Autoblog

24 Hours of LeMons announces 2009 Season Champions

Jonny Lieberman — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:15:00 EST

Another day in LeMons paradise - click above to view hi-res image gallery

In case you missed it, the 2009 LeMons season ground to a halt a few weeks back at Thunderhill after the third running of the Arse-Freeze-A-Palooza (full disclosure -- I work as a Judge for the 24 Hours of LeMons). Filthy 2009 proved to be a pretty hectic season for LeMons, what with ten $500 car races at various ~~mud pits~~ locales around this great country of ours. However, '09 will pale in comparison to the frenzied, property-devaluing idiocy that the 21-race 2010 season is sure to bring. We'd like to apologize to our understanding women-folk and potential home buyers in general in advance.

Still, the 2009 season was filled with all the wonderful elements that make LeMons the fastest growing motorsport in the world: namely, fires, terrible driving, whiny drivers, cheating mechanics and totally excellent BBQ. Oh, and lots of cars blowing the hell apart. You'll learn all about this year's champs after the jump, but we'd just like to point out that the 2009 Deconstructor Championship belongs to Ford. If you don't know, the Deconstructor goes to the manufacturer that builds the cars that blow up the most often.

Why Ford? Mostly for the numerous SHOs that lunched their engines and transmissions all over various LeMons paddocks, coast to coast. To quote LeMons' second banana, Nick Pon, after he strolled through a typical three SHO/three dead cars pit in Louisiana, "Looks like someone tossed a Taurus grenade in here." Just seems to be the Taurus's week for winning awards. OK -- now make the jump.

Gallery: 2009 24 Hours of LeMons Champs plus Thunderhill

Continue reading 24 Hours of LeMons announces 2009 Season Champions

24 Hours of LeMons announces 2009 Season Champions originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

SEMA 2009: Ford Taurus puts on a good SHO

Drew Phillips — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Sedan, Performance, Ford

Ford Taurus Concepts at the 2009 SEMA Show - Click above for high-res image gallery

We didn't expect much from Ford's new fulls-size four-door at this year's SEMA show, but the quartet of Taurus Concepts were actually pretty impressive. The design lends itself better to customization than we might've thought, and we wouldn't be surprised to see quite a few owners personalizing the look of their cars.

The favorite Taurus around the Autoblog camp seemed to be the SHO built by Mobsteel with its sinister Jet Black paint, subtle body kit, and a 400 horsepower version of the EcoBoost V6. We also (surprisingly) liked the one built by Funkmaster Flex, along with the clean and simple SHO from MRT-Direct. You can see all four cars in our gallery of live photos below.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Ford Taurus Concepts

SEMA 2009: Ford Taurus puts on a good SHO originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: SHO vs. SHO on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

John Neff — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, Ford, Humor

SHO vs. SHO - Click above to watch video after the jump

As we reported yesterday, the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO made a guest appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien last night. The comic host still owns and drives his beloved 1992 SHO, claiming it's the finest car ever built, so Ford invited him to Galpin Motors in Los Angeles to check out the new one. Amy Marentic from Ford is his tour guide and does a great job keeping up with the jokes, at one point refusing to massage Conan's neck where the multi-contoured massaging seats won't reach.

After trying out the new SHO, Conan shows Amy what's up with a tour of his own 1992 SHO - "The Beast" - that's parked right beside. We won't ruin all the laughs for you, suffice it to say that Ford got some sweet product placement in a skit that makes you chuckle more than it tries to sell you a car. Follow the jump to watch old SHO vs. new SHO for yourself.

[Source: NBC]

Continue reading VIDEO: SHO vs. SHO on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

VIDEO: SHO vs. SHO on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not SHO-wy Enough? Ford reportedly working on tweaks to better distinguish range-topping Taurus

John Neff — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Ford, Design/Style

2010 Ford Taurus SHO - Click above for high-res image gallery

In our review of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, you may recall our charge that while the resurrected SHO is surely a great performance bargain for a big executive sedan, it doesn't earn its SHO-ness. There's a certain quality lacking that the original possessed, a uniqueness, of which the new SHO is bereft. Sure, it's powerful and plush and well appointed, but what makes it anything more than a Ford Taurus EcoBoost?

Car and Driver is claiming that inside sources have confirmed that Ford now agrees with our assessment. According to C&D, Ford used focus groups to help determine how differentiated the SHO should be from a standard Taurus, and when no consensus was found, they erred on the side of the caution - and lower cost - and gave the Taurus halo sedan only minor visual tweaks.

