It’s difficult to over-state how dramatically different the aerodynamically-tuned Taurus was upon its 1986 debut. I remember seeing the television commercials and sitting up with a gasp. It defined futuristic and still cuts a swath a quarter-century later. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation would not have split as many sides without it — either hauling that Christmas Sequoia or flying through a snow bank.

Now, after decades of neglect, the latest model is again a very cool car that innovates.

During the recent re-style, designers gave the Taurus an aggressive stance, shortened the side windows for a sexier profile, and tapped into Galaxy heritage for the square tail lamps. The high trunk conceals a boudoir that could bed at least four Jimmy Hoffas -– maybe more with the rear seats flipped. Integrated dual chrome exhaust tips, 19” alloys, and canted headlamps wax sinister.

Interior stylists gave the Taurus a twin-cowl dash as in the Mustang, but angled it way forward for the feeling of a muscle ship command center. Our test car had MyFord Touch with SYNC that ditches traditional buttons for touch points on the center stack and voice controls for audio, navigation, climate, and other functions. The system is not a darling of Consumer Reports, but seemed relatively easy to use. Heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, and ridiculous rear seat space poshed out the joint.

Real innovation lands under the hood. The big poppa is moved by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 240 hp and 22/32 mpg city/hwy. I should have noticed the “EcoBoost” label on the decklid, but drove it home wondering why the six-cylinder engine had suddenly become so smooth and rich with torque. The Taurus with EcoBoost is no Shelby Cobra, but it commands considerable street cred among other full-size four-doors, proving that you don’t need a big engine for big grins.

Much of the car’s chassis was cribbed from the Volvo S80/XC90 architecture and is shared with the Lincoln MKS/MKT and Ford Explorer/Flex. That bestows the full-size American car with sophisticated European behavior. It’s difficult to tame the big wheels as they rumble over rough roads, but the four-wheel independent suspension does a good job of maintaining composure.

As with the big Volvos, safety performance is world class and earns an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick. There’s a ton of high-strength steel, thick doors, and beefy roof pillars to fortify the passenger compartment. To prevent contact in the first place, the Taurus is available with adaptive cruise control that uses radar to scan 600 feet ahead. Using the same radar, the collision warning system with brake support blinks red lights beneath the windshield and pre-charges the brakes should an accident seem imminent. Blind spot and cross-traffic alert systems further warn drivers of danger.

Books have been written about how the original Taurus saved Ford’s ass in the ‘80s. The big car with a powerful little heart may not set the club a-dancing, but it is still a very formidable ride. That’s almost enough to justify the $35,180 as-tested price.

2013 Ford Taurus
Five-passenger, FWD sedan
Powertrain: 240hp 2.0-liter turbo-four, 6-speed automatic transmission
Suspension f/r: Ind/Ind
Wheels: 19”/19” alloy f/r
Brakes: disc/disc fr/rr with ABS
Must-have features: Style, convenience
Fuel economy: 22/32 mpg city/hwy
Assembly: Chicago, IL
Base/as-tested price: $26,600/35,180