Autoblog

Ford hints at 400-HP Taurus SHO and more during annual convention

Christopher A. Smith — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows

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

Blue Oval execs rolled out the red carpet for Taurus SHO owners last week in Dearborn, MI to welcome 100 privately owned examples and many more enthusiasts to town for the 19th annual national Taurus SHO convention. Ford would love nothing more than to win the approval of the already rabid SHO enthusiast community, many of whom appreciate the performance potential of two turbos and all-wheel drive but aren't necessarily on board with the new super-sized model. To that end, Ford dropped some not-so-subtle hints on what could be in store for the next SHO, a model rumored to be on deck for 2013.

"365 horsepower is good. 400 is better."

"The SHO is at the top [of Ford's performance sedan lineup] and we're going to keep it there," said Steve Ling, Ford's North American car marketing manager during a Tuesday lunch presentation at Ford World Headquarters. "365 horsepower is good. 400 is better."

Advanced Engine Design and Development Engineer Brett Hinds spoke at length about the EcoBoost V6 during the Tuesday presentation, noting that the 3.5-liter engine had the potential for considerably more power, as we'll likely see later this year between the fenders of the F-150. That version of the EcoBoost will definitely produce more torque than the SHO's mill, but if the rumors of 400 horsepower for the F-150 are true, a more muscular SHO could indeed be just around the corner.

Gallery: 2010 Taurus SHO convention highlights

Continue reading Ford hints at 400-HP Taurus SHO and more during annual convention

Ford hints at 400-HP Taurus SHO and more during annual convention originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Conan O'Brien takes 60 Minutes for a ride in his '92 Taurus SHO

Noah Joseph — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:01:00 EST

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

The Conan O'Brien SHO - Click above to watch the video after the jump

If you thought Jay Leno was the only late-night talk show host who was into cars, think again. Sure, Jay's got the garage full of priceless automobiles and regularly contributes to Octane magazine, but Letterman is part owner of an Indy racing team, and Conan's had his share of four-wheeled shenanigans.

If the Bugatti Veyron mouse shtick wasn't enough to convince you, have a look at the video after the jump. On a segment of the CBS news program 60 Minutes, Conan takes his interviewer around Los Angeles in a dirt-green 1992 Ford Taurus SHO. Check it out; it's worth a laugh of two.

[Source: RideLust]

Continue reading Video: Conan O'Brien takes 60 Minutes for a ride in his '92 Taurus SHO

Video: Conan O'Brien takes 60 Minutes for a ride in his '92 Taurus SHO originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 May 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1980 Lotus Esprit with SHO-under-glass engine swap [w/videos]

Zach Bowman — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Videos, Lotus

1980 Lotus Esprit with SHO conversion - Click above for high-res image gallery.

Strap yourself in, kids - we're in for a whole new fresh batch of awesome. In the world of motor swaps, the Chevrolet 350 will slide its way into anything with four wheels (and some with just two). The Yamaha 3.0-liter V6 found in the first-generation Ford Taurus SHO, on the other hand, is a completely different story. That little bit of kit is only content to power the world's most capable platforms, and since it boasts one of the sexiest intake arrays to ever roll out of a Detroit/Hamamatsu mashup, it looks right at home in the engine bay of, say a 1980 Lotus Esprit.

Which works out, since that's exactly what one intrepid eBay seller has managed to create - a SHO-powered Esprit. The engine uses all of the periphery associated with the front-wheel drive Taurus, including the engine management, but is bolted to the Lotus five-speed gearbox. The seller even says all of the factory gauges remain in place and work accordingly - something most Esprits of this era can't boast - even without a heart transplant. Assuming the Taurus mill is still churning out the same 220 horsepower it made from the factory, you're guaranteed a modest bump over the factory output. Buy it now sits at $15,000.

Sounds like good Mr. Neff has found the perfect replacement for his flawless SHO. Hit the jump for a video walkaround, including the chance to hear this odd British/American/Japanese hybrid firing up.

Gallery: Lotus Esprit SHO

[Source: eBay Motors]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: 1980 Lotus Esprit with SHO-under-glass engine swap [w/videos]

eBay Find of the Day: 1980 Lotus Esprit with SHO-under-glass engine swap [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Police/Emergency

It used to be that every full-line American automaker offered a version of its mainstream full-size sedan to make it appropriate for police duty. By the time 1996 rolled around, the Chevrolet Caprice, which was the last would-be competitor to the standard-setting Ford Crown Victoria, was discontinued, leaving the lucrative police market to the Blue Oval Boys.

