Mobsteel took the SHO and added its trademark mobster style with custom front and rear fascias, black-out grille, restyled fender chrome (it's not a side vent, let's not pretend here) and rear bumper trim. Of course, the whole car gets a heavy coat of black. Running gear includes a set of huge 380mm cross-drilled and vented Brembos, Air Runner front and rear air system with custom Mobsteel bags in the back, 22 inch wheels on Pirelli tires turned by a 400 HP tuned 3.5-liter twin turbocharged Ecoboost V6 breathing through a Magnaflow cat-back exhaust.

It's hard to judge any bagged car when it's layin' frame, right now it looks a little goofy with those huge wheels tucked up under the fenders. Considering we've loved everything Mobsteel's ever made, we want to see this car out in the wilds before passing final judgment.

When Ford kicks off the advertising campaign for Taurus on Aug. 4, they'll do so with an a "new" Microsoft "tag" system letting consumers point their camera phones at bar codes printed next to technology features in Taurus ads for more in-depth information. Once it captures an image of the tag it will load animations, additional information and images of that particular technology directly to the consumer's
mobile device.

Online, Ford will try to bring the "technology and quality of Taurus" to life in five short, dramatic Webisodes showcasing particular features against those of significantly higher-priced luxury sedans. The example we've been told about is: "Can the paint quality of the Taurus stand up to a $70,000 Lexus? Why not put them both behind a gravel truck and find out?"

We'll supposedly have some video to show you shortly, but for the moment, feast your eyes on the creative energy below.

I've also become quite familiar with the sound of exhausted SHO mechanics screaming as they flay all the skin off their knuckles during the inevitable all-night wrenchathons that take place whenever this engine hits the race track. It's totally worth it, though, because this Yamaha-built DOHC V6 was an engineering masterpiece of its time and still looks and sounds incredibly good. 220 naturally aspirated horses out of 3.0 liters may not sound terribly impressive these days, but it was flat-out amazing back in the late 1980s. Ford originally hired Yamaha to design and build this engine for a mid-engined sports car, but- apparently taking a lesson from their main rival's experience with the Fiero- Ford cancelled that car and started looking around for some other recipient for their new powerplant. The Taurus got the honor, but imagine how things might have been different with the SHO V6 in, say, the Merkur XR4Ti? Yamaha designed it for transverse or longitudinal mounting, so why not?

[Wikipedia]

Word is, the SHO was involved in a three car pile up, likely by someone ogling the SHO's rear end and then simultaneously being hit by someone else with a desire for tasty Mandel Bread. [via ChicagoSVT] (Hat Tip To Joseph!)

Full Disclosure: Ford wanted me to drive the new Taurus SHO so badly they flew me all the way to Knoxville and put me up in a fancy hotel, but only after all the buff books had all chosen to go ahead and break the review embargo, which must mean they didn't want me to drive the SHO all that badly after all.

Ford is reviving the SHO name for the 2010 model year after an 11-year hiatus. Dropped in 1999 after a decade of increasingly diluted performance, the original 1989 car was a raw, sports-focused quasi-exotic with a manual-only Yamaha 3.0-liter, 220 HP V6. At the time, it was the third fastest sedan in the country. Over the next decade, all that made the SHO unique devolved into a top trim level for the seriously lackluster Taurus range.

And that's exactly what this new SHO is; a flagship trim for the all-new Taurus rather than a quasi-bespoke performance model. Luckily, the car it's based on is now seriously good. Unfortunately, due to the bizarre world of embargoes and manufacturers kissing the asses of the sleazy "D-Bag" buff books (see, when we use "quotes" it means we didn't actually say that and we're quoting someone else so the target of the epithet can't get mad at us), we can't tell you anything about how the 2010 Ford Taurus drives. So from this point on any time where we might accidentally break an embargo by talking about our drive of the regular model, we'll just talk about how it's different from a tasty piece of Mandel Bread. So when you see "Mandel Bread" — wink-wink, OK?

