Autoblog

click the above image to view all the new 2009 Ford Taurus SHO concept renderings

For those entirely uninterested in the recently renamed Taurus and the potential it holds for a new SHO machine, stop reading here. We've confessed our unabashed appreciation for the original SHO and the excitement, yes excitement, over the prospect of its return, even if it would be based on what is essentially the ho-hum Five-Hundred. Our partner is this crusade of hope is the website BringBacktheSHO.com, the primary purpose of which is to prove to Ford that there's a viable business case for a new Taurus SHO.

To that end, BBTS has been producing new renderings of what a 2009 Taurus SHO might look like, and we all agree that grafting on the front end of the upcoming Taurus X makes a marked improvement. The new renderings also include new profile views that reveal a drop in ride hight on what must be a significantly stiffened suspension. At this point, we're convinced a new SHO should offer the 7/10 the attributes and performance of something like a BMW M5 for half the price, while still managing to undercut the potent Chrysler 300 SRT-8 in price. 400 horsepower from a supercharged V8 would do nicely, combined with the surefootedness of all-wheel drive.

Since it seems we have the the BBTS artist's digital pen at our disposal, we thought we'd take a poll to let him know what renderings we'd like to see next. Choose your preferred iterration of the SHO, and hopefully in a few weeks time we'll see some results.

What SHO do you want to see next?
	Ford Taurus SHO Wagon
	Ford Taurus SHO Coupe
	Mercury Sable SHO

[Source: BringBacktheSHO.com]

click on above image to view high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford Taurus SHO photoshop

I've never been one to hide my unabashed appreciation for the Ford Taurus SHO (the first generation in particular, as they got progressively worse with each gen IMHO). Readers got a total kick out of the Ford Taurus Heritage Edition we showed you a week ago, and we think it's time Ford also consider bringing back the Super High Output. Fortunately, we were pointed to another Photochop artist that already took digital pen to paper and dreamed up what such a car might look like.

The rendering, posted by BlackManta on the CarSpyShots.net forum, is actually more ingenious than its first impression might suggest. BlackManta grafted the face of the Taurus X, previously known as the Freestyle, onto the Taurus to create a look that's more aggressive and interesting than the standard Taurus front end. The car's C-pillar has also been enlarged, which reduces the amount of harmful greenhouse glass (tee hee) and kind of reminds us of the now defunct Mercury Marauder, kind of.

We're having fun imagining the mechanicals, too. BlackManta would like to see the Yamaha-sourced 4.4L V8 used that currently powers the Volvo XC90 since it's roots can be traced back to the 3.4L V8 used in the third-gen Taurus SHO. That engine was a blight on the SHO's legacy, though, and we believe a proper tribute would be a 300-hp version of the new 3.5L V6 paired with the new six-speed auto and all-wheel drive. To be true to the legacy, a six-speed manual version would be even better. The mind reels at the thought.

Thanks for the tip, James!

[Source: CarSpyShots.net]