2010 Ford Taurus SHO slated for Chicago debut?
by John Neff on Jan 15th 2009 at 3:59PM 
Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Ford Taurus
Ford has launched its mini-site for the 2010 Taurus, and in addition to including images of its new flagship sedan in all available colors (see updated gallery below), a clue has been discovered that may shed some light on the rumored return of the much loved SHO model. Mousing over the word "GALLERY" will produce a drop down menu at the bottom of which is a selection called "PERFORMANCE SERIES". Mouse over that guy and the message "COMING FEBRUARY 2009" is revealed.
The 2009 Chicago Auto Show occurs in February, which suggests that Ford will be debut this "Performance Series" of the Taurus in the Windy City. Will it be the SHO? We don't know, though prior spy shots of a SHO-badged interior suggest an affirmative on that one.
When Ford debuted the new Taurus at the Detroit Auto Show this week, mention was made of both the standard 3.5L Duratec V6 and the "optional availability of Ford's advanced EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6, with an announcement regarding availability soon." So we expect that Ford will debut the 355-hp EcoBoost V6 in the Taurus at the Chicago show, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be be wearing any Super High Output badges. Ford seems keen on building the EcoBoost brand name, as "EcoBoost" will appear alongside the Lincoln MKS, MKT and Ford Flex when those new models are ordered up with the same advanced engine.
Frankly, we hope Ford just calls it the EcoBoost Taurus and leaves "SHO" alone for now. The 2010 Taurus may share a name with the one that was offered with a Yamaha V6 back in the '80s and '90s, but the new one is a much larger, heavier car that's ill-suited for sport sedan duties. We'll reiterate our wish once again: a Fusion SHO tuned by SVT with a manual or dual-sequential gearbox, front-wheel-drive, weight saving measures and a small EcoBoost four-cylinder capable of producing a reverential 220 horsepower and return well over 30 mpg on the highway. But that's just us.
Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus
[Source: BringBacktheSHO.com, Ford]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
AntBee 4:14PM (1/15/2009)
SHO Nuff?!?!
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Rob 5:32PM (1/15/2009)
Jeez. Does ever car need over 300hp these days? Damn. Anybody remember the 90s? When 300hp was a LOT of power? What the hell happened?
Randy 3:09AM (1/16/2009)
I just looked at every detail of the 2010 Taurus and I cannot find a single flaw! I can usually find something on every car. This car is perfect! Hell, I'm a sports car guy (Mustang, Camaro, Charger, Challenger, etc) and I'm really looking hard to find something that's offensive or "off" or something. There's truly nothing! I'm blown away with this car! Simply in awe!
Nice job Ford! Very nice Job! It's so much nicer than the accord and camry competition! This should sell like hot cakes!
Chase 4:15PM (1/15/2009)
An SHO fusion would be compelling, but speed isn't really the type of thing people who buy mid-size appliance type cars (like the camry) want anything to do with. I'd be happy with performance next-gen focus, however.
-- I just really hope that the US guys keep their grubs off the Focus development. Ford Europe does such an excellent job at making nice cars.
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BoneHeadOtto 5:43PM (1/15/2009)
I agree the new SHO should be based on the Fusion. Making the Taurus an SHO is kind of like Toyota making a high performance Avalon. Just doesnt make a lot of sense for its current size.
tkosoccer03 8:39PM (1/15/2009)
What?!? Ar you guys dumb?
Why would you take a huge name from one car, and give it to another .. that makes no sense. That would be equivalent to taking the Z06 name from the Corvette and giving it to the Camaro .. just stupid .. like wiping before you poop.
The SHO has heritage. SHO enthusiasts have been begging Ford to bring back the name and the heritage. That car changed the way people looked at American sedans, along with the big Impala. It was a new era, if you will, for American sedans.