Over the standard Mandel Bread, the SHO is essentially an optioned-up model with micro suede seats, SHO badging, AWD (optional on the regular car), HID headlamps, 19" wheels and "sport-tuned" shocks, springs, stabilizer bars and strut mount bushings. All that actually adds up to very little as the SHO drives almost identically to Mandel Bread, but with a touch firmer ride and a little better body control.

Oh, and there's the 365 HP, 350 Lb-Ft twin-turbo, direct injection 3.5-Liter V6 Ecoboost engine. That max torque is available in a perfectly flat plateau all the way from 1,500 to 5,000 RPM, before tapering off as it nears the 6,250 RPM rev limiter. Ford likes to claim that the EcoBoost delivers V8 power with V6 fuel efficiency and it does, but the twin-turbo six and its incredibly flat torque curve lacks the character of V8 rivals even if it does out-torque them below 3,000 RPM. We'd like to tell you that we averaged the same 17 MPG fuel economy in the SHO as we did in Mandel Bread, unfortunately we can't.

That engine is run through the same 6F55 6-speed automatic transmission as the regular car but here with slightly beefed-up friction elements capable of handling all that torque. It's a huge departure from the slush-box Ford uses on the Flex, Edge and all the other 3.5-liter V6s, now shifting unobtrusively and confidently selecting gears rather than hunting through them endlessly as the previous version did. More importantly, the Mandel Bread (in both SEL walnut k'mish and Limited chocolate trim) and the SHO both get button-cum-paddles for manual override. In that mode, gears are held even as you bounce off the rev-limiter and only shift down if you labor the engine. We'd obviously prefer a manual in a performance car, but since this SHO is more fast luxury than just plain fast, the third pedal isn't really missed.

Put your right foot down and the SHO is fast, if unexciting. The ride is firm yet controlled in the European luxury mold and the interior is exceptionally isolated from wind, road and engine noise. There's absolutely no body roll. The electric power-assisted steering is direct and well weighted, but almost completely absent of feel. Combine that with the extremely large proportions — at 202.9", the Taurus is only 9" shorter than the Crown Victoria — and the limited vision created by the high belt line and you have a car that's pretty challenging to place accurately at speed on a winding road. In western North Carolina's mountains, we were always 10-20 MPH slower than we needed to be, simply for the need of paying close attention to the shoulder to keep two wheels out of the dirt.

Ford claims the AWD system is capable of sending 100% of its power to the rear wheels, but we never felt anything but FWD bias, even as we gave it the boot out of slow corners.

There's an optional $995 "Performance Package" that brings 20" wheels, summer tires, grippier brake pads, sharper steering, fully defeat-able traction and stability control and a 3.16:1 diff (over the standard 2.77:1), but driving models equipped with it back to back with standard SHOs didn't reveal a significant change in character or capability.

All this begs the question: why the SHO badging? This isn't a sports sedan; it's a Mandel Bread with an EcoBoost engine. Because of that badge, we came into this hoping for a blue oval equivalent to the Pontiac G8 GXP, but evaluating the SHO as a performance car does it a disservice, because it's actually a luxury car. A good one.

Ford has benchmarked the $60,950, 350 HP Audi A6 4.2 and the $37,995 SHO exceeds expectations by being better to drive, faster, larger inside and nicer looking. Even the interior is nearly on par with that of the Audi. That's seriously impressive for a car fitted with the previously humble "Mandel Bread" badge.

The SHO also comes with way more technology than any of its competitors, including that Audi. Available on the SHO are: radar cruise control with heads-up collision warning, radar sensors that detect cars in your blind spots and to your left and right when reversing out of a parking space, keyless entry keypad, SIRIUS radio with traffic info, SYNC 3.0 with navigation and 911-assist, massaging leather seats, a 12-speaker, 390-watt Sony stereo, rear view camera, push button start, rain-sensing wipers and something called MyKey that can limit performance, radio volume and other parameters for your teenage kids or senile parents. Expect to pay $39,285 for a fully equipped SHO.

