new 11/07/02
Thanks to Joseph Van Oss for putting this together.
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|
Gen1 |
Gen2 |
Gen3 |
|
|
Exterior |
Wheelbase
(inches) |
106.0 |
106.0 |
108.5 |
|
Length (inches) |
188.4 |
192.0 |
197.5 |
|
|
Height (inches) |
54.1 |
54.1 |
55.1 |
|
|
Width (inches) |
70.8 |
71.2 |
73.0 |
|
|
Tread – front
(inches) |
61.6 |
61.6 |
61.6 |
|
|
Tread – rear
(inches) |
60.5 |
60.5 |
61.4 |
|
|
Fuel capacity
(gallons) |
18.6 |
18.4 |
16 |
|
|
Curb weight
(pounds) |
3300 (89 only) |
3425 (mtx) |
3490 |
|
|
Weight
distribution, front/rear (%) |
62.7/37.3 |
|
66.0/34.0 |
|
|
Front area
(square feet) |
23.2 |
23.3
? |
24.4
? |
|
|
Coefficient of
drag (Cd) |
0.38
.33 ? |
.32 ? |
.30 ? |
|
|
Turning circle
(feet) |
38.1 |
|
|
|
|
Interior |
Passenger volume
index (cubic feet) |
100.1 |
|
|
|
Cargo volume
index (cubic feet) |
17 |
18.0 |
15.8 |
|
|
Front head room
(inches) |
38.3 |
38.3 |
39.2 |
|
|
Front leg room
(inches) |
41.7 |
41.7 |
42.2 |
|
|
Front hip room
(inches) |
54.8 |
55.2 |
55.8 |
|
|
Front shoulder
room (inches) |
57.5 |
57.5 |
57.4 |
|
|
Rear head room
(inches) |
37.6 |
37.6 |
36.2 |
|
|
Rear leg room
(inches) |
37.5 |
37.7 |
38.9 |
|
|
Rear hip room
(inches) |
54.9 |
54.9 |
56.3 |
|
|
Rear shoulder
room (inches) |
57.5 |
57.5 |
56.6 |
|
|
Source of
information |
1990 Taurus
brochure, Car and Driver article, Edmunds.com, SHOtimes.com |
1995 Taurus
brochure, Edmunds.com, SHOtimes.com |
1999 Taurus
brochure, SHOtimes.com |
|
So a Gen 3 is 9.1" longer than Gen 1, 5.5" longer than a Gen 2., It is also taller and wider. Of the 9" it grew only 2.5 inches was wheel base which increases leg room I believe. So the other 6.5" must be overhang on one end or another.
Official Curb Weight of Gen 3 - 3442 #
A Gen 3 is lighter than you may first think because it has an aluminum block unlike the V6, getting an accurate weight is difficult since when the gas gage reads 1/4 tank you may yet have 10 gallons of gas. Having said that my car with spare tire, moon roof and full tank is more likely to weigh 3600 sans driver.
Joseph has a Cd of .38 for Gen1, I have a lower number for all 3 generations (in blue), I can verify the round trunk in the Gen 3 is the smallest of the 3 generations. If frontal area is about 74% of height x width then I have calculated new values for Gen 2 and gen 3. They are my best SWAG but without any authority.
Notice also the Gen 3 is more nose heavy, odd given the Gen 3 engine is lighter. Because the wheel base is longer on Gen 3 and suspension mostly unchanged I would deduce the turning circle should be higher, about 40'?
Thanks again Joseph.