2009 Ford Taurus SHO 3.5L V6 EcoBoost 6AT (365 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Ford introduced a new generation of the Taurus at the 2009 North American International Auto Show and surprised the audience with the appearance of the SHO version, or Super High Output.

Back in the mid-80s, when Ford was on the brink of bankruptcy, the American automaker placed its last money on the Taurus and won. The car became a darling for everyone and saved the company. Moreover, the automaker dared even more and inked a deal with Yamaha to bring some V8 engines, and that’s how the first generation of the Taurus SHO came alive and became a sensation. The following generations of the Taurus, especially the oval one, made the nameplate fade away from the automaker’s inventory until it completely disappeared in 2006. When Alan Mulally became Ford Motor Company’s CEO, he ordered to have the Taurus back. As a result, in 2006, the automaker pleased not just its CEO but also its customers, who were happy to see their sedan brought back to life, especially with an SHO trim.

The 2010 Taurus SHO had a slightly different front fascia than its regular sibling. It sported an altered version of the Ford’s three-slat grille, with perforated upper and lower chromed bars. Below, in the apron, the automaker added a broad air intake flanked by silver trims. The swept-back headlights and the power dome on the hood improved the car’s image, making the mid-size sedan look like it belonged in the sports sedan segment.

Ford made added a few SHO-specific details for the most potent version of the Taurus. A trained eye could notice the 19” alloy wheels wearing Goodyear Eagle tires or the 20” ones fitted with Michelin high-performance boots offered as an option. The car’s C-pillars were adorned by the SHO badges, and so was the trunk. Moreover, a fat spoiler found its place on the rear deck, while under the bumper, the automaker added side-mounted chromed exhausts. On the other hand, the sculptured door panels looked identical, and the low squatted roofline made the car look really sporty, regardless of the engine version.

Inside, customers were greeted by one of the most advanced interiors in the segment. Ford created a luxurious cabin for the Taurus SHO, fitted with a flowing center stack where a touchscreen with a navigation system and a CD stereo found their place. The combination of leather and suede on the high-bolstered seats up front and the bench seat profiled for two in the back were also above the industry’s standard for the mid-size sedan segment. Fronting the driver was an instrument panel with a binocular styling and round independent clusters for the speedometer, tachometer, and several other gauges. In terms of advanced safety systems, the Taurus SHO came with adaptive cruise control, collision warning systems, ABS, and ESP.

Ford installed under the hood of the Taurus SHO a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine. The direct fuel-injected EcoBoost powerplant was paired with a standard six-speed automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox that sent its power in all corners.