |
| This article is part of the Ford automobile series. | |
The Ford Five Hundred (code name D258) is a large fullsize sedan produced by the Ford Motor Company. In North America, the name is intended to recall the Fairlane 500 and Galaxie 500 models of the 1950s through 1970s.
Available powertrains consist of a 3.0 L Duratec 30 V6 engine, and the choice of a continuously-variable-transmission or six-speed automatic transmission, and either front wheel drive or the same Haldex all wheel drive system used in the Volvo XC90.
Based on the Ford D3 platform which also supports the Volvo S60 and S80 sedans and the XC70 and XC90 SUVs, the Five Hundred 's twin is the Mercury Montego sedan (code name D333), and is also the basis for the Ford Freestyle crossover SUV (code name D219).
The Five Hundred was designed to provide large car interior volume with manageable outside dimensions while delivering good fuel economy. Its design is also notably tall for a sedan, giving drivers an SUV or minivan like command of the road. Its trunk, one of the largest on the market, can hold 8 full-sized loaded golf bags. The Five Hundred was first introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Trim lines include SE, SEL, and Limited with front- and all-wheel drive available across the range. Base prices start at US$22,795 (for a FWD SE) and range to USD $28,495 (for an AWD Limited). The Five Hundred has the lowest MSRP starting cost in its class.
The Five Hundred will be the largest in a line of sedans by Ford (smallest to largest):
- Ford Focus
- Ford Fusion (to be built for the 2006 model year)
- Ford Taurus (production will stop after the first quarter of 2006)
- Ford Five Hundred
- Ford Crown Victoria
The Five Hundred began production on July 12, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois and became available to the public in September 2004.
External link
- MyFord500.com (http://www.myford500.com)- Features news releases, links, photo galleries, and specifications.
- Ford Motor Company Five Hundred website (http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/fivehundred/)