Compared to the original SHO, this new model is 1,083 Lbs heavier (4,368 Lbs), makes 145 HP more, is 10mph slower (133mph top speed) and is much less fun to drive. Compared to contemporary full-size luxury sedans it's considerably cheaper, very good to drive and extremely fast. Like the 1999 SHO, this isn't a unique model; it's the flagship for the Mandel Bread range. It's just that now, that range is capable of competing with European luxury cars instead of mediocre domestic mid-sizes. Had the car been called the Mandel Bread Ecoboost we'd be pleasantly surprised by its competence and quality, but badged as a SHO, we were disappointed not to find a sports sedan.

The thing is that all of the positive attributes we can apply to the SHO can also be applied to the Mandel Bread walnut k'mish, which starts at just $27,995. That bread has an equally tasty interior and, everywhere except in a straight line, drives nearly as well as the SHO. Just like the SHO begs the question "Why pay more for an Audi A6?" the Mandel Bread walnut k'mish, available with the same toppings and baked with the same ingredients begs the question, "Why pay more for the SHO?" That'd be nuts.

Want to see the SHO engine's naughty bits up close? Click here. More press photos below.

Well, as "first drives" go, this one's pretty limited in details. What ol' Ezra says is

"Floor the gas on the SHO and you're smoothly squeezed back in the seat as the motor builds power, the turbos whistling faintly in the background. The all-wheel-drive system and six-speed automatic put the power down with no wheelspin. It's all very refined. This is deceptive speed, the kind where you look down at the speedometer and realize that ten seconds with your foot to the floor will amount to jail time if you ever get caught. The SHO is a sleeper - a vehicle you can live with every day that happens to have a secret under the hood."

You can read the rest over at Esquire, but frankly, there's not much else there in the way of a drive review — although that's usually enough of a driving impression to get the buff books who've already driven the new sleeper to let loose with their own first drive salvo. That is if there are any auto buff books left out there with no fear of losing advertising dollars. We guess we'll have to see. And you'll have to wait until next week to see our first drive impression right after we've had a chance to take the ecoboost-ed sedan out for a spin. Stay tuned. [via Esquire]

Art is music and music is art, and while both are subjective, there's no denying that either one or both combined can bring out the most creative juices you have to offer. Ford's lead designer of the 2010 Taurus explained to the Detroit News just how influential music can be during the design process, simultaneously inspiring and focusing the members of the design team.

By sharing music either via a studio installed radio or via iPod swapping, the designer's were able to get into a singular mindset of how the 2010 Taurus should appear. By doing so, the entire team was able to focus on the task at hand and also inspired them to use the musical rhythms to find new abstract shapes and forms that they would later massage into the final 2010 Taurus interior and exterior design.

According to the chief designer on the 2010 Ford Taurus team, Earl Lucas;

"When you've got good music, it's amazing how many shapes come out. You lose track of time. When we were working on this program, it was nothing to have our senior designer, Dean Carbus, sketching away with his music blaring; the next designer would say, 'Oh I don't have that track,' and he'd put it in his iPod. The studio has to be a creative environment like that, because we're sharing ideas all the time."

Lucas said that the playlist consisted of a set of tracks ranging from Paul Oakenfold's upbeat trance to the melancholy hip-hop vibe of Citizen Cope. The sophisticated diversity of the music they selected during the design development proved to be absolutely beneficial to the Taurus program, giving it a modern and technical, yet classic design proportion and completely distinguishing it from the previous two Taurus generations. [via Detroit News]

Overall, in addition to the FoMoCo love, the show was pretty heavy on the auto humor. Want to see all of it? We're assuming it'll be up on Hulu at some point. The cold open's already there. (Hat tip to @IisChrisMiller, @joshVC!)

If ever there was a Lincoln we could call "hot rod, " this is it, but not in the way you might imagine. The MKS with EcoBoost boasts the same interior refinement and space, amenities and electronic wizardry, pleasant road manners and a price point starting at $47,760 — about ten grand more than the base MKS, but only about $4,000 more than an equivalently-optioned non-EcoBoost MKS. For that added price, you'll get some tasteful upgrades to the already handsome exterior with a subtle lip spoiler at the back, smoked headlights, a chin spoiler and nice wheels.