After seeing how the new SHO has been received by critics and the public, Ford is reportedly preparing a substantial visual rework of the SHO for the 2012 model year. While no specifics were offered, the inside source did divulge that new wheels were a lock (modern slicers, please!). As to why they don't roll out these changes on the 2011 model, C&D suggests that it would look like Ford was admitting a mistake had been made if they reacted too quickly, and it also sounds as if some of the changes may require more than a model year to develop.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

[Source: Car and Driver]

Not SHO-wy Enough? Ford reportedly working on tweaks to better distinguish range-topping Taurus originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO gets measured against the original

John Neff — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Ford, Reviews

2010 Ford Taurus SHO - Click above for high-res image gallery

There's a small group of enthusiasts who worship a car you just wouldn't expect: the original Ford Taurus SHO. And I'm one of them. After years of searching for an example in good shape, I bought my very first vintage SHO, a 1991 Ford Taurus SHO Plus model (we'll explain what the "Plus" means later) earlier this year. At the same time, somewhere in a secluded Dearborn bunker, Ford was planning to announce that the SHO name would return with the redesigned 2010 Taurus. Clearly, 2009 was shaping up as a big year for SHO fans - especially me.

Thus, it was beyond argument in the virtual halls of Autoblog HQ that the task of reviewing the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO would fall to yours truly - but could an unabashed SHO fan pass judgment on the resurrection of his all-time favorite car without bias? You can judge for yourself after the jump.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Continue reading Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO gets measured against the original

Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO gets measured against the original originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: 2010 Taurus SHO breaks into the 13s

Chris Shunk — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Ford

2010 Ford Taurus SHO at Epping Dragway: Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2010 Taurus SHO packs 365 horsepower courtesy of its twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine, but something about the sheer size of Ford's full-size sedan tells us that it doesn't quite belong on the track. That didn't stop one man from taking the 21st century SHO to New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire to try his luck in a straight-line foot race.

The massive SHO took its spot at the left starting gate against a Fox body Mustang of undetermined modification, and when the tree turned green, the 4,300-pound Taurus gave its fellow Ford all it could handle. Hit the jump to watch the 2010 Taurus SHO notch a credible 13.92 at 100 mph at Epping. Since we've already seen the 350 horsepower EcoBoost MKS hit 13.9 at Milan dragway in Michigan, we're guessing the SHO Taurus was either bone stock or only modestly modified. Hat tip to Brian.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

[Source: Bang Shift]

Continue reading VIDEO: 2010 Taurus SHO breaks into the 13s

VIDEO: 2010 Taurus SHO breaks into the 13s originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

First Drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO offers excellence without emotion

Chris Paukert — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Ford, First Drive

2010 Ford Taurus SHO - Click above for high-res image gallery

Incendiary Statement of the Day: American automakers haven't made many good sport sedans. It isn't because we can't build 'em - it's just that for one reason or another, U.S. automakers have historically refused to take the segment seriously, all but ceding it to the Europeans and the Japanese.

Thankfully, the Detroit 3 have produced some models that buck the trend, and even better for us, most of them are recent offerings. Cadillac's stonking new CTS-V isn't just a sport sedan - dollar-for-dollar, it may very well be the best in the world. Pontiac's G8 GT and GXP are two excellent examples, and Chrysler's 300C SRT8 and Charger SRT8 make decent cases for themselves, although they're arguably more muscle cars in sedan wrappers than four-door barnstormers. What else is there? In the last 25 years or so, not a whole lot. Once you get past the first-gen CTS and perhaps the Lincoln LS, you're dealing with short-lived, small-volume factory skunkworks models like the Dodge Spirit R/T and SRT4, as well as the Ford Contour SVT. In fact, you're skating on thin (sport compact) ice... until you get to the first- and second-generation Taurus SHO of the late-Eighties to mid-Nineties.

Ah, the Taurus SHO. While it's probably true that the fog of time has conspired to give us a rosier view of the 1989-1991 SHO and the 1992-1995 model that followed the original, few would deny that its spirited 220-horsepower Yamaha-sourced 3.0-liter V6 was anything less than a wondrous engine, or that the standard Taurus' revolutionary slipstream bodywork and tidy dimensions lent itself well to the genre's ethos. Further, for an American mid-size sport sedan, it was the only game in town, yet it acquitted itself handsomely against contemporary Nissan Maximas, and pricier competitors like the BMW 3-Series.

