Now this is quite interesting, an American Ford that at first sight looks rather appealing! Other than the Mustang of course, but even then the real eyeball-drawer is the supercharged Shelby GT500 version and not the plain vanilla version that barely manages to squeeze 210hp out of a massive 4.0 litre of displacement.
But anyway, back to this interesting Ford. It’s a large car, the Ford Taurus SHO (pronounced “show”). It’s size and wheelbase is in the range of the likes of the E60 5-Series. It’s also got Ford’s new Kinetic Design front end styling.
Under the hood is Ford’s EcoBoost engine, a twin turbocharged 3.5 litre V6 that churns out 365 horsepower at 5,500rpm and 475Nm of torque at 3,500rpm. This is where the SHO moniker gets its justification as it stands for Super High Output. This power gets sent through a torsen-equipped all-wheel drive system, through a Ford SelectShift automatic’s 6 gear ratios, which will also blip the engine on downshifts if needed.
Other than the two turbochargers, the EcoBoost engine also has direct fuel injection. Ford claims a relatively flat torque band between 1,500 to 5,500rpm, but peaking at 3,500rpm of course. The SHO car also gets new shocks, springs, stabilizer bars and strut bushings, all in the interests of improving handling and agility. An optional performance package on top of the basic Taurus SHO gives you performance brake pads, a sportier electric power steering system programming, a Sports mode for the traction control system to allow a little leeway before it kicks in, large 20 inch wheels with Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres and a 3.16:1 final drive ratio (the standard is 2.77:1).
Even the interior is done well, it’s mostly grey and black but the various usage of piano black surfaces make it look quite classy. The only thing that looks rather out of place is the unwieldy boxy steering wheel design. With advanced technologies such as the new EcoBoost engine in Ford’s stable now, you’d wonder why Ford keeps an ancient 2 valve per cylinder SOHC 4.0 litre V6 in service in the Mustang. I suppose it’s purely in the interests of cost-cutting and making the V6 Mustang a “baseline model”.
Look after the jump for a full hi-res gallery of the Taurus SHO.
[zenphotopress number=99 album=102]
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this ford actually has retro styling, like cars from the 60s, i like
Having previously driven the last 2 “SHO”s, I think this one would be a significant impact and (finally) redeem the SHO nameplate.
The original is a high reving yahama powered V6 that put out 200+hp. Modest in our ever increasing standard and HP war, but impressive in those days. It was not everyday you see a full sized sedan tripping 100 in about 6 and a half seconds.
The original SHO was a true Q ship. Comfortable enough to drive everyday, but seriously quick enough to whack german sports sedans at traffic light grand prix.
THe 2nd gen (or 3rd as some people calls it) SHO was truely a dissapointment. Coupled with a rather lackluster V8 and no manual gearbox, it was a failure basically on all counts. The jello bean looks didn’t help it either.
Now, I can only wait for Ford to bring back the Merkur XR4Ti/Seirra Cosworth…mmmmm.
it’s a ford … so it is a cool car ..
niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
aiyz, ford in malaysia….shake head
the headlamp is nice and cool…
i still remember seeing 1 green of the previous generation in Johor… think it must have been a grey import, unless Ford did bring it in in small numbers. Can’t wait for the mondeo tho. too bad about the non-Langkawi price.. :(
Mai i say i sooo audi….or sooo VW. I mean great. Ford now feel more german
nice but still prefer the new falcon in australia
The mondeo’s bigger brother. This will never come to Malaysia. 3.5l roadtax so expansive. Surely will be some 2L+ engine