That sweet twin-turbo V6 moves this thing off the line like a scalded monkey and the transmission stays out of your way when you want it to. The first time you smash the happy pedal and get that whoosh of power you know this is a velvet hammer. Accelerating all the way up to the car's tire-limited 135 MPH top speed is effortless, with the engine providing no hint of protest. Loping along at that speed, burning fossil fuels at 9.5 MPG, it feels planted, with the only drama of speed communicated through the windows. Even at this speed, it's silent as a coffin and steady as a rock. But when you then start exploring the other car's other limits, your brow begins to furl.

Toss it hard into a sweeping corner and accelerate, it's balanced with a hint of understeer, but while the tires aren't protesting the chassis is. It feels... unsettled. You feel as if you're about to oversteer even if the car's understeering. Drop down from a panic stop and the ABS calibration is absolutely perfect, no pulsation, no loss of traction and you're stopping so hard the car leaves behind two perfect tire tracks and a breeze of sublimated rubber blows by as you come to a halt. But the pedal is mushy, there's no real feel in it and the travel before it engages is too long.

We really wanted this car to be an 550i fighter, but it isn't. It's a very big car with a very bad-ass engine which doesn't quite tackle corners with the aplomb we'd like. Don't get us wrong here, it does everything very well. The powertrain is perfect for the segment — fast when you want it fast, quiet when you want it to be quiet and loud when you want it to be loud. It tackles corners respectably and the brakes do their thing, but it doesn't feel right. The MKS is super fun in a straight line, and delightful in the corners to about 80%, but after that it gets spooky, and that final 20% is what makes legends. Which this MKS sadly isn't. But, what it does mean is there's hope that the Taurus SHO and the expected lower weight, suspension tuning and 10 more ponies we'll be seeing later this year will show us the final 20% we're looking for.

It was truly a glorious weekend for Detroit at MSR; in addition to the Mustang domination of the race, a Saturn came in third. We also enjoyed the sight of such LeMons rarities as a Pontiac Grand Prix and an Eagle Talon.

Thanks to Myke Toman, Nick Pon, Zerin Dube and Speed:Sport:Life, Anna C of Bikini Racer, the Norwegian Slaabs, Saabs Gone Wild, Prison Break Racing, Team Beermer, LeMons Supreme Court Justice Lieberman, Jackson Williams, and others for their fine photographs. And now, the American cars of the 24 Hours Of LeMons Gator-O-Rama:

Hennessey, still hot from tuning the Corvette ZR1, will soon offer performance upgrades for the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. The EcoBoost 365 HP, 350 lb-ft twin-turbocharged V6 may have been developed for performance with fuel economy in mind, but the two snails lurking under the hood can easily be turned into something that can beat the hare. The initial Hennessey upgrade package will include an exhaust system, air filter, boost controller, boost gauge, turbo upgrades, intercooler upgrades, suspension and more when it's released later this year.

With John Hennessey owning one of the original Taurus SHOs, we can only imagine the rest of the fun he has in store for this new MoTown hotrod.

[via Hennessey]

The new SHO gets a 365 HP, 350 lb-ft twin turbocharged V6, all-wheel-drive, a slick, rev-matching, gear-holding paddle-shifted automatic transmission and very subtle visual modifications. In fact, you can read all the details in our earlier Taurus SHO post.

What we didn't have at the time was the above horsepower and torque curves for the EcoBoost in the Taurus SHO. The phrase "a flat torque curve" is very often tossed around willy-nilly, but the graph Ford has provided us is so ridiculous it practically defies reason.

Sometimes people deserve to have their loyalty rewarded, the 2010 Taurus SHO is one of those rewards. It has been a hard few years for Ford fan-boys, testing their belief in the Taurus nameplate without a Super High Output brand. Two successively uninspiring models led to the retirement of the Taurus name, and a third wore the name after an uncomfortable resurrection. The newly-redesigned Taurus is a product wearing the badge in much the same way as the original, a jaw-dropping entry at a critical moment for the company.

