This Ford Taurus Is A SHO-Off
By Phil Hall
Right off the heels of a successful launch of the new Taurus, Ford gives us one more reason to appreciate this impressive new full-size sedan with the high performance SHO trim. Those familiar with the Taurus model line may be familiar with the previous SHO models the company has put out. The original started a cult-like following because it delivered a sporty package not usually offered in a family sedan. This incarnation of the sport trim is based on a much more substantial platform than before giving it a better base to build from.
Differentiating itself from the base Taurus, the SHO offers minor styling tweaks and most importantly an improved powertrain. Under the hood of this much sculpted heavy weight is Ford’s new twin-turbo direct-injected 3.5l V6 Ecoboost engine putting out 365hp and 350lb-ft of torque. Linked to that is a beefed up version of their recently released 6-speed automatic transmission sending power to all 4 wheels. Yes, this is quite an impressive package. The performance numbers on paper can compete with most V8s and Turbo V6s offered by its competition all while delivering decent fuel mileage.
On the road, the car has a very planted feel and you can feel the weight in an almost German car way. The car is no slouch either, it can get to 60mph in less than 6 seconds without breaking a sweat.
Styling subjective, Ford was able to create something that’s very American yet can appeal to those who may not have ever imagined wanting a domestic car. Coming in at a very long 202.9 inches you immediately get an idea of how massive the car is, but it has a very athletic stance and is quite masculine, almost as much as Chrysler’s 300. Inside you will find a spacious cabin with high quality materials nice to the touch and a whole list of techy goodness like Ford’s SYNC media software. Ford definitely did their homework, now it’s just up to the consumers to take notice.
2010 Ford Taurus SHO
Price $37,990
Bodystyle(s) Full-size Sedan
Engine 365hp Turbo 3.5L DOHC V6
Fuel Economy 17mpg city / 25mpg highway
Available Now