The Auto Writer

When the all new Ford Taurus is released this summer, an enthusiast's favorite, the SHO, will be the top of the line model for the big sedan. Featuring a 3.5-liter EcoBoos V-6 engine, the SHO will produce a whopping 365 h.p.

The new SHO adds a decklid-mounted spoiler, dual chrome-tipped exhausts and available 20-inch wheels and tires to the sculptured and athletic new Taurus shape.

Ford Taurus fans have plenty to look forward to when the next generation 2010 Taurus debuts this summer. As the new flagship model for the Ford brand, the automaker is pinning a lot on the vehicle’s success. Judging by its looks and all that it has to offer, the Taurus will likely be on many a short list for shoppers of a large sedan.

Not to sit on its laurels, Ford decided to bring back a favored special edition model, the SHO. First introduced in 1989, the SHO has been absent from the Taurus line up for several years with enthusiasts asking Ford to bring it back. Turns out that Ford was listening and the SHO is a reality.

A Real SHO Car

With a base price of $37,995, the SHO is certainly the most priciest Taurus ever built, a real show car — pun intended.

“The new Taurus SHO delivers on the authentic sleeper sedan formula but adds all-new luxury-appointments, convenience features and technologies to an unsurpassed balance of power and fuel economy,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “This new sport derivative answers enthusiasts’ calls for a premium Ford flagship sedan with even more attitude.”

Available options on the 2010 Taurus SHO include:

• Reverse Camera System, a unique SHO option, activates when reverse gear is selected providing the driver with additional rear visibility, projecting on the windscreen mounted rearview mirror.

• Adaptive Cruise Control, which allows the driver to set the Taurus SHO cruising speed while using radar technology to monitor traffic travelling up to 600 feet ahead, automatically adjusting speed to help maintain a preset distance between vehicles. Adaptive Cruise Control comes with Collision Warning with Brake Support providing visible and audible warnings when slower traffic is detected ahead. Brake support is activated if the driver does not respond to provided warnings, and pre-charges the brake system to prepare the vehicle for stopping.

• Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) with Cross Traffic Alert consists of two multiple beam radar modules, one each per rear quarter panel. When an adjacent vehicle enters the defined blind spot zone, and indicator alert provides driver warning in the corresponding sideview mirror.

• Cross Traffic Alert uses existing BLIS radar modules to sense oncoming traffic while the Taurus SHO is slowly backed from a parking space. When cross traffic appears within three car widths, the system provides a visible message on the instrument panel in combination with a sideview mirror warning and an audible signal.

• Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion™ can be specified in conjunction with heated and cooled first-row positions in the new Taurus SHO. Multi-Contour functionality provides subtle but continuous massage to help prevent back pain and fatigue and is ideally suited to meet the needs of long-distance drivers.

• Voice-Activated Navigation System includes a 10 GB music juke box hard drive and a single CD/DVD player. When combined with the optional rear camera system, rearview projection appears on the centerstack-mounted navigation screen.

• Sony Audio System offers 12 speakers, a digital amplifier, 390 Watts of continuous power (RMS), 115 dB of maximum bass sound pressure level and Dolby® Pro Logic® II surround technology.

Ever since Ford announced that the Taurus would be overhauled for the 2010 model year, I’ve been keeping a watch on the developments surrounding the car. Finally, it looks as if the Taurus will be returning to its roots as a forward thinking sporty sedan.

Source: Ford Motor Company