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Ford Taurus SHO Performance Package adds track day bite

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, Ford

Ford has made a Performance Package available for the the 2013 Taurus SHO, promising "uncompromised response, road-holding and durability." There's no extra horsepower added to proceedings, but parts like the firmer suspension springs and dampers, upgraded cooling system, high-performance brake pads and stability control that can be turned completely off are meant to help you make the most of its 365 horses.

Have a look at the diagram in the gallery above for the details, and check out the video by scrolling below to watch the SHO doing laps and hear its story.

Continue reading Ford Taurus SHO Performance Package adds track day bite

Ford Taurus SHO Performance Package adds track day bite originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Taurus SHO

Zach Bowman — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Ford, New Car Reviews

The Most Fun You Can Have In A Full-Size, All-Weather American

The American full-size segment isn't an overly welcoming place for those of us who worship at the altar of skinny-pedal antics. While European automakers are happy to deliver their customers a raft of monolithic luxury barges with Saturn V levels of thrust, We The People have been largely left with coma-inducing hardware like the Cadillac DTS, Chevrolet Impala and Lincoln MKS. Meanwhile, bruisers like the Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic, BMW 550i xDrive and Audi A6 all boast all-wheel drive capability with sports-car besting performance cocooned in the threads of a tailored three-piece suit. These days, if you want serious big-car, bad-weather go with a domestic badge on the hood, you have just a few options, including the 2013 Taurus SHO.

So far, Ford says it hasn't had any trouble convincing buyers to abandon traditional big-boned performance vehicles for the SHO resurrection. Around 10 percent of all Taurus sales leave the showroom with a SHO badge on the fender, and half of the performance sedan's sales have been conquest buyers sniped from brands like BMW and Audi. For 2013, this D-class athlete boasts a slew of mid-cycle changes to keep the model fresh. If, like us, you have a hard time imagining a buyer skipping the 5 Series for a Taurus, a few new exterior tweaks, a more aggressive brake system, a reworked version of MyFord Touch and a new track performance package are all designed to help change your mind.

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2013 Ford Taurus SHO originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford straps engineers in 2013 Taurus SHO with Carl Edwards, hilarity ensues

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford

Ford put nine of its own engineers inside of a new car they helped create, the 2013 Ford Taurus SHO, so they could experience its capabilities for themselves. Nothing out of the ordinary there, but Ford also thoughtfully put NASCAR driver Carl Edwards in the driver's seat, and it turns out that the boffins didn't realize how capable their car was until the Sprint Cup driver showed them.

In a new series of TV and internet spots called "Rocket Science," Edwards spends most of his time going tire-smoking sideways while engineers discuss the features of the hotted-up all-wheel drive Taurus, like the blind-spot assistance system and its 475-mile range. There's a press release with the particulars, but you'll want to click past to jump to check out the vids showing a string of very nervous engineers in the hands of a very professional driver on a very closed course.

Continue reading Ford straps engineers in 2013 Taurus SHO with Carl Edwards, hilarity ensues

Ford straps engineers in 2013 Taurus SHO with Carl Edwards, hilarity ensues originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Taurus SHO gets $1,045 price increase

Zach Bowman — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, Ford

Ford has announced pricing for the refreshed 2013 Taurus SHO, and buyers can look forward to paying a little more for the big performance sedan. Inside Line reports the price has inched up to $39,995 including destination, or $1,045 more than the 2012 model.

As before, that kind of cash will buy you a turbocharged, direct-injection Ecoboost 3.5-liter V6 good for 365 horsepower as well as a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. If that isn't enough to raise your eyebrows, Ford is continuing to offer the SHO performance package, complete with a more robust cooling system, more serious brake hardware and flashy 20-inch wheels.

Of course, that package also throws in a traction control system with a true 'off' mode. Yes, we're grinning from ear to ear. Unfortunately, the performance package has also climbed a bit compared to last year. The pieces will set you back $1,995, or about a grand more than in 2012.

2013 Ford Taurus SHO gets $1,045 price increase originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: 2013 Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO bow in the Big Apple

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:02:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, Ford

2013 Ford Taurus SHO - Click above for high-res image gallery

The current Ford Taurus may only be two years old, but the Blue Oval folks haven't wasted any time enhancing its design, powertrains and levels of content. The 2013 model year mid-cycle refresh encompasses more aggressive styling tweaks for both the base Taurus and high-end SHO, and Ford's executives aren't afraid to admit that they've used the Audi A6 as the benchmark car in the Taurus' segment.

Under the hood, a new 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-four is available in the non-SHO Taurus, and the powertrain is estimated to achieve up to 31 miles per gallon on the highway. The standard 3.5-liter V6 now has bigger stones as well, ringing up at 290 hp (+27). The disappointing news in all of this, however, is that the SHO's 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 has not been enhanced in any way - it still produces 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Sorry, folks - no 400-horsepower SHO for now.

Ford says it has fitted an upsized master cylinder to the brake system for improved response and feel, and the brake pads are new as well. From our vantage point, the SHO's brakes have been its weak link, so we're hoping these alterations result in a meaningful bump in performance.

The updated 2013 Taurus range is making its official debut here at the New York Auto Show, and we've just returned from seeing the cars live in the metal. Click through our high-res image galleries below to see Ford's refreshed flagship for yourself.

Gallery: 2013 Ford Taurus SHO: New York 2011

Gallery: 2013 Ford Taurus: New York 2011

Continue reading New York 2011: 2013 Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO bow in the Big Apple

New York 2011: 2013 Ford Taurus and Taurus SHO bow in the Big Apple originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford Taurus SHO looks better, but no bump in power [w/video]

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:12:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Ford

2013 Ford Taurus SHO - Click above for high-res image gallery

Those of you hoping for a 400-horsepower Ford Taurus SHO are about to be severely disappointed. The 2013 Taurus SHO will continue to produce 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque from its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. Sure, that's still plenty of oomph for the SHO, but with rumors of a higher-output version now dashed, all we can say is, "shucks."

Let's not dwell on that, though. There are still plenty of improvements for the 2013 SHO to talk about.

Much like the rest of the refreshed Taurus line, the SHO features styling tweaks at both the front and rear. Unlike the base model, the SHO uses a unique mesh grille pattern up front and adds a new rear spoiler out back, as well as chrome-tipped dual exhaust pipes. A new 20-inch dark wheel option is also part of the SHO package, matching the black finish found on the mirrors and body trim. We like what we see.

There may not be a bump in power, but the 2013 Taurus SHO does get a new performance package option that is said to improve the car's performance prowess. Most notably, a 3.16:1 final drive ratio means initial acceleration is enhanced, and revised suspension tuning features new dampers and springs specific to this package. Additionally, the electronic steering system has been tuned, the stability control now has a track mode with a true 'off' setting and performance brake pads are now available with unique, "track-tuned" calipers. Still, we'd love to see an additional 40-ish horsepower.

Hit the jump for the official SHO details, and be sure to click through our high-res image gallery to see the tweaked design for yourself. Ford's B-roll footage of the SHO is available for your viewing pleasure post-jump, as well.

Gallery: 2013 Ford Taurus SHO

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2013 Ford Taurus SHO looks better, but no bump in power [w/video]

2013 Ford Taurus SHO looks better, but no bump in power [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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