Test-drive: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO - Orlando Auto Examiner nomination for Examiner.com Car of the Year - Orlando Autos

The 2010 Taurus SHO, Ford's new full-size high-performance sports sedan that uses Ford's EcoBoost technology to deliver world-class performance from a smaller and more efficient engine, is my personal nomination for Examiner.com's Car of the Year.

The 2010 Taurus debuted early this year at the Detroit Auto Show to an immediate outpouring of positive feedback, praising the car's eye-catching and unmistakeable styling and laundry list of new features such as Ford's SYNC entertainment interface and BLIS blind-spot monitoring technology. It stirred up the family sedan market in a way very similar to the original Taurus in 1986.

Ford also resurrected the SHO, or Super High Output, moniker after an 11-year-hiatus in an attempt to rejoin the sports sedan market. This time, instead of sourcing Yamaha engines, Ford supplied the 2010 SHO with their own EcoBoost V6, twin-turbocharged and direct-injected to the tune of 365hp and 350ft-lbs, which it sends to all four wheels (as opposed to just the fronts on old SHOs) through a six-speed manumatic transmission.

Properly paying homage to the original 1989 SHO, which in its time was in fact one of the fastest sedans money could buy, the 2010 Taurus SHO rockets to 60mph in 5.2 seconds, traps the quarter mile in 13.8 seconds at 101.4mph, and continues surging forward all the way to an electronically-limited top speed of 133mph.

Considering that the car is nearly 17 feet long and weighs in at a hefty 4368 pounds, those numbers are very, very impressive.

The EcoBoost V6 readily delivers on Ford's claim that it produces V8-levels of power, and it also does it with V8 linearity. Torque reaches peak at a very low 1500rpm and rides a plateau all the way to 5250rpm, thanks to the diminutive size of the Honeywell GT15 turbos which max out at 12 pounds boost, and the high 10.0:1 compression ratio that's only possible because of the direct injection. In other words, there really is no turbo lag whatsoever. The SHO merges effortlessly into highway traffic and passes slower traffic easily on a two-lane road in any gear and at any speed. If one so desires, each gear can be chosen with paddles on the steering wheel, which also beautifully rev-match the engine on downshifts. But the car performs just as admirably in plain D mode.

The 2010 SHO, unlike its racier ancestors however, is very subdued about its performance. The engine is remarkably quiet... almost too quiet. People looking for either an angry V8-like roar or huffing and popping noises characteristic of turbo cars will be rather disappointed. The EcoBoost V6 sounds more like a regular Ford V6 when wound up, and there is virtually no audible evidence that the car is turbocharged. Only the slightest of hisses can be detected if the windows are down and the stereo is off.

Furthermore, while the stand-out-from-the-crowd styling is attractive and well-proportioned, only a SHO EcoBoost badge on the trunk lid and two very small SHO badges on the bottom of the C-pillars give indication of the car's identity. From far away, the car is nearly indistinguishable from a lesser Taurus unless the car is equipped with the Performance package; that adds 20" wheels, Michelin summer tires, upgraded brake pads, more sporting calibration of the electric power steering and suspension, and a slightly shorter final-drive ratio (3.16 versus the standard 2.77).

The suspension, while a bit harsher than regular Tauruses thanks to stiffer springs, struts, and mounts, strikes a good balance between ride quality and handling prowess. Tuned slightly toward the safety of understeer, which is common with AWD cars anyway, power-on oversteer is still possible by turning the AdvanceTrac electronic nanny off. The Taurus SHO manages a respectable 0.87g of cornering force, which allows the car to feel confident and planted on a twisty road, if not particularly lithe or playful.

Unfortunately, the brakes let down the otherwise compliant chassis. The car stops from 60mph in 129 feet, which is pretty good for such a big car. But a few of those runs in regular succession will cause the brakes to start fading significantly. The SHO carries over essentially the same brakes as the other Taurus models, aside from the mere brake pad upgrade in the Performance package. Although the Taurus SHO isn't a track car, and few if any of its owners will ever push the brakes past their limits, the Performance package should offer a true brake upgrade rather than just pads.

The interior and ergonomics of the car are definite strong suits, with one lone complaint - tall rear passengers will be a bit cramped in headroom and in legroom if the front seats are far back enough. Nonetheless, the seats are comfortable and supportive, and are covered in leather and faux suede inserts. The black interior reflects the car's personality of a mix between business and performance, while the mood lighting for the footwells and door grab handles that can be changed to a particular color preference adds a touch of youth as well. The instrument cluster houses elegant and pleasing light blue gauges, and sweeps down at a sharp 45° angle to meet the center console, where the large multimedia screen displays the navigation and audio controls as well as the rear-camera display for back-up assistance. Both the navigation and the SYNC interface are voice-activated, and 10 gigabytes of storage are available for MP3 audio files.

Safety features include the BLIS blind-spot monitoring system which illuminates small lights in the outside rearview mirrors to alert the driver of objects in the car's blind spots, adaptive cruise control which can adjust the car's speed to keep a preset distance between other traffic, and a collision warning system which reflects flashing red lights off the windshield and plays a loud alert over the stereo system to warn the driver of an potential impact with a slow-moving or stopped vehicle.

Simply put, the Taurus SHO has a lot of kit in addition to its kick.

However, that's not why I picked it for Examiner.com Car of the Year.

A quick comparison against the Audi S6 demonstrates my point perfectly. The 2010 Audi S6 has a 5.2L 435hp V10 engine, and is close to the same size and weight as the SHO. According to Edmunds, the S6 hits 60mph in 5.7 seconds and the quarter-mile in 14.0 seconds. Plus, it starts at $76,000.

Bring in heavier German artillery like the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG or the BMW M5, and the SHO will indeed be trumped, but by little more than a second in the quarter and as little as a half-second in the 0-60 run.

Finally, while those sedans offer far more in opulent accoutrements and brand prestige than the SHO, their price tags start at nearly $90,000.

The Ford Taurus SHO starts at $37,995.

I chose it then as my nomination for Examiner.com Car of the Year because, even in spite of a couple flaws, it does an excellent job of accomplishing what every American car's main goal should be, especially now in the interest of mere survival...

... it competes formidably with the best of the imports for half the price.

Quick Stats:

Base price: $37,995
0-60mph: 5.2 sec
¼-mile time: 13.8 seconds at 101.4mph
60-0 braking distance: 129 ft
Lateral skidpad acceleration: 0.87g
Horsepower: 365 hp
Torque: 350 ft-lbs
Weight: 4368 lbs
Fuel economy : 16.4mpg