Ford Taurus SHO

The Ford Taurus SHO (Super High Output^[1]) is a full-size performance sedan based on the Ford Taurus that was originally produced by the Ford Motor Company from 1989 until 1999. It returned in 2009 for the 2010 model year.^[2]

The SHO (spoken as "ess ayche o") was built by the same team that produced the Ford Mustang SVO. It was originally created as a limited production model for 1989 through 1993. However, the car proved to be very popular and quickly sold its planned 15,519 units in its first model year,^[3] leading Ford to order more engines and begin series production.^[4] The SHO would go on to be produced for ten years in three generations, totaling 106,465 vehicles as of late 1999.^[3]
Production ended after the 1999 model year due to a decline in popularity, in which Ford decided to not produce a SHO version of the fourth generation Taurus; in 1999, just over 3,000 SHOs were sold, which was only a sixth of the SHO's sales numbers from ten years prior.^[3] Today, the SHO enjoys a cult following among performance car enthusiasts, due to its relation to the Taurus, which classifies it as a "Sleeper".

Fourth generation (2010–present)

A month after the introduction of the sixth generation Taurus, Ford unveiled the much-awaited return of the SHO at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show.^[13]
After skipping two Ford Taurus generations, the resurrected sport sedan has all-wheel drive and is largely derived from the Ford D3 platform. It features a 3.5 liter direct-injected twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 producing 365 hp (272 kW) at 5500 rpm and 350 lb·ft (475 N·m) of torque at 1500-5250 rpm,^[14] mated to Ford's 6F55 ^[15] six-speed SelectShift semi-automatic transmission with a paddle- or console-activated Manual mode.
The new SHO comes with Ford's new SR1 suspension setup with MacPherson front struts and a multi-link design in the rear. This includes SHO-specific shock absorbers, springs, stabilizer bars and strut mount bushings. An optional Performance Package offers better brake pads, recalibrated steering, a "Sport Mode" for the stability control and shorter 3.16 to 1 final drive ratio.
Visually, the differences from the regular Taurus are subtle. It is encompassed by a dark grey grille finish that matches the larger wheels, a decklid spoiler, dual chrome exhaust tips, new parking lamp bezels, an EcoBoost rear logo, and an SHO C-Pillar logo.^[2][16]

Awards

The 2010 Taurus SHO was named Car of the Year by Esquire magazine.