The Shocking #Concept Car Roots Of The 1996 Taurus [Auto Styling News]

An editor over at the CarBuzz facebook page asked "What The Hell Were They Thinking: 1996 Ford Taurus?"

One possible explanation for their apparent lapse of judgment? Good intentions gone awry.

Four years earlier, the Ghia Focus concept (1992) was an incredibly influential and thought-provoking design. And one must say, quite a radical one.

Based on "organic life," it was clearly ODD, but it had a point to make. The gill-like structures on the hood and back end, and a swooping, curvy rear with lights in strange places that resembled a strange rash were all animal-like in appearance. A rope-like devise that stretched from the front of the door to the trunk was obviously not ever going to make it to a production vehicle, but was meant to tease the eye and draw it to the rear of this beast. The raw beauty of it - perhaps too raw - was undeniable. It is almost Porsche-like. Certainly Ghia-like.

Whether the concept could have survived in the marketplace in this form is certainly is debatable.

But of course, as with many concepts, by the time this concept's influences began to make it into production in REAL cars - notably the 1996 Taurus -  it was FAR from what the designer had hoped it would be. Blame the bean-counters and the unimaginative executives for this.

And yet, perhaps overall, their interference on this one may be a good thing, This may have been too shocking of a design for 1996. Or even 2006.  But it's also a shame that the production '96 Taurus came off more like a dead fish than a car inspired by nature. It DID dare to be different, but in all the wrong ways, and was widely ridiculed. The concept pointed in a better direction.

The headlights of this concept vehicle could be easily used today on any car. Stripped of its odder elements, the shape would today be seen as a revolutionary and welcome challenge to Porsche, and with a proper engine, could actually make good on that challenge.

The most recent Ford Fusion shows that the company is fully capable of producing a beautiful vehicle that actually sells - and one that doesn't stray far from the original concept.. Perhaps slapping a new grille and proper tail lights on this gorgeous concept would be a market-pleaser as well.