Watch Out People, the SHO's Back in Town!

Filed in archive Ford on February 11, 2009

There's nothing like a dash of high performance to liven up a bland sedan, which is exactly what Ford knew when it dropped a yamaha-engineered V-6 into the Ford Taurus back in the 80s, aided and abetted by a manual 5-speed box and some critical suspension mods. In doing so it created an icon, much loved by folks who appreciate big cars that go fast. Now, with a brand-new Taurus to build on, the SHO is back. The car was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in front of a hand-picked group of 11 enthusiasts from across America acting as a cheering section. (Dare we say it? Like the screaming teens hired to liven up award presentations on TV!)

Power for the 2010 SHO comes from a Ford V-6 Ecoboost engine. Though undistinguished in appearance compared to the Yamahas, the twin-turbo 3.5-liter engine offers a prodigious 365 horsepower, more than enough to make the SHO today's ultimate Q-Ship... or "sleeper car" for the benefit of our younger viewers who may not be familiar with the WW2-based designation. The 2010 Taurus SHO features a six-speed automatic transmission with control paddles mounted on the steering wheel in combination with a torque-sensing all-wheel drive system. Changes to the Taurus' bodywork include a dark-gray grille and matching 19- or 20-inch alloys along with distinct parking lamp bezels, a decklid spoiler and unique badging. Marketing and communications vice-president Jim Farley says performance figures should compare favorably with BMW's 5-Series and Chrysler's 300C all-wheel drive. The SHO is priced $900 less than the Chrysler. You'll find more on the Chicago Auto Show here.