The SHO took a wrong turn (as did the entire Taurus franchise) with the softer V8-powered 1996 third-generation model, and slow sales saw the model expire by 1999. A decade has passed since that car went off to the Great Crusher in the Sky, and now Ford has returned with an altogether different SHO for 2010. Does it live up to the original, or is it more in keeping with the underwhelming model that preceded it so long ago? Let's find out.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO offers excellence without emotion

First Drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO offers excellence without emotion originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

First 2010 Taurus SHO to receive involuntary restyling

Chris Shunk — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Ford

Smashed 2010 Ford Taurus SHO - Click above for image gallery

The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO hasn't even gone on sale yet, and already an example of the twin-turbo sedan is sitting in the body shop. Chicago SVT member The Beast alleges that the once elegant-looking red SHO had barely left the lot on dealer demo rounds, only to return shortly after in a flat-bed. The brand-new SHO was reportedly involved in a three-car pileup, leading to some serious damage to an otherwise swell sports sedan.

We don't know the exact details of the incident, but whatever happened during the crash left the freshly christened SHO with a well-mangled rear including a hosed trunk and bumper, along with a fairly substantial ding to the front fascia. Click on the image above or the gallery below to view the crash damage in more detail.

Gallery: Smashed 2010 Taurus SHO

[Source: Chicago SVT]

First 2010 Taurus SHO to receive involuntary restyling originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

2010 Ford Taurus SHO configurator comes online, many new pics

John Neff — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Performance, Ford

2010 Ford Taurus SHO - Click above for new high-res image gallery

The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO is almost here, which is music to the ear of any SHO fan (*raises hand*). We'll be getting our first drive in one, along with the standard Taurus, later this week, but our appetites have been whetted thanks to a slew of new images released today and the launch of the 2010 Taurus car configurator on Ford's website.

We jumped right in to build a loaded SHO painted Atlantis Green as a tribute to the original, and the price tag came to $45,175 (Note: the Taurus SHO base price is $37,170). That may sound like a massive sum for a Blue Oval sedan, but check the specs and you'll see that the 365-hp SHO comes with more power, entertainment and tech features than any of its competitors with an accent - and for a whole lot less, too.

We've updated both galleries below with many new Taurus and Taurus SHO pics, so browse around before you go building your own. Thanks for the tip, Howard!

Note: As a special treat for true SHO fans, we snagged some images of the SHO in Atlantis Green from the configurator since Ford has yet to release any official shots of the car wearing this iconic SHO color. They're not the greatest shots, but they're all we've got for now.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus

[Source: Ford]

2010 Ford Taurus SHO configurator comes online, many new pics originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Esquire publishes first driving impressions of 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

John Neff — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Ford

2010 Ford Taurus SHO - Click above for high-res image gallery

Though Esquire isn't normally considered a car mag, it does have enough clout to get Ford to cough up the keys to a brand new 2010 Taurus SHO. The 365-hp sleeper sedan was named the magazine's first ever Car of the Year and had to be driven in order to be considered. Along with the award, Esquire has just published the first driving impressions of the SHO penned by Automobile columnist and all-around cool car guy Ezra Dyer.

Unfortunately, the 874-word article contains only 100 words devoted to how the SHO actually drives, so the impression we get isn't a very deep one. But it is the first and, needless to say, Ezra was impressed, throwing out comparisons to the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series.

You may be wondering when you'll read our own First Drive of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. We'll be behind the wheel of the entire 2010 Taurus line late next week, but driving impressions for the SHO are embargoed until Wednesday, July 22. Word around the water cooler is that this embargo may be shaky since Esquire has already published driving impressions of the SHO, regardless of how few details were revealed. Keep an eye out either way.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

[Source: Esquire]

Esquire publishes first driving impressions of 2010 Ford Taurus SHO originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AOL Autos snags ride in 2010 Taurus SHO with Ford's only female dynamics engineer

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Ford

2010 Ford Taurus SHO gets air - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Our lucky compatriots at AOL Autos had the chance to get some passenger-seat time in the all-new 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, along with a glimpse into the inner-workings of FoMoCo's engineering team. The story centers around Ford's only female Vehicle Dynamics Development Engineer, Christina "Crissy" Rodriguez, who's "equal parts engineer, race driver and vehicle psychologist."

During her 12-year stint at Ford, Rodriguez has been instrumental in the development of a number of vehicles and has spent the last eight years tuning the chassis that underpins the new Taurus, along with its platform siblings, the Lincoln MKS and Ford Flex.

The final third of the article gets into the performance and dynamics of the SHO, where Rodriguez takes AOL Auto's Rex Roy for a spin around Ford's Dearborn proving grounds. While its not a comprehensive review of the hottest Taurus in over a decade, Roy reports that the six-speed automatic shifts smoothly and quickly, forward momentum is electric, the sonorous sounds from the engine are top-notch and, most telling, "the faster Rodriguez drove, the smaller the Taurus seemed to get..." Sounds like a winning combination so far, and you can read the full "First Ride" here.

