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Jalopnik has spy images from a currently-testing Ford Taurus, and they’ve spotted a SHO badge on the interior of one. So does this mark the return of a budget performance legend, or is it just a cruel, cruel tease? Los Jalops figure a 350hp Ecoboost V6 from the Lincoln MKS AWD would be just the ticket for a torque-steery good time. In other, more surprising news, the Taurus interior looks surprisingly decent. Let’s just hope the faux-carbon fiber is limited to models that require the driver to focus on keeping their bucking steed in the same lane.
19 Comments on “Ford SHOs Its Hand...”
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They may convince me to try a Ford again if they do this.
Sounds like good news… I hope they offer a stick. In the link’s photos it looks like the trunk release button is practically on the passenger’s side of the dash. I hope they remedy that before the final version. It’s one thing to stick it in the glovebox, at least that’s lockable.
I briefly considered buying each of the previous SHOs when they were out, but decided that I could get a real sports sedan for about the same money.
It seems that most people don’t want to buy a hopped up rental car, which is the crux of the problem the SHO.
Can anyone tell what the button to the right of the tuner knob is? It looks like the trunk release but that is an odd place for it.
I sincerely hope that Ford tones the interior down: you’ve got faux carbon fiber, fake-looking aluminum on the steering wheel, dark gray leather, gray leatherette on the dash, cheapo black plastic for the steering column area, beige plastic for the sides of the center console, and more dull gray black plastic for the HVAC/radio area. It’s a mishmash.
Where is the decent interior? All I see is the same cheap Ford part-bin stuff that were present in previous models. Shiny fake aluminum doesn’t really turn me on.
This is why Ford will outlast GM and Chrysler. They’re at least TRYING to make something relatively fuel efficient without neutering the entire car. Lets just hope it’s priced right for the average consumer.
synthetic: “surprisingly decent” is admittedly a pretty low bar for a firm that is currently feeling death’s icy breath at its back.
BOOOOOOOOO Ford!
350HP + FWD based AWD is a stupid mistake.
If people wanted a performance FWD car they would buy a Cobalt SS.
This car would be on my list if it were RWD…but instead…it belongs in the trash.
TTAC is right…again. The torque steer will be horrid.
And that interior…bleh.
For those of you complaining about the mishmash of colors and trims in those interior shots, the beige/white trim and the black trim aren’t going to be seen together on the final Taurus, at least not in the way it’s shown in those spy pics. Most likely on the production car there’ll be a choice of either an all-black or all-beige interior, and if there’s a two-tone choice the beige trim will cover the entire bottom half, not just the center console (i.e., it’ll look better).
this is a better representation of the Taurus’ final look (minus testing equipment):
http://jalopnik.com/photogallery/2010FordTaurusSpy2/1005418342?viewSize=thumb800x800
As for the specs, who’s to say it won’t be AWD? And even if it’s not, ford could use some of their expertise developing the 300hp, FWD focus RS (which they claim doesn’t torque steer at all) to solve any problems.
I’d take a 1994 SHO dashboard over that thing. Looks like crap IMO…and where’s the stick shift?
How does a performance version of a car so large make any sense?
Sure it’s been done before, but the old Taurus wasn’t that big. Nor was it a car that only old people bought like the new one is. Shouldn’t the Fusion get the SHO treatment?
I’ll be happy if they just add a bit more padding to the center arm-rest. (the photo SV posted, is looking promising!) That, and the way the driver’s door creaks when my knee presses against it on an exit ramp, are my biggest problems with the current iteration.
As far as the SHO goes it’s a good thing, and I’m glad to see the acronym back in action. Hopefully it will promote some advances in engineering and technology and with any luck, a bit more strength to the brand. (Desirability?) Will *I* buy one? Probably not new, anyway..
I’d be shocked if this rig comes with anything besides a 6-speed auto. Which is part of why I can’t get excited about this vehicle. And its a frickin’ yacht, nothing like the last three generations of SHOs…and a far cry from the firecracker we had in 1989.
The SHO name is better served on the lightweight Fusion. Hell, the Taurus name should be there too, but its a little late for that. If this last (err, next) Taurus doesn’t sell, they are REALLY gonna regret splitting up the original Taurus’ market into two weight classes.
Put another way: D3 is teh suck.
That center stack layout looks positively awful. (Starting with the aforementioned trunk button.) The radio controls take up half of it and are split apart by the CD slot. Add to that some of the least used buttons get prime real estate at the top. Don’t forget to queue the green toothpicks…
Put another way: D3 is teh suck.
Truer words have never been spoken.
Ford is on the right track to ruin the SHO name and everything it stood for.
Cheap, fast, fun, unique transportation.
This thing will be heavy, slow, expensive, and a body that scream “Passat”.
It is also missing the Yamaha engine…something that is essential to have a true SHO.
The Audi A6 Quattro generally gets pretty good reviews of its driving dynamics, so I don’t see why the Taurus SHO with AWD and 350 HP should be much different, since the specs would be very similar. In fact, the SHO would probably have a weight advantage plus a big time price advantage.
@ charleywhiskey
The fact that Ford is trying to change it from a mommy turd mobile to a respectable performance car.
The thing is, the D3 chassis isn’t in any way bad. In fact, the current Taurus actually has good driving dynamics for a car of its size/price. The problem is that the blah styling has lead to slow sales which has led people to believe the cars themselves suck. The current Taurus/Sable are incredibly practical family sedans with tons of room, good power, generally upmarket feel of the interior, all hampered by names that recall yesteryears rentacar.
The center stack (which is borrowed (sans the oddly placed trunk release, which has to be a pre-production kludge) from the MKS and Flex) is very user friendly in person. Plus, with Ford continually upgrading the functionality and ubiquity of the Sync system, in a year or two most of the lineup will have virtually every non-driving function automated to a voice command (the current Lincoln MKS and Flex with Navigation are damn close already).
If people wanted a performance FWD car they would buy a Cobalt SS.…
I don’t believe that at all. If you live in a part of the country that has modest snowfall, a RWD car may be a problem for some. This is an alternative for those who want some all weather practicality but have no interest in burdening their car with all wheel drive’s excess cost, weight, and complexity.
Bring it on Ford, but remember what made the Gen 1/2 successful, and why the next gen models were not. This a great concept to bring back. This time though, keep all the suspension components uniform throughout all SHO’s. This isn’t an exercise to clean out any parts bin that is available…