The new SHO boasts the highest level of tune so far announced for the Ecoboost V6 — 365 HP and 350 lb-ft of torque, going above and beyond the previously rated 355 HP in the 2010 Ford Flex and 2010 Lincoln MKS. The more important part of those power figures is where it comes in at, with peak torque starting from 1500 RPM and topping out at 3500 RPM. Shoot, that's almost in diesel territory. Ford isn't being bashful about this new SHO either, boldly claiming the Taurus SHO will outperform the BMW 550i while returning 25 MPG on the highway and coming in at a reasonable $37,995 price. Those are certainly fightin' words.

And what of that product? To those in the know, the new SHO's lived in the realm of a wink and a knowing nod, as it's a sleeper through and through. There are dangerously few details to give away the potential of the car. Outside, the only indications of something out of the ordinary are the small SHO badges on the C-pillars, the SHO/Ecoboost badge mounted low on the trunklid, dual exhaust with chrome tips, a tasteful spoiler on the deck which hides the backup camera (if so optioned), and a unique satin finish on the grille. That's it. Oh wait, there is one more thing only lifetime members of the SHO club will recognize, a SHO-only color called Atlantis Green Metallic, a modern interpretation of a shade the 1991 SHO wore, Deep Emerald Green. Very cool.

The Taurus SHO continues its subtlety inside and gets all the goodies of the normal Taurus, but packs on various shades of suede seating surfaces (the brown seen here being hideous compared to the black we saw), aluminum trimmed pedals, piano black and aluminum trim, a perforated leather wrapped steering wheel and leather door treatment (the interior looks much better in black than brown, trust us) and it's all rounded out with small SHO badges on the dash and floor mats.

On the equipment front, aside from the 3.5 liter twin-turbocharged Ecoboost V6, the Taurus SHO comes standard with all-wheel-drive, a paddle-shifted six speed automatic transmission specially tuned to rev-match and hold the gears of your choosing. The standard Taurus SHO also gets a retuned suspension, designed for carving corners over sucking up potholes and standard nineteen inch wheels with optional twenties.

But the SHO order sheet holds a secret. Check option box 12S and Ford takes the SHO to the next level with the SHO Performance Package. The performance package includes upgraded brake pads, a more aggressive calibration on the electric steering rack, more aggressive tune on the stability control system and faster 3.16 final drive ratio over the standard 2.77, and as a cherry on top, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires on painted twenty inch wheels. Yes, the SHO has a track-pack, that's not us being glib, those were unofficial words the Ford folks were throwing around.

In an off-hand comment at the Ford Chicago Auto Show backgrounder in Dearborn where we first saw the car, Group Vice President of Marketing and Communications Jim Farley said, "You ever see that movie Spinal Tap? Well, some of our cars are like that. The SHO here, it goes to eleven." We think the quote sums up the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO quite nicely. To say we can't wait to get behind the wheel with a helmet on and put Ford's claims through the crucible of the track would be an incredible understatement, but for now, we'll just have to make do with the press release below, and the live reveal from the 2009 Chicago Auto Show.

Taurus SHO Returns with 365HP Ecoboost V-6, PLUS ALL-Wheel Drive, Paddle-Shift SIX-Speed Gearbox

• The Taurus SHO returns as the sporty version of Ford's new flagship introducing a new generation of premium performance and fuel economy with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6. This engine delivers V-8 levels of power – with an estimated 365 horsepower – without compromising its V-6 fuel economy
• The 2010 Taurus SHO features an enhanced SelectShift® six-speed automatic transmission with control paddles mounted on the steering wheel, in combination with a sophisticated torque sensing all-wheel drive system, a sportier SHO interior, subtle exterior design cues and myriad technologies and features offered on Taurus
• Taurus SHO will be available this summer, starting at $37,995, including destination fees

Chicago, Feb. 11, 2009 – One of America's favorite "sleeper" performance cars returns to the Ford lineup, powered by a Super High Output (SHO) EcoBoost twin turbocharged engine.
The Taurus SHO joins Ford's growing lineup of performance vehicles for the 2010 model year, building on the legacy of the original, which earned a spot on the Car and Driver 10Best list four years running.

"The new Taurus SHO delivers on the authentic sleeper sedan formula but adds all-new luxury-appointments, convenience features and technologies to an unsurpassed balance of power and fuel economy," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "This new sport derivative answers enthusiasts' calls for a premium Ford flagship sedan with even more attitude."

