This is not a Ford. This instead is the first image of the new Hawtai Lusheng E80, a midsize sedan that will be launched on the Chinese car market next year. Hawtai took a good look at the Ford Taurus and copied the hood, grille, lights, bumper, A-pillar, and even the mirrors. Sadly we cannot see the rest of the car but we bet it will be Ford all along.
This is the Ford Taurus. It is a China-only car, manufactured by Changan-Ford. Price starts at 199.900 yuan and ends at 348.800 yuan. The Taurus is positioned above the highly successful Ford Mondeo (Fusion), which is made in China by Changan-Ford as well.
Engines: a a 1.5 turbo with 180hp and 240nm, a 2.0 turbo with 245hp and 350nm, and a 2.7 turbo V6 with 329hp and 475nm.
This is the current Hawtai Lusheng E80. It used to be called the Lusheng E70. The E70 was powered by an old 2.0 with 129hp. Later on Hawtai added a 1.5 turbo with 140hp and called that model the E80. Later on again the E70 was killed, leaving the E80 alone.
Price starts at 61.800 yuan and ends at 71.800 yuan, and that makes it one of the cheapest mid-size sedans on sale. Even so, nobody buys it and they are more rare on the road than a G63 AMG. Hawtai apparently hopes the new Ford looks will improve the E80’s chances. Well, maybe it works. A new engine might help as well, the 1.5 is underpowered, but is appears that it will continue unchanged in the new car.