Giving the Fusions the SHO name wouldn't make any sense, whatsoever. While I'll agree, it makes more sense to give the Fusion the power, but certainly not the name folks.. Plus, if you knew anything at all about Ford, you would already know that the Fusion is slated for two Ecoboost motors, one being a V6.
dkw 4:15PM (1/15/2009)
I saw that just today on the Ford website. I was looking to see if they had any mention of the upcoming Taurus SHO, and stumbled across that. (didn't put it together that that date would coincide with the Chicago Auto Show, though... ooops)
The original Taurus SHO was such a good marketing car for Ford. Far more so then cars like the Ford GT have been for them now. Back in the day, _everyone_ knew what the SHO was, and it promoted the Taurus and Ford with simple word of mouth and reputation, the best type of advertising for building a company's image.
Can't wait to see what it looks like!
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Sea Urchin 4:34PM (1/15/2009)
Well in pictures the front looks good, sides not so much.
Jason 4:17PM (1/15/2009)
Couldn't agree more about the SHO nameplate. I know Ford doesn't have a lot of money to throw around right now but that Fusion to inherit the SHO name you suggested sounds brilliant and Ford has most of the pieces already. The restyled Fusion looks much better and they could even black out the grille and other chrome pieces for the SHO model.
Manual transmission is a must.
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dkw 4:30PM (1/15/2009)
Jason, let me agree and add to that....... black out some of the chrome pieces, color coordinate some of the other chrome pieces. Could look GREAT! (where's a good photoshop image when you need one!)
And, I agree. To be proper, any vehicle wearing the SHO badge should have a manual transmission option.... but in this electronic day and age, and for the 2010 Taurus SHO at least, I'm sure it will mean simply paddle shifters on the steering wheel.... just not the same.
Mr. Luke 8:44PM (1/15/2009)
YES! manual transmission or throw it off a cliff and walk away!
one2gamble 12:20PM (1/16/2009)
Why wouldnt you just make an SVT fusion and leave the SHO name where it belongs?
Joe 4:20PM (1/15/2009)
This is how I've been thinking of it...
"Series" implies that there will be more than one performance model, ie, a series of them.
Maybe they'll have several packages, leading up to one big one, similar to the way the Grand Prix was treated. The Grand Prix had the standard SE package, the GT, GT1, GT2, GTP, GXP, and Comp-G packages.
I could see them doing something similar with the Taurus, having the standard SE, the upgraded SEL, the luxo-barge Limited, a performance ST (Eco-boosted, of course), and an ultra-performance SHO (which would be similar to the difference between the GTP and the Comp-G package). Hell, I could even seen them partnering with Roush to do a SVT model.
We'll see in a couple weeks!
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izorro 4:24PM (1/15/2009)
I'll be there! Hopefully see it in person.
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Mike 4:24PM (1/15/2009)
I'm just hoping that somehow there's a manual trans in there. Not likely, I'm willing to bet it'll have ecoboost, the paddle shifters that they're coming out with on the MKS and 20" wheels.
I'd be surprised to even see suspension upgrades, but I think that's more likely than a manual.
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Judy Zik 4:33PM (1/15/2009)
If they dare stick a "SHO" badge on a this new Taurus with Eco boost and a slushbox I will be tempted to go down to my dealer and peel them off. That is just so wrong. Either make a real SHO or leave the badges in storage until you do.
dkw 5:19PM (1/15/2009)
@ Judy Zik.... remember, the Taurus SHO (based off Gen 3 Taurus platform) had a V8 engine, and came only with an automatic transmission.
I'm not saying I disagree with you, just saying that this won't be the first time Ford has offered the SHO with only an automatic trans.
Judy Zik 6:08PM (1/15/2009)
I know. But it still had the Yamaha engine et all and even then the sight of these automatic SHO's still makes my stomach turn.
Jeff Banks 7:08PM (1/15/2009)
Not a big fan of the automatic either, but on a big American muscle sedan, it doesn't seem that heinous as you're all making it out to be. It isn't a sport compact, its a big highway cruiser with a decent supension setup and a powerful engine.
Little{ish} known fact: Steve McQueen preferred his road cars to have automatics. You can check out two of his cars in the basement of the Peterson auto museum.
Shipey 4:25PM (1/15/2009)
Leeeeeeeroy!
With the TwinForce (I liked that SO much better than Eco-Boost, so I refuse to call it that) this car will definitely have the Glow!
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