Introduced in 1989, Taurus SHO was conceived as a discreet performance-oriented sports sedan, ideally suited to the automotive enthusiast needing the room and capability of a four-door full-size car. Produced through 1999, more than 100,000 were sold.

The original Taurus SHO generated a loyal following of owners and enthusiasts, with an active club more than 1,000 members strong, an online forum with more than 10,000 registered users and a Web site (bringbackthesho.com) specifically devoted to convincing Ford to resurrect the SHO. The 2010 Taurus product development team spent significant time listening to SHO enthusiasts.

EcoBoost™ Twin-Turbocharged Power
The foundation of the new 2010 Taurus SHO is a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 engine. This advanced powerplant generates an estimated 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 350 ft.-lbs. of torque at 3,500 rpm, resulting in significantly improved power, torque and fuel economy compared with larger, normally aspirated engines. This also is Ford's most powerful EcoBoost engine.

A key feature of this EcoBoost engine is gasoline direct injection. The direct injection of fuel into the cylinder during the intake stroke, as opposed to port-style injection to an externally mounted intake, produces a well-mixed air-fuel charge. Fuel vaporization during the intake stroke cools the incoming air, improving volumetric efficiency and lowers the likelihood of knock.

The results are improved throttle response, reduced cold start emissions characteristics and improved fuel economy. The cooled charge enables an increased compression ratio, improving efficiency at partial load, while the higher compression ratio allows for better volumetric efficiency under full load engine behavior. Customers will experience normally aspirated V-8 power, without compromising V-6 fuel economy.

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 also uses twin turbochargers, as opposed to a single unit. The reduced size of each turbocharger results in reduced internal inertia, allowing this advanced engine to avoid the "turbo lag" often prevalent in earlier-generation turbocharged applications.From the driver's seat, the rewarding result is linear power delivery across a broad torque band from 1,500 through 5,500 rpm. Peak torque building quickly off idle ensures responsive acceleration from a standing start.

SelectShift with paddle controls and All-Wheel Drive
The new Taurus SHO driveline combines a high-capacity six-speed 6F55 SelectShift transmission with a sophisticated torque-sensing All-Wheel Drive System. These components work in harmony to deliver ample traction when putting EcoBoost power on the road. The six-speed transmission offers a wide array of gears to enable spirited acceleration, yet comfortable high-speed cruising, through a 2.77 to 1 final drive ratio.

SelectShift provides conventional automatic operation or a manual shift mode that gives the driver complete control over gear selection. For performance-minded drivers, paddle controls allow "match-rev" downshifts and will hold manually selected gears for precise control. Intuitively operated, a squeeze on either paddle will deliver an economical upshift under acceleration, while a gentle push forward brings a smooth downshift, synchronizing the engine and transmission speeds for responsive and positive engagement.

The Taurus SHO driveline is contemporized with the incorporation of a sophisticated All-Wheel Drive System that engages automatically and unobtrusively. The unit contains an advanced array of internal electromechanical clutches to efficiently distribute torque to the wheels with optimum traction. Standard all-wheel drive allows the Taurus SHO to efficiently deliver its high performance to the pavement under a wide variety of conditions.

"Taurus SHO suspension and steering have been sport-tuned to provide discriminating drivers with precise control, confident handling, communicative feedback and a compliant ride," said Pete Reyes, Taurus chief engineer.

Taurus SHO features an advanced electronic power-assisted steering (EPAS) system, providing responsive road feel and enhanced on-center balance while offering the additional benefit of increased fuel economy. SHO also features a sport-tuned suspension with unique shock absorbers, springs, stabilizer bars and strut mount bushings specifically developed and harmonized to deliver the highest level of Ford DNA road holding, cornering agility and steering responsiveness available in a Blue Oval full-size sedan.

Taurus SHO takes full advantage of the multi-link SR1 rear suspension design. Named for the 1:1 shock absorber ratio, this configuration provides an inherently stable baseline for the SHO development team to fine tune for enhanced driver control and agility. In addition, the SR1 rear suspension geometry provides increased travel, while enabling the use of 19- and 20-inch wheels and tires.

