Ford's Taurus has had mixed success over the years, ever since it made its debut as a 1986 model. During its early years, the Taurus quickly became a hit as customers embraced the sedan's cutting edge, design, roomy and well appointed interior and competitive price. However, eventually the sedan failed to inspire buyers, even being replaced by an ugly, bulbous model at one point.
In 2007 it appeared that the Taurus name was finished. The automaker had already brought out a smaller, much more attractive sedan in the Fusion and Ford had nothing in the works to replace the Taurus.
But, Ford did have the Five Hundred a larger sedan that the automaker hoped would be the new flagship for the fleet. Unfortunately, the Five Hundred didn't catch on, but Ford management decided to rename it the Taurus in time for the 2008 model year. That move kept the Taurus name alive long enough for Ford to roll out an all new sedan, a model that will make its debut this summer.
When the 2010 Ford Taurus does show up, it will be slightly larger, better appointed and much more attractive than the Taurus it will replace. Already, critics are saying that the next generation Taurus will go far to revive the mystique of the near 25 year old brand, but in a car that is truly a full size sedan.
With the new model, Ford is also reviving the Taurus SHO, a high output performance sedan that was sold from 1989 to 1999. That sedan helped to bolster the Taurus' image, with Ford claiming that more than 100,000 units of the SHO was during its lifespan. Thanks to enthusiast demand, the SHO is coming back for 2010, a sleek, fast car powered by Ford's new 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine.
EcoBoost gives Taurus all of the power of a V8 while preserving V6 fuel economy. Ford estimates that the engine will produce 365 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 350 lbs.-fit of torque at 3500 rpm, giving the sedan power not previously realized in a Taurus model.
"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."
The 2010 Taurus SHO driveline combines a high-capacity six-speed 6F55 SelectShift transmission with a leading edge torque-sensing All-Wheel Drive System. These components work together to deliver plentiful traction when putting EcoBoost power on the road. The six-speed transmission offers a wide array of gears to enable strong acceleration, yet comfortable high-speed cruising, through a 2.77 to 1 final drive ratio.
"Taurus SHO was always a stealth high-performance car," said Earl Lucas, exterior design manager. "The new SHO builds on the expressive design of the 2010 Taurus, adding subtle cues that set it apart."
Pricing for the SHO will start at $37,995 which will include destination fees.