Car people are funny. For every vehicle on the road, there’s a group of mental patients enthusiasts dedicated to the notion that the Ford Crown Victoria/Pontiac Fiero/Hillman Imp is the best car ever. Ha ha ha. But some car guys are weirder than others. Like Ford SHO guys. When pressed, fans of the Pontiac Fiero will eventually concede that OK, maybe GM forced Pontiac to cut a corner or ninety two (though the conversation will invariably end with them explaining just how radically more fantastic the never-saw-the-light-of-day 1990 Prototype Fiero would have been compared to the Corvette if GM just had the balls). And after dozens of minutes of screaming, Crown Vic folks will (reluctantly) admit that the Panther Platform is older than they are. Presented with enough evidence, even an Eterna wearing Porscheaphile will admit that a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 is pretty much OK.

But not SHO guys.

For reals: if you threw them into Camp X-Ray and let Dick Cheney personally waterboard each and every one of them, SHO guys would still swear on a stack of Korans that the 1989 Yamaha-engined Ford Taurus SHO is the very best car ever made. They’re that mental ardent. So single-minded are SHO enthusiasts, that Ford’s even claiming fan sites like bringbackthesho.com were instrumental in creating the 2010 Taurus SHO. But are SHO guys going to get all religious over the new SHO?

In a word, yes.

The new SHO is based on the 2010 Ford Taurus, another nameplate Ford birthed, euthanized and then reserected. The good news is that the D3 platform which underpins the Taurus, Sable, MKS and Volvo S60 is a great, albeit heavy, place to start. Though it should be pointed out that the Taurus is about as full-size a car as we’re going to see under the specter of $5.00 a gallon gas. We drove the regular motored AWD Taurus Limited the day before the SHO and I must say, it’s impressive. In case you didn’t know, the new Taurus is simply laden with technology. Not only is most of it pretty good, but it can also be had on the SHO.

A quick rundown: You get the latest Sync (version 3.0) that does everything the old, best in the business Sync did with some nifty new features. Like turn by turn directions. Using your phone, Sync can also contact 911 in case of an accident. This is good because if your car’s on fire, it will dial for you and then you can safely exit your vehicle while still chatting with emergency services. There’s also ACC (Active Cruise Control) which is that lovely radar guided stuff that will brake and accelerate for you — totally fantastic in traffic. It now features a collision warning system that will not only preload the brakes and beep at you just prior to an impending rear-ender, but flashes a red warning light across the windshield via heads up display. We saw it in action and it is very good.

There’s also a neat blind spot warning device (also using radar) that lights up little yellow dots in the wing mirrors when something is in your blind spot(s). And like the new Fusion, there’s the back up blind spot monitoring system (same radar tech, called Cross Traffic Alert) that beeps like mad when it detects something behind you or in your peripheral blind spot vision. As far as that last one goes, I’m sure it will prevent some fender benders at the Walmart, but I’m not crazy about it. Then there’s the butt massagers.

Ford calls the system, “Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion.” Essentially, the seats are loaded with seven air bladders that inflate and deflate as you drive. Three are on the seat back for lumbar support and four are located under your buttocks. The idea is to lessen wear and tear on your body during long slogs by moving the blood around. I’m sure they work, but we just found ‘em kinda kinky. Pleasantly so. Ford also did a good job in the snug cockpit, which is rather fighter plane like. While the Taurus is ostensibly a family car, there’s a “me not we” ascetic going on which definitely says “driver first.” Not only are the materials nicer than the old Taurus (save for that ubiquitous black crud on top of the doors), but the front of the cabin looks like it was designed with driving in mind. The back seats are spacious and you could fit a Fiesta in the trunk — it’s more than massive.

Yes, lovely, but what makes the SHO the SHO?

The engine. Sitting under the hood is the new EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6. For those that don’t know, “EcoBoost” is Ford speak for direct injection + turbo charging. Ford’s betting the farm on the technology and claims that by 2012 90% of all Fords will feature EcoBoost. If the SHO is any indication of things to come, this is wonderful news. The motor churns out and impressive 365 hp @ 5,500 rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque from 1,500 to 5,250 rpm. As Ford pointed out, it’s not a torque curve: it’s a plateau. The direct injection technology also helps out greatly in the mpg department: 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. Not fantastic, but not terrible for such a powerful (and heavy — 4,368 pounds) vehicle.

And how does it go? Quite fast. Ford wouldn’t commit to any numbers (though we’ve heard 5.2 seconds to 60 mph) but our well-tuned (and well-massaged) ass tells us the 60 mph jump takes about five seconds flat. Meaning it’s either a tenth of a second faster or slower than an Audi S5. That’s impressive, no matter how you slice it. The torque really is an all day proposition, spinning out of the engine in a never ending ooze of power. Again, nothing hard and fast from Ford, but I’d guess the quarter-mile is over and done with in about 13.5 seconds at 105 mph. Once more, just a guess and S5 competitive. While top speed is limited to 133 mph, getting there is a cinch. We saw 110 mph without really thinking hard about doing so.

All that muscle is transmitted to the road via a new (thankfully) 6-speed paddle-shifted transmission and AWD. Unlike other, dimmer Ford 6-speeds, the SHO’s tranny doesn’t constantly hunt around and is actually in the appropriate gear most of the time when in full auto. It’s also in the appropriate gear most of the time when in full manual mode. Sadly, no one’s bothered to standardize paddles meaning that on the SHO it’s forward to downshift and back to go up. I think. Also, the paddles themselves are really chintzy — the worst part of an otherwise solid interior. They are nothing but coarse plastic and they feel a little loose. Maybe they’re just pre-production placeholders. Or maybe the accounting Nazis got into the parts bin. Hey, why not just cut all the bull and give drivers a proper manual gear box like the first gen SHO had? Rumor has it that the 2011 SHO will come so equipped, but we couldn’t find anyone at Ford to confirm this. Or better yet, deny it.