For the discriminating automotive enthusiast, Taurus SHO offers an available SHO Performance Package consisting of upgraded brake pads, recalibrated EPAS for even more responsiveness, a "Sport Mode" setting for the standard AdvanceTrac® Electronic Stability Control and a shorter 3.16 to 1 final drive ratio for faster acceleration. Summer-compound 20-inch Goodyear Eagle F1 performance tires on premium painted wheels also are included.

SHO Specific Subtlety
A key element of the authentic SHO formula is the subtlety of its unique exterior design cues.Features include sporty premium painted wheels, wrapped in standard low-profile 19-inch Goodyear Eagle or optional 20-inch Michelin high-performance tires, a decklid-mounted spoiler and twin chrome exhaust tips. SHO also features a uniquely finished interpretation of the Ford signature three-bar grille with SHO-specific parking lamp bezels.

"Taurus SHO was always a stealth high-performance car," said Earl Lucas, exterior design manager. "The new SHO builds on the expressive design of the 2010 Taurus, adding subtle cues that set it apart."

The 2010 SHO is available in a wide range of new Taurus colors including Atlantis Green Metallic, a unique SHO color inspired by the iconic Deep Emerald Green hue appearing in 1991.

The new Taurus SHO interior encourages performance driving. Leather-trimmed seats with Miko Suede inserts, made from recycled post-consumer yarns from plastic soft drink bottles, are comfortable and luxurious. A perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel puts the driver in smooth touch with the road. Front seats are 10-way power adjustable. SHO accelerator and brake pedals are trimmed in aluminum. The console, instrument and door panels feature SHO-specific authentic aluminum appliqués. SHO branding appears on the unique floor mats, and on the passenger side of the instrument panel.

Taurus SHO: Performance and Convenience
The 2010 Taurus SHO offers an impressive array of standard convenience features as well as optional features and content. Standard Taurus SHO amenities include:

Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, a new Taurus feature allowing drivers to enter the car and start the engine without using a conventional key. Drivers simply carry the fob as they approach the vehicle, touch the SecuriCode™ keyless entry keypad, open the door and enter, apply pressure on brake pedal and push a button to start the engine.

MyKey allows enthusiasts to activate a restricted driving mode, persistent Belt-Minder® safety belt reminder, audio system volume limits, an earlier low-fuel warning, and consistently-engaged AdvanceTrac® stability control. The top vehicle speed can be limited to 80 mph, and speed chimes can be programmed to engage at 45, 55 or 65 mph further protecting their investment.

Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel Filler System, a unique feature that eliminates the need for a traditional fuel cap. Easy Fuel is a hassle-free solution that provides a consistent self-seal after every refueling.

Ford SYNC® is the fully integrated, in-vehicle voice-activated communications and entertainment system standard on Taurus SHO. The system combines 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report and GPS-based features including business search and call completion. SYNC connects to MP3 players, iPods, memory sticks and PDAs. The latest version of SYNC in the Taurus SHO adds Traffic, Directions and Information, providing turn-by-turn route guidance and the capability to access and personalize content.

Ambient Lighting allows the Taurus SHO driver to program interior lighting from a choice of five soothing colors to suit any character or preference.

The 2010 Taurus SHO comes standard with the full array of active and passive safety equipment and features offered across the Taurus range.

Available options on the 2010 Taurus SHO include:

