Ford Debuts Redesigned Ford Taurus: "SHO Me The Money"

by Robert Farago

Published: February 11th, 2009

ford debuts redesigned ford taurus sho me the money

Here’s my problem: the Taurus SHO’s 365hp EcoBoost (born TwinForce) V6 only offers ten more horses than a Lincoln MKT or MKS with the same unit. Quick! Which one of those is based on the Ford Flex? Doesn’t matter, ’cause the Flex is getting this engine too. Unlike the MKT (market?) and MKS (Mark Kay Sucks?), SHO actually stands for something: Super High Output. The Taurus SHO’s ten more ponies does not a legend make, IMHO. Thankfully, FoMoCo’s got some of the best chassis tuners in the world (most of whom spent the last twenty years or so tweaking cookin’ Euro Fords to greatness) to ply their dark arts on this big, bad boy. And when I say big, I also mean heavy. When you’re torquing that much power, the Taurus (born Taurus) needs all of its all wheel-drive to get the twist to where the rubber meets the road (hihowareya?). And now… the magic number is… $37,995. Plus the not quite so optional if you’re at all serious about this Performance Package (price unknown). Forty-grand for a fast Ford Taurus? This thing better SMOKE around corners. We shall see…

Robert Farago

More by Robert Farago

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 83 comments

Michael Karesh on Feb 12, 2009

Richard Chen, I've sat in the new Taurus, and the revised interior feels much tighter than the one in the current car. The reduction feels even larger than the specs suggest. And it was done for styling. Room at the expense of styling didn't move the units.

Like Reply
Psarhjinian on Feb 12, 2009
I like the Fairlane idea. It already makes the car more exciting, and it’s just an idea in a blog comment. "Fairlane" was the concept that eventually begat the Flex. Wouldn't "Galaxie" (or Falcon) and "Fairlane" be so much cooler than "Taurus" and "Flex"? Ford has good products, but utterly reprehensible marketing.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Jalop1991 is this anything like a cheap high end German car?
HotRod Not me personally, but yes - lower prices will dramatically increase the EV's appeal.
Slavuta "the price isn’t terrible by current EV standards, starting at $47,200"Not terrible for a new Toyota model. But for a Vietnamese no-name, this is terrible.
Slavuta This is catch22 for me. I would take RAV4 for the powertrain alone. And I wouldn't take it for the same thing. Engines have history of issues and transmission shifts like glass. So, the advantage over hard-working 1.5 is lost.My answer is simple - CX5. This is Japan built, excellent car which has only one shortage - the trunk space.
Slavuta "Toyota engineers have told us that they intentionally build their powertrains with longevity in mind"Engine is exactly the area where Toyota 4cyl engines had big issues even recently. There was no longevity of any kind. They didn't break, they just consumed so much oil that it was like fueling gasoline and feeding oil every time