Gallery: First Ride: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

[Source: AOL Autos | Image Source: Ford, Rex Roy]

AOL Autos snags ride in 2010 Taurus SHO with Ford's only female dynamics engineer originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hennessey Performance ready to tap 2010 Ford Taurus SHO's potential

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Sedan, Ford

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Charles, one of our eagle-eyed readers, came across this page on the Hennessey website announcing plans to offer upgrades for the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. A quick email and a subsequent phone call from Mr. Hennessey himself confirmed that the power-obsessed tuner is hoping to exploit the new SHO's potential later this year.

John, a former first-gen SHO owner himself, was impressed with the new SHO's specs when it was revealed last week, and the hope is that enthusiasts will start looking for modifications once sales begin later this year. At the onset, expect intake and exhaust mods, followed by a boost controller, turbo and intercooler upgrades and possibly some suspension tweaks.

Since Ford is primarily marketing its line of EcoBoost engines towards fuel-conscious consumers, there's little doubt that the automaker left something on the table. We're sure tuners are ready to take up the challenge, and it looks like John and his team will be at the forefront.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Hennessey Performance ready to tap 2010 Ford Taurus SHO's potential originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO reveal video... revealed

John Neff — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:21:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Ford

Click above to watch videos after the jump

Being that the biggest reveal of this year's Chicago Auto Show has been the new 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, we thought you might enjoy some video of it actually moving rather than just posing all pretty on a show stand. We found some B-roll footage of the new SHO being driven sans a soundtrack, but we also went one further and got the actual video that Ford played during the car's debut today. Both can be watched after the jump, and the reveal video also includes guest appearances by some true SHO enthusiasts. Oddly enough, my agent never received a call.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading VIDEO: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO reveal video... revealed

VIDEO: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO reveal video... revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Officially Official: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO!

John Neff — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Sedan, Ford

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

The SHO must go on. SHO me the money. It's SHO time!

We've heard them all during the months of speculation leading up to this moment. Without further ado, we present to you the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. That's right, Ford has decided to revive the moniker once affixed to the sports sedan that wowed the automotive world way back in 1989. The original SHO survived three generations of Taurus models, was sold for 10 years straight and attracted over 100,000 buyers. But just as the Taurus itself devolved from America's best-selling car to a rental fleet afterthought, the original SHO ended production in 1999 having gone from a budget sports sedan to an overpriced, underpowered executive whip.

Ford is working on rehabilitating the Taurus name with a significant redesign that debuted last month at the Detroit Auto Show. Using that sedan as its canvas, the new SHO may also restore respect to a name that has fallen too far. A 365-hp twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, all-wheel-drive and plenty of upgrades is a good place to start. Follow the jump to learn everything there is to know about the return of the SHO.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Gallery: Chicago 2009: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Continue reading Officially Official: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO!

Officially Official: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spy Shots: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO spotted without camo!

John Neff — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Ford

Click above for high-res gallery of 2010 Ford Taurus SHO spy shots

Thanks to our friends at BringBackTheSHO.com, we now have more evidence than ever that the SHO will rise again. These spy shots show a pair of serious looking Taurus sedans snapped along the I-75 corridor in ~~Michigan~~ Florida ~~(the greenish grass and lack of snow suggest they weren't taken recently)~~. These two sedans are different from the Limited and SES models we saw at the Detroit Auto Show last week, wearing new wheels (at least 19 or 20 inches in diameter), a decklid spoiler, different tail-lights and a new rear bumper that extends lower over a pair of dual tail-pipes. There's also a conspicuous looking badge on the rear end that's covered with camo tape. What could it be? Who knows for SHO?

We expect to find Ford's new 3.5L EcoBoost V6 underhood, which produces 355 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Well, that's what the engine produces in the 2010 Lincoln EcoBoost MKS, 2010 Lincoln EcoBoost MKT and 2010 Ford EcoBoost Flex. Whether or not Ford increases the engine's power for SHO duty (it does stand for Super High Output, after all) remains to be seen, but expect all-wheel drive and a flappy paddle, six-speed gearbox to be standard equipment. The 2009 Chicago Auto Show, where we expect this car to debut, just got a whole lot more interesting.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO - spy shots

[Source: VWVortex via BringBackTheSHO.com, Photos used with permission of BBTS.com]

Spy Shots: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO spotted without camo! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2010 Ford Taurus SHO slated for Chicago debut?