The automotive industry took notice, and plans began in corporate board rooms to remedy that situation, and even a few new entrants - most notably Carbon Motors - sprung up with promising designs that eschewed the mainstream production-based sedan design.

In 2005, Dodge rolled out a factory police package for its full-size Charger sedan, and for the first time in a decade the Crown Victoria faced some stiff V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive competition. Then in 2009, Chevrolet announced that its new Zeta platform Caprice would be returning for the 2011 model year packing a strong 6.0-liter V8 of its own.

How would Ford answer this newly mounted competition? Would the aging Panther-based Crown Vic finally get an update? Nope. Instead, Ford just recently announced that it would soon offer a highly ruggedized version of its most recent Taurus sedan, optionally equipped with the stout 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine powering all four wheels as seen in the revived Taurus SHO.

We decided to see for ourselves how the three new competitors stacked up against the old guard Crown Vic on paper, and as you can see, there's little to separate each offering on the spec sheets. It should prove interesting to see how police agencies react to these choices, especially since reliability and durability will be mostly unknown factors for the first time in ages. See for yourself.


	Ford Crown Vic	Ford Taurus	Dodge Charger	Chevrolet Caprice
Availability	Forever	Late 2011	2005 - Present	2011
Type	Four-door, body on frame	Four-door, enhanced unibody	Four-door, unibody	Four-door, unibody
Engine	4.6L V8	3.5L V6 Twin-turbo 3.5L V6	5.7L Hemi V8	6.0L V8
Power	250 horsepower	263 horsepower 365 horsepower	368 horsepower	355 horsepower
Torque	297 lb-ft	249 lb-ft 350 lb-ft	395 lb-ft	385 lb-ft
Fuel Economy	14 City / 21 Highway	18 City / 28 Highway (2010 Ford Taurus FWD) 17 City / 25 Highway (2010 Ford Taurus SHO AWD)	16 City / 25 Highway	15 City / 24 Highway (2009 Pontiac G8 GT)
Driveline	Rear-Wheel	Front or All-Wheel	Rear-Wheel	Rear-Wheel
Shifter	Column	Column	Column	Console
Wheels	17-inch steel	18-inch steel	18-inch steel	18-inch steel
Brakes	Four-Wheel Discs	Four-Wheel Discs	Four-Wheel Discs	Four-Wheel Discs
Cop Brakes	Y	Y	Y	Y
Cop Suspension	Y	Y	Y	Y
Cop Cooling	Y	Y	Y	Y
Seats	Front - Cloth Rear - Vinyl Bench	Front - Cloth Rear - Vinyl Bench	Front - Cloth Rear - Cloth Bench	Front - Cloth Rear - Vinyl Bench
Interior Volume	106.4 Cubic Feet	102.3 Cubic Feet	104 Cubic Feet	112 Cubic Feet
Trunk Space	20.6 Cubic Feet	20.1 Cubic Feet	16.2 Cubic Feet	18 Cubic Feet
Special Features	Overwhelming Ubiquity Tough as nails Capable of withstanding 75-mph rear impact	Seats with downsized lateral bosters, cut-outs for utility belts Ford SYNC Safety Canopy(R) side-curtain air bag Rollover protection system Customizable steering-wheel switches Rear doors swing 71-degrees Capable of withstanding 75-mph rear impact BLIS(R) (Blind Spot Information System) Cross Traffic Alert Rear View Camera System Reverse Sensing System	160-mph (certified) calibrated speedometer AM/FM radio with CD player, changer controls, four speakers and clock with auxiliary audio input jack Load-leveling, height-control shock absorbers Independently switched red/white LED dome lamp	Seats with downsized lateral boosters, cutouts for utility belts In-dash touch-screen computer technology Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature

Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DetNews: New Ford Police Interceptor to be Taurus-based

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Work, Ford, Specialty

Will the new Police Interceptor be a toughened Taurus SHO? - click above for high-res image gallery

Just a quick note: The Detroit News is reporting that the next Ford Police Interceptor will be based on the same platform as the Taurus. For you platform geeks out there, that's the Ford D3 chassis that underpins everything from the the Lincoln MKS to the Volvo XC90 to the Ford Flex (though the Flex and the Lincoln MKT ride on a lengthened version called D4). Yesterday, we explained that a new Police Interceptor is showing up tomorrow (Friday, March 12) in Las Vegas and that it probably won't be riding on the Panther platform. Regardless, the concept will be unveiled at the Vegas Motor Speedway.

