The show ain't over. The Ford Taurus SHO is one of the best known Q-Ships in North America. A Q-Ship is a term that comes from the First World War where a typical-looking merchant ship, well armed, would lure U-Boats to the surface and attempt to sink the submarine with its concealed weapons.
Q-Ship then applies to cars that have hidden talents. Usually, an unassuming sedan would make the ideal candidate for such a car. The first muscle cars from the '60s were some of the most effective Q-Ships, what with skinny, bias-ply tires, no brakes, bad steering, and no physical adornments whatsoever. The only thing they did have were massive, big-block V8s lying in wait under their bonnets.
The Taurus SHO came about at the end of the 1980s with different wheels, a revised bumper and, well, that's it really, other than the fantastic Yamaha-built 3.0L V6. It looked like a Taurus, but it didn't walk or quack like a Taurus. The SHO was very popular until Ford messed with the recipe and made it far more posh than it should have been. Today, the SHO is back, but it isn't at the same time.
The first two generations of the SHO were for enthusiasts, whereas the current 4th-gen car is simply meant to be the top-of-the-line model in the Taurus lineup. This saddens me, as I was a fan of the original.
Gusto
To brighten my mood, I'm going to start off by talking about the SHO's EcoBoost, twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 which churns out 365 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Ford and its line of EcoBoost engines are slowly but surely changing the powertrain landscape with smooth, efficient, powerful, and reasonably frugal engines. On that note, I managed an average of 12.5L/100km over a week's time. Although this EcoBoost has gobs of power, it doles out performance in a very uneventful linear manner. For many, this may be a required characteristic, but for those expecting a SHO, they will be disappointed.
All that gusto does work its magic at getting the 2,000-kg (4,400-lb) car up to speeds briskly, but again without drama. When on boost, the big saloon whooshes ahead with seemingly nothing able to slow it down. Ford's got the momentum covered with a set of front twin-piston calipers covering large disc brakes.
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| The current SHO is meant to be enjoyed, to satisfy and not be lusted after. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
Q-Ship then applies to cars that have hidden talents. Usually, an unassuming sedan would make the ideal candidate for such a car. The first muscle cars from the '60s were some of the most effective Q-Ships, what with skinny, bias-ply tires, no brakes, bad steering, and no physical adornments whatsoever. The only thing they did have were massive, big-block V8s lying in wait under their bonnets.
The Taurus SHO came about at the end of the 1980s with different wheels, a revised bumper and, well, that's it really, other than the fantastic Yamaha-built 3.0L V6. It looked like a Taurus, but it didn't walk or quack like a Taurus. The SHO was very popular until Ford messed with the recipe and made it far more posh than it should have been. Today, the SHO is back, but it isn't at the same time.
The first two generations of the SHO were for enthusiasts, whereas the current 4th-gen car is simply meant to be the top-of-the-line model in the Taurus lineup. This saddens me, as I was a fan of the original.
Gusto
To brighten my mood, I'm going to start off by talking about the SHO's EcoBoost, twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 which churns out 365 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Ford and its line of EcoBoost engines are slowly but surely changing the powertrain landscape with smooth, efficient, powerful, and reasonably frugal engines. On that note, I managed an average of 12.5L/100km over a week's time. Although this EcoBoost has gobs of power, it doles out performance in a very uneventful linear manner. For many, this may be a required characteristic, but for those expecting a SHO, they will be disappointed.
All that gusto does work its magic at getting the 2,000-kg (4,400-lb) car up to speeds briskly, but again without drama. When on boost, the big saloon whooshes ahead with seemingly nothing able to slow it down. Ford's got the momentum covered with a set of front twin-piston calipers covering large disc brakes.
 |
| The twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 churns out 365 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |