2010 Ford Taurus SHO By: ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net   Late Spring 2009, I was with a group of journalists that traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee and Ashville, North Carolina to preview and test-drive the all-new 2010 Ford Taurus.  I talked about what a terrific car this was and how much different it is from the older car that had the same name.  This new Taurus is destined to become the “flagship” vehicle of the Ford car lineup.  During the trip, our group was also introduced to a specialty version of the 2010 Taurus called the Taurus SHO – spelled S – H – O.  If you like more power, the SHO version might be worth your looking a little bit closer.

  For those who might remember, the SHO designation was introduced on a Taurus back in the late 80’s as a special Sports Sedan.  It was really a great idea and attracted a lot of buyers that wanted a budget sports car for a family.  It reminded me of the original Mustang from the 60’s being a four-sweater sports car with a budget price.  Ford has historically responded to the buying desires of the middle-income American worker and car enthusiast.  That original SHO Taurus lasted about 10 years, but it did so well, some executives tried to milk the consumer by making the SHO version over-priced.  It died a natural death from low sales.
The 2010 Taurus SHO is very technologically advanced, including the new EcoBoost V-6 engine.  These Eco-Boost engines are the wave of Ford’s future for the next few years.  This V-6 has great fuel economy but all the power of a large V-8.  The EcoBoost V-6 is a 3.5-liter with 365 horsepower.  The SHO includes All-Wheel-Drive, paddle shifters, and a six-speed SelectShift Automatic gearbox.

The Taurus SHO model delivers the type of power you want if like a lot of horsepower.  My driving partner and I pulled out of the assembly area and headed into the scenic Smokey Mountains.  We took the twists, turns, and mountain roadways effortlessly, as easily as children playing with small cars in a sand box.  The Taurus SHO never faltered, showing that the twin-turbo units really work.  Going around sharp turns, we noticed the anticipated leaning, but the feeling was less than what we had expected and was very balanced.  Electric steering systems are very good and function well, but I liked the version in the SHO.  It provided instant response whether we were at high speeds on the highway or low speeds going through a small town.      

The 2010 Taurus is a great vehicle and offers a wide range of technology.  These are included in the SHO version as well as a lot more.  The regular Taurus and the SHO version look very much alike, with only minor exterior differences.  There is a small spoiler on the edge of the trunk and 19 inch wheels instead of 17 inch wheels.  There’s not much else to distinguish the difference to the naked eye.  It is not a “look-at-me-I’m-faster-than-you” car.  It quietly sits still until the pedal is pushed, the roar is heard, and the twin turbo’s instantly leap-start the SHO ahead of the other vehicles trying to begin moving.  It is definitely fun to drive this vehicle.          The seats are trimmed out in leather, there is a push-button start, and the fuel filler has that new capless feature.  The paddle-shifters are easy to operate.  The gauges are set back but can be illuminated during the daytime to allow easier recognition.  It did not have a Boost Gauge or a red line on the tachometer.  For a sports sedan with this much power, I expected that.  It did have Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Warning with brake support, Blind Spot Information System, Cross Traffic Alert, and other safety features to help keep the car and driver safe and collision-free.    

Bottom line – I really like the new 2010 Ford Taurus, but I really-really like the SHO version.  It is a fun car to drive if you like power and speed.  Check out the new Taurus and the Taurus SHO at a Ford dealership yourself.