There's still no official word from Ford on the matter, however. However, if the new Interceptor is in fact Taurus-based, that means no rear-wheel drive Falcon in the United States. Which is a definite bummer. Also, while there are all-wheel drive variants of the D3 platform - and we think it's safe to assume that if the new Police Interceptor is D3-based it will be AWD - it lacks frame rails. Has Ford figured out a way to make a unibody car tough enough for police work? We shall see. And if the new PI is a Taurus, will it be based on a modified 365-horsepower SHO? We'd wager yes. Let's just hope they fit some bigger brakes for cop duty, eh?

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

[Source: The Detroit News]

DetNews: New Ford Police Interceptor to be Taurus-based originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Ford Taurus SHO wagon is the apple of our eye

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:29:00 EST

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

Many of us who sit around the Autoblog campfire every day are fans of station wagons. We love cars and love the idea of having some extra utility without giving up the generally superior driving dynamics of cars versus SUVs or crossovers. We also like the idea - if not necessarily the execution - of the Ford Taurus SHO.

Being aware of that fact, one of our readers put his Photoshop skills to work and created the rendering you see here of a SHO wagon. Ford, of course, has never officially built an official SHO wagon - either with the current model or with its predecessors. Naturally, there have been some aftermarket and homebuilt conversions over the years, and even at least one that we know of that was built inside Dearborn.

Of course, building a wagon off of previous models was substantially easier because Ford actually marketed a wagon bodystyle in the first couple of Taurus iterations. Not so with today's massive-yet-handsome sedan. Judging by reader Josiah's rendering above, that's a real shame, because the 2010 Taurus could really put some of its continental bulk to good load-lugging effect with an estate variant. Unfortunately, we'll likely never see anything like this slick wagon produced. The closest we figure to get is an Ecoboost Flex, which isn't exactly a bad alternative. Thanks for the great rendering, Josiah!

[Source: JosiahLacolla.com]

Rendered Speculation: Ford Taurus SHO wagon is the apple of our eye originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Taurus SHO and Fusion Hybrid awarded 2010 Urban Autos of the Year

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Ford

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

There's seemingly no end to the lists and awards that can be dolled out to (sometimes questionably) deserving cars and trucks at the end of the year. Take, for instance, the Urban Automobile of the Year Award by On Wheels Media. This is the 14th year in a row the award has been passed out, and this year top billing goes to the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO.

Athletic, upscale, class-leading, confident, engaging and impressive are all words that seem befitting of an award winner, and you'll find all of them in the press release after the break describing the new SHO. But wait - there's more! We have a second Urban AOTY, this one on the green side of the coin. With the latest Toyota Prius and Honda Insight obvious choices for such an award, Ford is surely happy to see that its 2010 Fusion Hybrid - the most fuel efficient midsize sedan in America at 41 city, 36 highway - earned the trophy, giving the Blue Oval a total sweep of the ceremony.

So, what qualifies a vehicle to be an Urban Automobile of the Year, anyway? Glad you asked. According to Randi Payton, president and publisher of On Wheels Media, "The Urban Automobiles of the Year resonate with the majority of new car buyers who live in urban and suburban areas. The vehicles chosen are cost and fuel-efficient and have performance and safety characteristics relevant to consumers in metropolitan areas." So, there you have it.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford Taurus SHO and Fusion Hybrid awarded 2010 Urban Autos of the Year

Ford Taurus SHO and Fusion Hybrid awarded 2010 Urban Autos of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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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.

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The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien welcomes 2010 Taurus SHO tonight!

John Neff — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Ford, Celebrities

If Jay Leno were a ~~Ferrari~~ McLaren F1, Conan O'Brien would be a Ford Taurus SHO. Now hold on, that's not an insult to Conan, who just took over Jay's hosting duties on The Tonight Show. It's an actual fact: Jay owns a McLaren F1 and Conan drives a 1992 Ford Taurus SHO.

Conan's SHO has appeared on his... uh, show... a number of times in the past, though the most memorable cameo was this skit back in the Late Night with Conan O'Brien days. More recently, the SHO appeared on Conan's first episode hosting The Tonight Show, having made its way with the comic from New York to LA for the new gig.