• Reverse Camera System, a unique SHO option, activates when reverse gear is selected providing the driver with additional rear visibility, projecting on the windscreen mounted rearview mirror.
• Adaptive Cruise Control, which allows the driver to set the Taurus SHO cruising speed while using radar technology to monitor traffic traveling up to 600 feet ahead, automatically adjusting speed to help maintain a preset distance between vehicles. Adaptive Cruise Control comes with Collision Warning with Brake Support providing visible and audible warnings when slower traffic is detected ahead. Brake support is activated if the driver does not respond to provided warnings, and pre-charges the brake system to prepare the vehicle for stopping.
• Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) with Cross Traffic Alert consists of two multiple beam radar modules, one each per rear quarter panel. When an adjacent vehicle enters the defined blind spot zone, and indicator alert provides driver warning in the corresponding sideview mirror. Cross Traffic Alert uses existing BLIS radar modules to sense oncoming traffic while the Taurus SHO is slowly backed from a parking space. When cross traffic appears within three car widths, the system provides a visible message on the instrument panel in combination with a sideview mirror warning and an audible signal.
• Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion™ can be specified in conjunction with heated and cooled first-row positions in the new Taurus SHO. Multi-Contour functionality provides subtle but continuous massage to help prevent back pain and fatigue and is ideally suited to meet the needs of long-distance drivers.
• Voice-Activated Navigation System includes a 10 GB music juke box hard drive and a single CD/DVD player. When combined with the optional rear camera system, rearview projection appears on the centerstack-mounted navigation screen.
• Sony Audio System offers 12 speakers, a digital amplifier, 390 Watts of continuous power (RMS), 115 dB of maximum bass sound pressure level and Dolby® Pro Logic® II surround technology.

The 2010 Taurus SHO will be built at Ford's Chicago (Ill.) assembly plant and will be available in dealerships this summer, starting at a base price of $37,995, including destination.

We have to thank TampaRon for snagging these photos of this pair of mostly uncovered SHO prototypes taking a breather at a Florida rest stop. According to Ron, the testy test engineers wouldn't let him close enough to snag some shots of the interior but he managed to get close enough to see the SHO badge (a la this shot) on this ecoboosted Taurus.

The undisguised exterior doesn't leave much to the imagination — especially since we've already seen the 2010 Ford Taurus live and in person. In fact, the only difference in design between the SHO and non-SHO Taurus appears to be the badge on the back and the separated double pipes.

We've already seen the Taurus SHO interior, so the only question is pricing, availability and what's under the hood. Oh wait, we know what's under the hood. Based on what we learned from the leaked Taurus ordering guide and other sources, the new SHO will likely get the EcoBoost V6 engine, which is good for 355 HP and 350 lb-ft of torque in its 2010 Lincoln MKS platform-mate.

The breakdown gives us a view of how the different trim levels (SE, SEL, Limited) get optioned. The entry level SE model, which will start at $25,995, gets some of Ford's new gee-whiz features like MyKey, SOS Post Crash Alert, and the fancy SecuriCode touch keypad from the MKS. The SEL adds a security package, chrome exhaust tips and a few more interior refinements. As things move up the line the options get heaped on until we make it all the way to the Taurus Limited, which gets a huge standard equipment list including wood trim, leather and nearly every electronic option in the Ford parts bin.

Most reassuring about the entire leak is confirmation the 3.5 liter, turbocharged, direct injection EcoBoost V6 is coming to the Taurus. It's right there in black and white, safely planned to enter production, just as God, or at least Alan Mulally, intended.

Here's the report from BringBackTheSHO, who obtained the photos:

Today along I-75 in Michigan 2 black Tauruses were spotted at a gas station. Upon further investigation both cars had dual exhaust, a rear deck spoiler, and what looks to be 19" or bigger rims. The rear shot picture also shows a badge on the back trunk that is covered with camo. It seems the only thing that could fit under that area would be SHO! The bottom line is we will find for sure at the Chicago Auto Show Media days on Wednesday February 11. BringBacktheSHO will be there bringing you live news and pictures.

We can't be sure the new SHO, if it exists, will debut at the Chicago Auto Show or New York Auto Show. Either way, we assume the EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 will be under-the-hood, similar to the 2010 Lincoln MKS.

Step One: Pete is going to figure out how to get the SHOwagon from its current location in Dayton, Ohio all the way back to Jayhawk country Kansas.

Step Two: He's going to find a way to sell and strip all of that weight-adding sound equipment.

Step Three: Enjoy.

And those awesome green wheels? They're going to stay. We applaud Pete for his bold move. It was truly a stunning victory that would make Mark Mangino proud. We're looking forward to seeing how it turns out and, of course, what happens when he tells his girlfriend about his spontaneous purchase.