Ford Taurus SHO to return

While we don't comment on future product developments (i.e., the alleged SHO), I can say that the 2010 Taurus will be a vast improvement over the existing model, @carlisimo.

Scott Monty
Global Digital Communications
Ford Motor Company

The steering wheel looks like it's from a Ford Ranger.

Off topic, but I think its pretty awesome that the Ford people are reading this blog and taking note of the comments (assuming Scott Monty is legit).

Thus, I will state again my ardent dream for Ford. Please make a sporty and fast version of the Focus for the U.S. market. I plan to buy a new car in 2 or 3 years, and I would love to get something like the European Focus ST. I know. You guys know your business, and you are going to be well positioned for profitability in a year or two. I just hope that an agile Focus is part of the plan.

Thank you Ford for listening...and for the record, I hate the name Fiesta. But that car looks wonderful. So, no hard feelings.

Hey, a Ford spokesperson(?). Let me just say the Lincoln MKT better be an absolute show stopper, because after 2 years, the Buick Enclave still looks great-possibly the best in its class. I commend you guys on the MKS, though. It's no CTS, and I'd would still rather buy a Hyundai Genesis, but it's finally starting to grow on me.

Is this supposed to compete with the Chrysler 300 SRT8 and other premium-ish muscle family cars?

"the 2010 Taurus will be a vast improvement over the existing model"

Unlike some, I'm a big fan of the existing model. I'm looking forward to 2011 (I always wait a year).

Mr. Monty, thank you for the post. It really is neat that you guys are here.

Believe me, I think the Taurus is pretty good as it is... what I'm having trouble with is the concept of a sporty version of a large sedan known for being comfortable. A Fusion SHO would seem to be much more similar to the Taurus SHO of old, and that was a reasonable concept. "Small" enough to be nimble, to not need too much power for a FWD platform, and to be cool (ie not thought of as a grandfather's car, which size alone can be responsible for). I get the impression that the Taurus is being used simply for its name recognition, when another model would be a better fit.

But it could just me be. A large segment of my generation never experienced large performance cars. On the other hand, we did grow up with V6 family cars that had crazy amounts of power, so it's hard to imagine how cars like the Taurus SHO or Impala SS can differentiate themselves.

Fusion SHO? Not a bad idea if you are 18. However in the real world people like little things called comfort and room with dash of power. Anyone hear of an M5, E63AMG ok a little expensive let’s try M45 or GS450? Bringing the Mondeo (I mean Taurus) to U.S. is about the best idea Ford has had in years. The fact they are going to make a SHO version means Ford is making an afford to take control of that segment class. The Taurus of years passed has been one of the largest selling and Ford got a bad taste in the mouth when they tried replacing it. I can find little to no fault with the Mondeo and hope the U.S. version will not be stripped down as other Euro Fords have been macerated in the past. We had the Escort 1.9 Tbi and EXP while my friends had the turbo RS version or how about the old U.S. Tempo vs. Euro Sierra?
Drop the cheesy carbon fiber or faux stainless steel and give the U.S. a sedan that offers lazy boy comfort for my 2hr commute with and appetite for canyon roads for that off chance I can escape the city. We have enough Camrys thank you very much!
RKR

Will this be one of the greatest resurrections of one of the greatest American sedans ever to fall victim to one of the greatest automotive f-ups (2nd gen) by a not-so-great car company? I put those odds squarely in relationship to the percentage of power driving the rear wheels. Yeah, the old one was front-drive, but that had the Lumina Z34 as competition. Enough said.

Take a look at those interior shots. Besides the ugly, horribly designed steering wheel that contains twice as many (poor quality) buttons as necessary, look at the shifter. Notice anything? There's no manual mode on it. PRNDL, the same as on every other recent FordCo offering lately. Way to go, Ford, on creating yet another failed product.

(I'd edit my comment above but we still don't have that simple feature.) There's no redline on the tach, either.

The biggest problem jumps out at you right away.

It's an automatic.

The original SHO was a great car with an incredibly loyal (almost cult like) following right up until the point they started putting automatics in it.

The second gen version didn't even offer a manual which doomed it to being a baby boomer special....

"Yes, I would like a Taurus and what's the most expensive version you have?...the SHO?... Yes, I'll take it even though I don't know what it is"

Those are pictures of a prototype, so drawing broad conclusions from such specifics as the tach not having a redline and the quality of the buttons is premature. Prototypes typically look rough up close because they're still undergoing R&D and durability testing, so we can't expect perfection at this point.

I think Ford would need both a slushbox and a manual in order to cover both preferences of the market, even if the enthusiast segment is projected to be small. The lack of a manual would otherwise suggest that Ford's not really serious about its position as a performance sedan.

Carlisimo,

The prior versions of the Taurus that were SHO'd (I had a '96 myself, OK car but needed more torque BAD) didn't say performance either.

That was part of what made them cool wasn't it?

cwc1: Given that even the Ford Flex, which has one of if not the nicest Ford interior at the moment, uses the same horrendously cheap, unattractive, and unnecessarily numerous buttons on its steering wheel it's a good guess that the new Taurus will use the same, especially when they're seen on the prototype.

"It's an automatic."

...which doesn't even have a manual gate and/or paddle shifters. Not even a sport mode!? I hope that isn't finalized.

"Fusion SHO? Not a bad idea if you are 18. However in the real world people like little things called comfort and room with dash of power. Anyone hear of an M5, E63AMG ok a little expensive let’s try M45 or GS450?"

Umm, the Fusion is larger than all of the above-inside and out. An they are already coming out with a Fusion sport model (SVT?). I think everyone is blowing this completely out of proportion. Think last-gen Malibu SS. My money says more power from the ecoboost engine and slightly sportier front/rear fascias. Maybe a sporty little interior upgrade (hopefully no cheesy red seat inserts) low profile 20's and a spoiler. I don't necessarily want to see these, but Ford's current situation is telling me that's where they're going with this. Whatever they do it won't be class leading, because they have to compete with the Maxima- a real cult car, and the rwd G8 (no further reasoning needed).

I'm all for it, and you know it`ll be eco-boosted!!
Thing is though, you have to remember the market segment. If it's aimed squarely at the v6 people movers, you know, the transportation appliances, (I include the maxima - wrong wheels), it should do well, I know plently of people waiting for a chance to get back into american cars in this segment.
If it's aimed at the "sporty" large car market for non badge-snobs, one dominated by rwd bruisers, it may find trouble getting traction. One of the biggest reasons I got mine was that it was rwd. IF they make it AWD with a rear bias, it should do well. Comfort, space, practicality, power and the surprise of enthusiastic ride and handling are what make this segment so special.

My Gen 2 SHO had a great sounding engine and was a fabulous tourer.

But, it also had, hands down, the worst designed interior of the 20+ vehicles I have owned in my life.

The cup holders, which were huge (a 1.5l pop bottle fit easily in the hole) and shallow (maybe 2 inches deep) at the slightest change of speed or direction any cup placed within would fall into your lap or your passenger's.

The storage cubby at the bottom of the center stack had curved sides and was made of hard, slippery plastic. Anything placed in it became a deadly missile as soon as you stepped on the gas.

The interior was a monument to form over function and whatever engineer designed it deserves to lose his/her pension if Ford fails.

Isn't the 2010 ford Taurus based off the Ford Mondeo in Europe that is on sale now. Its not even developed by americans.

that plastic in the picture looks cheap btw