Discreet to near-invisibility, the 2010 SHO differs from the standard Taurus in this view only by its unique wheels, luster instead of chrome finish on the grille, and very small badges.
Best labeled a luxury sport sedan, the SHO is the performance black sheep in the all-new Taurus family. It couples the near-luxury trim of a high-end Taurus Limited with outstanding turbocharged power and tautly athletic handling. It also draws a line in the powertrain sand with the introduction of Ford's all-new EcoBoost engine, a fuel-efficient combination of direct fuel injection and turbocharging. This is Ford's critical near-term strategy to handle the fuel-economy, emissions and power maelstrom — and it works.
Model Lineup
As the performance offshoot of the all-new 2010 Taurus, the Taurus SHO is a stand-alone model. Minimal badging identifies the SHO, which will be spotted only by those in the know. Outside, minor brightwork details are found in the grille, along with SHO badges in the quarter windows, a small rear spoiler and twin tailpipes. All sheet metal is shared with the standard Taurus.
Video: Consumer Reports on the Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO
Already stuffed with premium materials, the SHO offers but three option packages. The first we expect to find on nearly all SHOs. It includes a moonroof, a 390-watt 12-speaker Sony sound system and heated and cooled front seats for $2,000.
The second option package is luxury-oriented at $3,000 and offers a power rear sunshade, heated rear seats, adjustable pedals, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, the trick radar-guided Blind Spot and Cross Traffic Alert functions, along with a rearview camera — not many excuses for backing into a pole with this.
Most to our liking is the Performance Package. Built around higher-grip Goodyear F1 summer tires on unique 20-inch wheels, the Performance Package delivers improved brake pads, sport tuning on the suspension, electric steering assist, an off switch for the traction control and a lower 3.16:1 final drive ratio. Enthusiast drivers will definitely want the Performance version, since it sharpens response and glides on smooth pavement. But frost heaves mean a mandatory test drive to ensure an acceptable ride — it's a firmer ride than the standard SHO, which is in turn firmer than the standard Taurus.
Reviews of the Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO
Under the Hood
The heart of the SHO is its high-tech twin-turbocharged direct-fuel-injected 4-valve 4-cam 3.5-liter V6. Belting out 102 more horsepower than the Taurus' rank-and-file 3.5 liter, the SHO engine whips up a horse a day: 365 horsepower. Even better, its boost "curve" is actually a massive 350 lb-ft shelf that magically punts the SHO into motion, and its fuel economy is a mile or two better per gallon than the competition's, at 25 mpg on the highway. Credit the low fuel burn to direct injection, which squirts fuel directly into the cylinders, allowing a higher, more efficient compression ratio.
All SHOs are full-time all-wheel drive, too. This squelches all traction worries, either from power-induced wheelspin or nasty weather. Another given is the 6-speed automatic transmission. Both center console and paddle shifting are provided.
Compare: Taurus SHO vs. Chrysler 300C Hemi vs. Lincoln MKS
Noteworthy as well is the stiff unibody chassis. This supports the extra precision provided by the SHO's electrically assisted power steering, along with the sport sedan's stiffer suspension tuning. Performance all-season 255/45VR-19 tires are standard, with 20-inch summer tires on the Performance Package.
Inner Space
Ford designers pressed for a dramatic, twin-cockpit interior for the new Taurus, and they got it. With its dramatically sloping dashboard and strong detailing, there was little need to amp up the interior spectacle for the SHO. Compared with the regular Taurus, the SHO's standard leather seats sport suede inserts, as does the steering wheel. Finally, the SHO pedals wear aluminum pads. That's about it for SHO interior perks.
Discuss: Will Ford's new EcoBoost engine sway you into buying an all-new Taurus?
SHO seating is comfortable, if not overly bolstered against cornering loads. Generous tilt and telescoping steering, plus no-excuses seat travel, seat massage and seat heating and cooling accommodate nearly everyone in comfort. Rear-seat room is also better than expected, and trunk room is spacious in this full-size car.
Oh no, here we go again. I am afraid this will turn out like the early SHOs. I know first hand the nightmare of working on and maintaining the early SHOs. While I admit they are much more fun to drive than the regular Tortes, they were a technicians nightmare. Not bad cars for the first 50k, but after that they were a losing battle. We will see. The biggest issue is the cars are originally designed for a particular engine and built around that. Then the engineers fist F$#k a larger engine under the hood and it is not easy to do ANY repairs. Hard enough with the normal engine. I hope this is not the case with the new SHO, but based on the history of American Auto engineers, I won't hold my breath. Have fun if you own or buy one, but don't hold on for long unless you have serious $$$. Good luck is all I can say, hope you get a winner. Not sure why American auto company's keep spending money making "high output" engines, when they should be using those resources to make DEPENDABLE and Economical vehicles that America despretly needs. Direct fuel injection and desil fuel technologies need to be invested in IMHO. Not "sports" sedans. If you want fast, buck up and buy a sports car.