John Neff — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, Ford

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]

2010 Ford Taurus SHO slated for Chicago debut? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Neff's Endgame: SHO monster on Craigslist

Alex Nunez — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:46:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Etc., Ford

It is time for Neff to put up or shut up. There's a '93 Ford Taurus SHO on Craigslist that will provide him with both the car of his dreams and the ability to handle the extreme driving conditions he faces during Cleveland winters. It's been slightly modified by the current owner, who retained the original bodywork and interior, but then chose to mate them with a '76 Ford F-150 underpinnings. The high-zoot Yamaha motor? Also jettisoned. In its stead, a 460 cubic-inch V8 from a '78 Lincoln takes up residence underhood. Ride height is elevated somewhat over stock, but this should help Neff when it snows, and the new wheel/tire package allows him to avoid traffic by simply driving over it. All this for a paltry $800. This is what we call a complete win-win situation for El Jefe Neff. Commence peer-pressuring Autoblog's Editor in Chief below. Make him do it. Props to Stephen for the tip!

View Poll

[Source: Craigslist]

Neff's Endgame: SHO monster on Craigslist originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rendered Speculation: Is it SHOtime for the next Ford Taurus?

John Neff — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:27:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Ford

Click above for high-res gallery of the BringBacktheSHO Concept V2

We heard yesterday from a group of Ford Taurus SHO fans who were questioned in a focus group by Ford employees working on the next Taurus program, so we know that the Blue Oval is at least considering a high performance version of the next Taurus. Combine that with a grainy cell phone pic we posted of what could be a design study for the next Taurus and you've got fertile elements for our friends over at BringBacktheSHO.com who specialize in letting their imaginations run wild. Ryan Pasch who runs the website actually attended the focus group in question earlier this week, so these renderings based off of that grainy camera phone pic may be more accurate than we realize. Pasch calls the car in his renders the BringBacktheSHO Concept V2, and judging from the pics in our gallery below, we're as ready for the SHO's triumphant return as he his.

Gallery: BringBacktheSHO Concept V2

[Source: BringBacktheSHO]

Rendered Speculation: Is it SHOtime for the next Ford Taurus? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 May 2008 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford holds Taurus SHO focus group in Chicago... what does it mean???

John Neff — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Ford

Click above for gallery of more modern Taurus SHO renderings

Being an avid Super High Output fan, any news of a Taurus SHO return gets my imagination going. Should it be FWD, AWD, or RWD? V8-powered or have a twin-turbo V6 underhood? Should it be light and handle well or compensate for its mass with awesome amounts of power? I ask these questions to myself, but last Monday a group of 11 Chicago area SHO fanatics were asked those same questions by members of the Taurus program from Ford.

As told by Don Mallinson on V8Sho.com, the story goes that this band of brothers participated in a focus group and had their brains picked for an evening about what makes a SHO a SHO, and if the much missed name were to be resurrected, what should the car be like today? Mallinson is clear that he and the focus group participants did not see a prototype, sketches of a prototype, or anything else that would confirm development is well on its way. The experience was pretty much a one-way street of questions, but these 11 people may have influenced Ford's decision to bring back the SHO and, if so, in what way. Such an awesome responsibility, I probably couldn't handle it.

Gallery: 2009 Ford Taurus SHO Concept

[Source: V8SHO.com via Jalopnik]

Ford holds Taurus SHO focus group in Chicago... what does it mean??? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 May 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Triumph comes to the SHO: Doing a heart transplant on a TR7

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Tuners, Coupe, Etc.

When I was a kid and British Leyland was still a somewhat going concern, the little UK automaker introduced a sports car called the Triumph TR7. The tag-line in its ad campaign was, "The shape of things to come." As it turned out, the folks at BL were less successful at predicting the future than countryman George Orwell. For a wide variety of very good reasons, BL faded into the annals of history, although some of the brands under the former BL umbrella soldier on such as Jaguar and Land Rover.

A few years after the TR7 went out of production, my high school auto mechanics teacher acquired a TR7 that became an ongoing shop project for myself and a few other students. With the TR7 we learned the fine art of balancing side-draft carburetors with a chunk of garden hose and a screw-driver. Today most of the TR7s (and the V8-powered TR8) have long since turned to iron oxide. A few remain, however, and the owner of one 1979 model eventually found himself craving a more modern (and reliable) powertrain. One of the finest engines of the last two decades is the Yamaha V6 that powered the first two generations of the Ford Taurus SHO. This TR7 owner managed to procure one and set about installing the normally transverse mounted unit in the rear-wheel-drive TR7. After two years and a variety of adaptations to make everything fit properly, including reversing the mounting of the intake plenum, he was successful. A decade later and more changes like removing the top and adding a supercharger sees a car that runs 13.7-second quarter miles and gets 25 mpg.

[Source: Team.net]

Triumph comes to the SHO: Doing a heart transplant on a TR7 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments