19th Annual National SHO Club Meets at Ford's HQ

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Over 100 Taurus SHOs gathered last week to celebrate the 19th Annual National SHO Club convention at Ford's World Headquarters. Owners from around the country brought their Taurus SHO vehicles ranging from the original 1989 model to the latest 2011 Taurus SHO.


Images: Ford Motor Company

Known and loved for its high performance and unassuming exterior, the Ford Taurus SHO was launched in 1989. Introductory advertising positioned Taurus SHO as putting "power in the hands of a fortunate few." The SHO was set apart from its sedan brethren by the addition of a 220-hp V6 engine developed by Yamaha. In the initial release, only a 5-speed manual transmission was available.

The December 1989 issue of Car and Driver magazine reported a 0-60 time of 6.6 seconds, a quarter-mile E.T. of 15 seconds flat and an observed top speed of 143 mph. Taurus SHO included features normally found on much more expensive cars such as ABS, Keyless Entry, a JBL audio system and sporty-yet-luxurious interior appointments. Demand for the genre-defining Taurus SHO was underestimated, as 15,519 units found homes with enthusiastic owners in the first year.



Minor aesthetic changes and the addition of a 4-speed automatic in 1993 maintained this "sleeper" car's market until a redesign in 1996. Yahama delivered a slightly larger, 3.4-liter engine that year, which Ford coupled to the standard Taurus 4-speed automatic. The model was discontinued after the 1999 model year, delivering sales of 100,000 units during its ten-year lifespan.

While the faithful bemoaned the loss of a good friend, the seeds had been planted for a resurrection. Amy Marentic started with Ford in 1992 and was first exposed to the Taurus SHO through a real estate agent. Soon after, she had the chance to drive one that belonged to her department head at Ford. In her own words, she was "smitten." Later, as North American Car and Crossover Planning Manager, Marentic and her group saw an opportnity to resurrect the original SHO formula.



Adding a super high output EcoBoost V-6 to the new Taurus sedan, along with all-wheel drive with a unique sport-tuned suspension, SHO-specific design cues both subtle and stealthy, presented a balance of authenticity and innovation. After Team Taurus presented the SHO business case to senior management, they were given the green light and the idea became reality within a year. With the new model, testers have reported 0-60 mph times of 5.2 seconds, as well as 1/4-mile elapsed times under 14 seconds.

Edsel Ford joined the enthusiasts and later accepted a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation from Ken Mallinson, Vice President of the SHO Club.




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