2010 Ford Taurus SHO Preview

It's SHO-time once again, and for Ford's Taurus it's been a very, very long time since the famed three letters have been

inscribed on its rear end. This time around, however, Ford won't be looking to Yamaha to deliver its under-hood Super High Output, but rather its own technologically advanced EcoBoost twin-turbocharged, direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 for V8-like performance with the fuel economy of a V6. And all of its 365-horsepower will be fed through an all-wheel drivetrain via a paddle-shift actuated six-speed automatic transmission.

Not a bad menu of components to start off with, is it? And to think that the new Taurus will ride on a revised version of the new Lincoln MKS architecture, already with sportier driving dynamics in standard blue-oval guise, but no doubt beefed up for SHO specification, it's enough to give a car enthusiast goose bumps in anticipation.

The all-wheel drive system is torque sensing as well, so power will be distributed to

the wheel with the most traction to maximize performance, all in a package that's so much better built, so much more luxuriously appointed that it will forever change associations people have with the Taurus nameplate.

“The new Taurus SHO delivers on the authentic sleeper sedan formula but adds all-new luxury-appointments, convenience features and technologies to an unsurpassed balance of power and fuel economy,” commented Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas.  “This new sport derivative answers enthusiasts' calls for a premium Ford flagship sedan with even more attitude.”

It's got to be good, mind you, as it has a reputation to live up to. The original Taurus SHO, a forerunner for domestic OEM “tuner” cars, earned placement on the Car and Driver 10 Best list four years running. The first entered the scene in 1989 and within a decade had wooed more than 100,000 blue-oval

performance fans into ownership. Only time will tell if the SHO club, with its 1,000-member following and 10,000 registered online forum users, will SHO up to buy the new one, but their dedicated website, www.bringbackthesho.com, is a good indication that there's still a lot of enthusiasm for the car.

According to Ford those same enthusiasts were part of the new car's development process. “The 2010 Taurus product development team spent significant time listening to SHO enthusiasts,” a press release stated, so those that still love the original have at least been consulted in making the new one.

The

3.5-liter engine is good for 365-horsepower, as noted, at 5,500 rpm, and 350 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm, more robust than many current V8 offerings. This makes it Ford's most powerful EcoBoost engine, important for the top-level version of its flagship model. Its twin-turbos, which spin up faster for reduced turbo lag, join direct-injection technology for much more efficient usage of fuel, thanks to fuel vaporization during the incoming stroke, which also cools the incoming air and lowers the potential for knock while improving throttle response, reducing cold start emissions problems and overall benefiting fuel economy.  The cooled charge increases the compression ratio too, making for better efficiency during partial load and improved volumetric efficiency under full load.  Ford promises “a linear power delivery across a broad torque band from 1,500 through 5,500 rpm,” which is very V8-like.

The

aforementioned paddle-shift transmission is Ford's homemade 6F55 SelectShift unit, connecting through to its technologically advanced torque-sensing all-wheel drive system. These are mentioned together because they “work in harmony to deliver ample traction when putting EcoBoost power on the road”, says the Ford release. Six forward gears offer more opportunity for the engine to maximize its “sweet spot” while allowing a taller gear-set for fuel savings during highway driving, enhanced via a 2.77 to 1 final drive ratio.

Ford says its automatic allows for “match-rev” downshifts that will hold manual selected gears, exactly what the performance driver wants his car to do in order to exact maximum control during spirited situations. Ford calls its paddle-shift operation “intuitive”, but a test is in order as the press release states a “squeeze on each paddle will deliver an economical upshift under acceleration, while a gentle push forward brings a smooth downshift,” not the usual tug on the right-side paddle for upshifts and left-side for downshifts.

Fortunately,

the intelligent all-wheel drive system is unorthodox too, but this time more positively so. Ford says that it incorporates an “advanced array of internal electromechanical clutches to efficiently distribute torque to the wheels with optimum traction”, so wet or dry, snow covered or gravel, the system, combined with electronic traction and stability control, should maintain its composure for confidence inspiring road-holding.

Ford promises to complement its SHO powertrain with a quick-reacting steering system with positive feedback too, which is a bold claim for a non-hydraulic setup.

“Taurus SHO suspension and steering have been sport-tuned to provide discriminating drivers with precise control, confident handling, communicative feedback and a compliant ride,” stated Pete Reyes, Taurus chief engineer.

The benefit to electronic power-assisted steering (EPAS) systems is a reduction of drag on the powertrain and therefore improved fuel economy, but it's difficult for most automakers to reproduce the feel of a hydraulic system, a compromise that is being forced upon enthusiasts due to the realities of our times. Again, a test will be necessary to see just how communicative the new SHO's steering system is.

The suspension setup is more conventional, but by no means rudimentary. The new SHO gets specially tuned shocks, springs and stabilizer bars plus unique strut mount bushings, which Ford says take “full advantage of the multi-link SR1 rear suspension design” first offered in the Lincoln MKS.  SR1 gets its name for a 1:1 shock absorber ratio, for better handling without a jarring ride, allowing the use of 20-inch rims and Michelin high-performance rubber.

Ford appropriately calls its SHO a sleeper,

and other than these large chrome wheels and low profile tires, there are only a few exterior design cues that will announce its arrival to those in the know. These include a revised three-bar grille flanked by SHO-specified parking lamp bezels, a rear decklid-mounted spoiler and twin-chrome exhaust pipes. Truly, however, the new Taurus is a more exciting design than the one used as the basis for the old SHO right out of the box, so a less is more philosophy continues to make sense with this specially tuned model.

