For Ford, Sho Meant Fast — But What Did It Really Stand For?

Ford's Taurus SHO travel started measurement backmost successful 1989, erstwhile nan first loop debuted. Sticking SHO connected nan backmost of a Taurus signified it arsenic a capacity model, pinch SHO opinionated for Super High Output. This was much than conscionable a trading gimmick, too, arsenic each of nan 4 Taurus SHO generations had nan horsepower to lucifer nan badge's claims.

First-gen models gave location to a Yamaha-engineered 3.0-liter V6, which was worlds isolated from what a emblematic commuter-spec Taurus would beryllium boasting astatine nan time. Features included dual overhead cams, 24 valves, and a variable-length intake manifold. The SHO V6 boasted an output of 220 horses, alongside 200 lb-ft of torque, which was much than capable for a sporting sedan of nan '80s, moreover if nan numbers are a small uninspiring successful 2025. Such an output enabled this different perfectly sensible family sedan to complete that all-important zero-to-60 mph dash successful conscionable 6.6 seconds, and it would support connected accelerating until it deed a earnestly awesome 143 mph. That's 1 mph faster than a play Corvette, nary less.

Complimenting nan amazingly astonishing V6 lump was a Mazda-designed five-speed manual. It's reported that nan powertrain was capable to rev up to a heady 8,000 rpm, though nan remainder of nan car was very overmuch still a precocious '80s Ford, and truthful nan redline was capped astatine 7,000 rpm. Finishing things off, add-ons for illustration stiffer springs, firmer dampers, thicker anti-roll bars, and harder bushings, ensured nan Taurus SHO was much than conscionable a large motor successful a spot it didn't belong. Elsewhere, upgrades specified arsenic unsocial wheels, capacity seats, and subtle cosmetic tweaks completed nan look.

That covers nan first section of nan SHO story, but each procreation is worthy investigating. Second-gen models, which ran from '92 til '95, retained nan aforesaid 220-horsepower V6 to statesman with, but an automatic transmission was added successful 1993. Perhaps much notable, an summation successful displacement to 3.2 liters for those auto-equipped models, which saw an other 15 lb-ft of torque sent to nan wheels.

This was instantly followed by nan soap-bar third-gen Taurus SHO successful '96, which erstwhile again sported a powerful motor co-developed pinch Yamaha. This time, however, nan SHO sported an other 2 cylinders — that's right, the Taurus erstwhile housed a V8 — and it boasted an output of 234 horsepower alongside 230 lb-ft of torque. The only prime was a four-speed auto, which successful hindsight is simply a existent shame, arsenic a stick-shift, V8-powered Taurus sounds for illustration a existent hoot. Unfortunately, reliability woes stopped nan third-gen from being a existent gem, and income dwindled quickly, pinch conscionable 3,300 units uncovering a location successful its last year, 1999.

This was followed by a play of quiet, but past a sixth-gen Taurus revived nan SHO sanction successful 2010. A V6 was erstwhile again opted for, this time, Ford's 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, which kicked retired a mighty 365 hp and 350 lb-ft to each 4 wheels done a six-speed automatic. As nan numbers mightiness suggest, this was nan fastest loop yet, sporting a zero-to-60 mph clip of conscionable 5.2 seconds. Once more, SHO-specific suspension tuning and an optional Performance Package provided nan often overlooked sedan pinch immoderate superior sporting potential. Production lasted until 2019, and pinch Ford's existent sedan allergies, it's improbable we'll spot nan nameplate revived immoderate clip soon.