As we all know, the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO is here and trying hard to revive the same excitement that the original used to snare such high profile owners as Conan O'Brien (and myself). So, of course we've been wondering when Conan's going to drop some coin on a 2010 SHO to replace the old one. While we don't know if he's actually going to buy one, we do have confirmation from Ford that the 2010 Taurus SHO will appear in a skit on The Tonight Show this evening with Conan. So set your DVRs to 11:30PM EST on NBC, and if that doesn't work, check back here tomorrow for a clip of the skit.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

[Source: Ford]

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien welcomes 2010 Taurus SHO tonight! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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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, New Car 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.

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eBay Find of the Day: Ford Festiva SHOgun replica

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Auctions, Hatchback, Ford, Specialty

Ford Festiva SHOgun replica - Click above for image gallery

Way back in the late 1980s, Chuck Beck, who's perhaps best known for his excellent Porsche 550 Spyder replicas, created what in our minds is still one of the greatest hot hatchbacks of all time: the Festiva SHOgun. While nobody would mistake the lowly Ford Festiva as a performance vehicle, the SHOgun packed a 220 horsepower secret behind its front seats in the form of a V6 engine yanked from a Ford Taurus SHO. A legend was born.

There were only seven SHOguns produced in 1989 (number three is still owned by Jay Leno), so it's highly unlikely you'll ever run into one for sale. Of course, the possibility exists that you could just make one yourself... or, alternatively, purchase this replica on eBay.

The car's current owners claim to have purchased their SHOgun replica from a museum and say that it's powered by a 1996 SHO powerplant. We don't think so. The '96 SHO had a V8 engine and this one, like all the real SHOguns, used a Yamaha V6 - in this case mated up to an automatic transmission. Interested? Click here to visit the auction page.

Gallery: Ford Festiva SHOgun replica

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Ford Festiva SHOgun replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time Magazine lists its "10 Most Exciting Vehicles of 2010" - Do you agree?

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:12:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Time Magazine's 10 Most Exciting Vehicles of 2010 - Click above to begin

Before we begin, let us say that when it comes to cars, Time Magazine can get it right. Like the time they hired Dan Neil to write The 50 Worst Cars of All Time. That was really good. However, now Time has the "10 Most Exciting Vehicles of 2010," and boy is it really awful. In fact, it's so awful that we're dying to hear what Dan Neil thinks of it. Time's list isn't just regular bad, it's take all your credibility on a given subject and light it on fire bad. Akin to letting Glenn Beck run the civil rights desk. OK, but in car terms how bad? The Volkswagen Golf is one of Time's most exciting vehicles of 2010 - and that's not even the really terrible part. We're making you follow the jump for the really bad stuff.

Gallery: Time Magazine's 10 Most Exciting Vehicles of 2010

Continue reading Time Magazine lists its "10 Most Exciting Vehicles of 2010" - Do you agree?

Time Magazine lists its "10 Most Exciting Vehicles of 2010" - Do you agree? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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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 Drives

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Ur-SHO? Shots of early hi-po Ford Taurus mule discovered

Dan Roth — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Ford, Specialty

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

So the story goes that back in the mid 1980s, Ford inked a deal with Yamaha for a V6 engine to be used in a Fiero competitor. The car went nowhere, but Ford found a place for the engine: Under the hood of the legendary 1989 Taurus SHO. Before the real car could happen, it had to be prototyped. The task of figuring out how to put a V6 carrying overhead-cam heads and the storied "bundle of snakes" intake manifold into an engine bay designed for the compact Vulcan V6 fell to two lucky guys, Mike Klein and Will Johnston. Holed up at Carron Industries, a working version of Yamaha's engine was installed in the engine bay. Mountings and wiring had to be fabricated, and an Escort 5-speed manual was bolted up. It was all tucked under a hood modified with a Mustang hood scoop, and after some shakedown cruising, the car was shipped back to Yamaha.

Pictures were forbidden, but when you're working on something that you just know is going to be groundbreaking, it's tough to fight that temptation. There's certainly no need for secrets any longer, and seeing the gestation of one of our all-time favorites is tantalizing. The engine was clearly not in its final form, with a Vulcan shortblock and an intake manifold that's lacking the crossover tube of the production version. There's also core plugs in the intake runners, indicating that the casting process was changed to get the smooth-looking tubes in the final version. A peek into the past at possibly the very first SHO ever, the car that proved the concept, is very cool. Thanks for the tip, Matt, and thanks to forum member Pyro for sharing his family album!

Gallery: Ford Taurus SHO Prototype

[Source: Sceamandfly.com, Photo: Pyro]

Ur-SHO? Shots of early hi-po Ford Taurus mule discovered originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 May 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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