“Taurus SHO was always a stealth high-performance car,” said Earl Lucas, exterior design manager.  “The new SHO builds on the expressive design of the 2010 Taurus, adding subtle cues that set it apart.”

Buyers can choose from a wide range of colors, although Ford only mentions an

SHO-exclusive hue dubbed Atlantis Green Metallic, reportedly inspired by the “iconic Jade Green” color that set the car apart in 1991.

The 2010 SHO is available in a wide range of new Taurus colors including Atlantis Green Metallic, a unique SHO color inspired by the iconic Jade Green hue appearing in 1991.

Inside, the new Taurus is a much more advanced car than its predecessor, and the SHO benefits. No one will be able to deride the Taurus again for poor materials, shoddy fit and finish or a lack of technology, as the new car experiences the trickle-down effect of a much improved Lincoln brand. Soft-touch plastics give the car a premium feel, while its panel fit and the quality of its switchgear are more upscale than some of its Japanese rivals let alone Taurus

models from the past. Some SHO-specific features include leather-trimmed seats with Miko Suede inserts, made from “recycled post-consumer yarns from plastic soft drink bottles” no less. They're 10-way adjustable for optimized comfort and support, while the steering wheel features the same perforated leather and foot pedals are accented with aluminum for a sportier look. SHO appliques abound, of course, made of real aluminum on the door panels while stitched into the floor mats.

Some standard SHO features include Ford's Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, a proximity sensing key fob that lets you enter the car and start the engine without fumbling around for the key.  It requires the touch of Ford's SecuriCode keyless entry keypad to initiate, which, incidentally, is another way to get inside if you're without a key. The “key”, dubbed MyKey, will set up the car to your preferences, or more importantly it can be limited for drivers with more enthusiasm than their experience should allow for. “Restrictive

driving mode” presets can be chosen that will remind the driver to use their safety belt, minimize the volume of the audio system, give an earlier low-fuel warning signal, and consistently engage the AdvanceTrac stability control system. Most importantly, however, the top-speed can be limited to 80 mph, with speed chimes programmed to annoy the young enthusiast at 45, 55 or 65 mph, keeping that right foot in check.

Ford includes its Easy Fuel Capless Fuel Filler System with the new Taurus, which will eliminate the loss of fuel caps as well as self-sealing the system for less air and moisture into the tank, effectively improving emissions.

Ford

SYNC, co-developed with Microsoft, is also included, so in-vehicle voice-activated communications and entertainment system access is as easy as ever, with the ability to enable everything from MP3 players, iPods, memory sticks and PDAs to 911 Assist.

Less useful but still a nice touch, Ford offers SHO customers “a choice of five soothing colors” of ambient lighting, but most prospective buyers will be more impressed with its array of standard safety features, starting with the aforementioned active traction and stability control, the requisite ABS-enhanced brakes, and a full assortment of passive airbags in front and down the sides. A backup camera can be had, automatically engaged when the transmission is shifted into reverse and projected onto a screen integrated within the rearview mirror. The SHO can also be had with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), with a possible 600-foot gap monitored via the car's integrated radar system.  ACC comes with Collision Warning with Brake Support that provides visible and audible warnings when traffic slows ahead. 

Brake Support gets activated if you don't respond to the warnings, pre-charging the brake system in preparation for a quick stop.

The SHO can also be purchased with Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and Cross Traffic Alert, two multiple beam radar modules set into each rear quarter panel.  If a vehicle pulls alongside the SHO in what it defines as the car's blind spot, an indicator alert warns the driver not to turn into the lane. Cross Traffic Alert warns the driver of oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking spot, protecting occupants and sheet metal from one of the most common MVA occurrences.

A feature that truly vaults the SHO into premium territory is the optional Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion, which combine with heated and cooled cushions for what should be serious support and otherworldly comfort. The Multi-Contour

function “provides subtle but continuous massage to help prevent back pain and fatigue”, perfect for longer trips.

Such trips are often when the SHO's optional Voice-Activated Navigation System would be useful, a package that adds a 10-gig music juke box hard drive and a single CD/DVD player.  Why Ford only went with 10 gigs when rivals offer 30 is anyone's guess, but it's nice to have just the same. When ordered, the rearview camera gets projected onto the center-stack positioned infotainment screen instead of the rearview mirror, for a larger image.

The

top-line audio system is made by Sony, and boasts twelve speakers, a digital amplifier making 390 watts of continuous power (RMS), 115 dB of maximum bass sound pressure level and Dolby Pro Logic II surround technology. Nice.

The car, which was introduced in Chicago yesterday, will also be built in Ford's Chicago assembly plant and made available in North America this summer. Truly, the new Taurus SHO not only raises the temperature of blue-oval blood everywhere, but also raises the bar amongst OEM performance sedans in its expected price range. Certainly it's not as overtly powerful as Chrysler's 300C SRT8 or for that matter Pontiac's upcoming G8 GXP, but its combination of strong performance and high refinement allow it a unique position amongst the domestics, and capability to woo premium import buyers that expect more than has been previously offered from Detroit. The Taurus SHO will do well.

Preliminary Specifications (2010 Ford Taurus SHO):