Saturday, January 14, 2012

Guess who's coming to dinner! (The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO is back and all grown up)

Growing up I have always been a fan of Ford Motor Company as well as their founder Henry Ford. Louisville, KY is a Ford town, we have two major truck plants in town and if you've lived here more than 2 or 3 years, you know or have met someone who is employed by Ford Motor Company. When it comes to Ford trucks they make one of, if not the best trucks on the planet today. Their cars on the other hand are not really superstars with the exception of the Mustangs which have become an Icon for American car buyers over the years. I personally have never been a big fan of Ford cars. Their styling always seemed lame and the interior appoinments always feel and appear cheap. What I have seen lately though is a resurgence of sorts by the American car makers and what they put out on the market these days. Things are changing and they are changing rapidly. The cars they are building now, have more style, more spirit, more options, and perform way better than in previous decades. Ford hasn't put a Taurus SHO out since 1999, so when talk of the SHO arose, people began clamouring and the excitement was in the air. Our dealership has had several since their relaunch in 2010, but I had not yet had the chance to take one for a spin. Finally, a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO appears on my stock sheet and I can't wait for the thing to pass it's safety inspection and make it's way to me. The SHO we have is draped in a bright silver metallic and is much, much bigger than the Taurus's of yester year. Inside the cabin looks like some kind of space shuttle, but with very cool 2 tone leather on suede seating surfaces and brushed aluminum graces almost everything in the cavernous cabin. This SHO has the heated seats, the air cooled seats, Power Sunroof, Power everything, THX sound, Microsoft Synce, BlueTooth and loads of other features you don't normally see in a Ford car. There is no key just the MY Key system which consists of a key fob that is recognized when you touch the door handle. Once inside, you press the brake and press the Push Button Start button and awaken the 3.5-liter “EcoBoost” V-6 which makes 365 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 350 pound-feet of torque at 3500 rpm. The engine features direct fuel injection, variable intake-valve timing, and two small turbochargers that put out a maximum of 12 psi of boost. There really isn't a roar from the engine and it's hard to even tell if the car is even on. It's almost hybrid silent but not quite. The interior is very well appointed and it does not remind me of anything Ford has ever put out before. It's fresh and the lines are clean. The seats feel phenomenal and I feel extremley safe and comfortable. The instrument panel is lit by a gorgeous light blue lighting and everything seems to be exactly where you would want it. Today's drive will be a quick one, probably about 20 minutes worth on the expressway and hopefully I can find a few nice S curves on the way back. Pulling off the lot I notice that the car has ample power and is very well mannered. She's smooth, yet agressive and the best part is that a passing police officer,will normally think it's just the old standard Taurus. She's not the standard Taurus though. When I enter the on ramp I give her a little gas and we are off to the races. 0-60 times are at about 5.2 seconds and there is little or no wheel slip at all. The steering feels great and the chassis feels very smooth with little or no body roll on the small corners at all. Before I even know it, I'm approaching my exit ramp which was literally 5 miles away, but I was there in a few blinks of the eye. On the way back I veer off the beaten path to a couple of my favorite winding roads. It was on these roads that I found the all wheel drive to be a huge benefit. Once again there was little or no body roll and the car stayed firmly on the road as if it was running on rails. The brakes were good, but not phenomenal. After studying the car it seems that Ford used the same size calipers and brake pads for the SHO that they used for the regular Taurus? Not sure why, but it was defintley a mistake. The braking was good enough, but with that kind of power and speed, they may have wanted to throw on something a little more accommidating. Other than that these are awesome cars. Alot of fun to drive and they have beautiful interiors. I'm glad to see the American's bounce back and show the World that this is where it all started and that we are capable of building great cars. Overall this is a great car. It looks good, behaves well, and has a temper that can be unwrapped with just the nudge of the accelerator. Welcome back Ford we've been waiting for you!

2010 Ford Taurus SHO Specs:

Mechanical

Engine & Performance
  • Base engine size: 3.5 L
  • Cam type: Double overhead cam (DOHC)
  • Cylinders: V6
  • Valves: 24
  • Valve timing: Variable
  • Direct injection
  • Torque: 350 ft-lbs. @ 3500 rpm
  • Horsepower: 365 hp @ 5500 rpm
  • Turning circle: 39.7 ft.
  • Base engine type: gas
DriveTrain
  • Drive type: all wheel drive
  • Mechanical center differential
  • Transmission: 6-speed shiftable automatic
  • Center limited slip differential
Suspension
  • MacPherson strut front suspension
  • Multi-link rear suspension
  • Four-wheel independent suspension
  • Front and rear stabilizer bar
Fuel
  • Fuel type: gas
  • Fuel type: premium unleaded (recommended)
  • Fuel tank capacity: 19 gal.
  • Range in miles (cty/hwy): 323/475 mi.
  • EPA mileage est. (cty/hwy): 17/25 mpg
2010 Ford Taurus SHO Warranty:

Warranty

  • Basic: 3 yr./ 36000 mi.
  • Drivetrain: 5 yr./ 60000 mi.
  • Roadside: 5 yr./ 60000 mi.
http://www.edmunds.com/ford/taurus/2010/features-specs.html?style=101135472
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2010-ford-taurus-sho-road-test
http://reviews.cnet.com/sedan/2010-ford-taurus-sho/4505-10865_7-33719730.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Taurus_SHO

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