When you come out of the box with a sedan named Taurus, provided you are Ford Motor Co., there is a certain level of expectation set, one based on previous successes - big successes.
When you couple that famous model name with a moniker that stands for super high output (SHO), you had best deliver the goods. Ford manages to deliver in both cases and when it comes to the Taurus SHO - word on the street is this is one outstanding ride.
Two words here in print: I agree.
The SHO moniker has it roots in the 1989 Taurus, which was a hugely popular sedan in the states, but Ford was looking for a way to capitalize on an already-successful nameplate.
Easiest answer: add some additional ponies to the power plant and watch the enthusiasts rise from the depths. That 1980s' SHO was a 3.0-liter V-6 delivering a hefty 220 horsepower; compared to the standard 90-horsepower offered by the Taurus, it opened a lot of eyes.
This newest 21st century Taurus SHO starts exactly where its predecessor began - under the hood. By offering a 3.5-liter V-6 and a generous 365 horsepower (102 ponies more than the standard 263 in the base Taurus sedan), SHO means showtime.
Excessive? Maybe; maybe not. Elusive? Go ahead and open one up. Fun? You bet.
I have spent some time in previous reviews raving about the Ford EcoBoost system. The system is real fun with impressive fuel economy (17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway) for an all-wheel-drive sedan. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 uses twin turbochargers to produce outstanding acceleration with no turbo lag.
For those who just gotta know: The secret to this impressive power is direct fuel injection, efficient air-charge coolers and a high static compression ratio (10.1:1). Pair the big-plant power with a six-speed SelectShift transmission that offers an aggressive-shifting sport mode and some cool, manual wheel-mounted paddles, and anyone can indulge in EcoBoost turbo power while enjoying the comfort of the Taurus cabin.
While the big news for the Taurus SHO fan is really under the hood and in the sporty drive characteristics, the Taurus SHO does exhibit a few minor changes to the exterior and interior. On the outside, SHO features a sporty trunk-lid spoiler, twin-chrome exhaust tips and a special cosmetic nose job that is subtle but attractive. Unlike other makes that may add huge step-up charges for monogrammed leather and color accents, Ford chose to keep the interior relatively the same as the regular Taurus.
The SHO does include leather-trimmed seats with suede inserts. I found these to be extremely comfortable and for those who might have had a problem with the 17/25 mpg, here's a secret: That suede isn't really suede, but a man-made fabric derived from plastic bottles. The leather trim on the seats and steering wheel is real leather and the combination of the two fabrics goes well together.
There's not much different inside that deviates from the standard Taurus interior. The dash and center stack are clean and controls are intuitively placed where you expect them to be. Power seats and plenty of glass surround the cabin and make for outstanding sightlines.
Driving the Taurus SHO is a pleasure. I tested this beast during the last snowfall of the season and this all-wheel-drive system is sure-footed and provides great traction in poor road conditions. Steering is responsive with no torque steer to worry about.
The cabin comfort I mentioned earlier can be partially attributed to a smartly tuned suspension that is not too stiff and definitely tuned for lively handling, not soft touring stages. After all, this is a Ford Taurus and the consumer is not necessarily looking to snake down a mountain road at 90 mph.
I think that for most SHO owners, knowing that you can if you wanted to will be good enough - it will have to be for those here in the Midwest.
The majority of Taurus SHOs will come with a 2.77:1 final drive ratio. Cars ordered with the performance package get a 3.16:1 final drive ratio as well as higher-performance chassis and power steering calibrations. Goodyear Eagle F-1 tires and a track mode for the electronic stability control system are also part of the performance package.
Overall the Taurus SHO packs a powerful punch. With an array of high-tech gadgets from adaptive cruise control, collision warning and my favorite, SYNC, Ford's incredible voice-control technology system, there is plenty to recognize besides the extra 102 ponies.
Though it is the ponies-plus that really make the SHO such a unique pleasure, it does come at a high price: $50,000 for a fully-loaded SHO. That should keep it a relatively rare breed on the road, but one worth trying on for size if you like twin-turbo fun.
2010 TAURUS SHOENGINE: 365-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6
TRANSMISSION: six-speed SelectShift
DRIVETRAIN: all-wheel drive
FUEL ECONOMY: 17 city/25 highway
BASE PRICE: $37,770
AS TESTED: $50,000
www.Ford.com