The SHO’s AWD and big fat tires provide more than their fair share of grip, allowing you and the SHO to simply blast your way out of tight corners. The SHO ships with 19/255/45s though our tester had the optional 20/245/45s Goodyear F1 Eagles (not a typo — the big tires are 10 mm skinner than the 19s — something to do with maintaining the turning radius). When pushed real hard, the regular flavor Taurus understeers with the best of them. Not so much with the SHO. Ford spent a great deal of time tuning and retuning the SHO’s suspension, employing the time-tested litany of firmer shocks, stiffer springs and a fatter (front) sway bar. I’m very happy to report that it’s hard to believe the SHO is even sort of related to the Taurus, let alone very close relatives. The SHO really feels like a different car.

Ford turned us loose on some utterly awesome roads in the mountains above Ashville, North Carolina. Sadly the roads were a little too awesome for the SHO’s brakes. I actually boiled the brake fluid (pedal went all the way to the floor — thank heavens for the paddle shifters!) and a friend of mine set ‘em on fire. In defense of the SHO, my buddy and I were driving a little harder than the others. Just ask our very car sick passengers. Plus, we’re talking the kind of roads that will cook almost any set of OEM brakes. Aside from adding synthetic fluid, Ford has a (partial) solution in the works called the Performance Pack. Better brakes, sharper steering, the ability to turn the stability control all the way off and a 3.16 final drive are all part of the deal. While there weren’t any Performance Pack cars on hand for us to sample, we’re advising all SHO buyers to opt for it blind just for the upgraded brakes. Every little bit helps.

Priced at $37,995, the SHO should make some pretty big waves when it lands sometime later this year. I didn’t mention it, but the Taurus as a whole is pretty killer looking. Sure, I see some Subaru Legacy lines in the nose, and some Bentley Continental GT in the haunches, but who cares? It’s handsome. Plus it’s one hell of a potent sleeper. I mean, who would have ever thought a big fat family sedan could keep up with if not outrun Audi V8s? Oh yeah, SHO guys.

And now, watch the video:

While it’s not exactly the most authoritative source of automotive information, Esquire magazine has decided to bestow it’s Car of the Year Award to the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. That’s the one with an EcoBoosted 365 hp V6 and AWD. We wrote about the revival of the SHO badge a while back, but its nice to confirm or deny some of the initial speculation, even if we’re not the ones in the drive seat (though some of us are on our way). Jump to see more about the car and why it “won.”

The editors of Esquire used a very simple methodology of picking a car: the car has to be “a pleasure to drive and be capable of shortening your breath when you slam down the pedal.” The car also has to back up that grunt with a pleasing exterior design, and most interestingly it has to be an attainable car.  The twin turbocharged 3.5 liter V6 engine in the SHO goes a long way when looking at the first criteria, it harnesses the power of 365 horsies while being relatively fuel efficient when cruising. It has an exterior that matches the understated performance sedan persona that enthusiasts love:  it’s definitely more aggressive than an ordinary Taurus yet it doesn’t have bulging fenders and an outlandish wing like say a Subaru STI. The SHO’s MSRP is also attainable at $37,995. Still, some people still might have a problem paying almost fourty thousand for a Ford Taurus,  no matter how fast it goes.

This pick for car of the year is one I can get behind, though the lack of a manual transmission option (for now) is very disturbing. Read about it all in the July issue of Esquire. And watch us drive the SHO sometime next week.

[Source: Ford]

The Geneva International Auto Show is almost here, and while most of the world is watching and waiting for the inevitable slew of concepts and first year models making their debut, there are also three cars to look out for in Geneva that are already pretty well known. Hit the jump to find out what they are!

1. Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

While many consumers and enthusiasts have seen the coupe already at other shows or in the teaser commercial aired during the superbowl, expect the coupe to be presented in its most complete and refined form. What this means is, what you see is eventually what you’ll get. More telling will be if they present any customized variations, bringing the model full circle from the garish orange and carbon fiber beast they were showing off before. The orange coupe looked more like a modified Tiburon than perhaps what a fully customized Genesis coupe would actually look like. Either way, keep an eye out in Geneva.

2. Chevy Camaro.

With GM trimmed down to just a few core brands, nixing Saturn, reducing Pontiac to the Solstice, and setting Saab free, it would appear that all the focus now is on the three Chevy cars that are being touted as the new, greener face of GM. The Volt, the Cruze, and the Spark all present a new way forward, and one that Chevy is betting heavily on to win over American consumers and bring GM back from the brink of bankruptcy. However there is one car model that has been completely sidelined lately in terms of marketing- and that’s the Camaro. With gas prices low again, it might do Chevy some good to present the Camaro in full SS regalia or even as a convertible as a symbol of what Chevy is and how far it has come. While the Volt, Cruze, and Spark might present the future of GM, the Camaro can serve as an iconic symbol of the past, a reminder to the consumers that Chevy was once a mighty automotive force, and that the reincarnation of the Camaro proves it still has balls to take on all competitors. Look for an SS or convertible in Geneva to be the rallying point for GM to make their pitch to consumers.

3. Ford Taurus SHO

The Taurus is back baby! While the Fusion Hybrid and the Focus R/S are excellent cars that have already boosted Ford’s image and allowed them to stay afloat, the messianic return of what was once the face of Ford is going to be the thing to watch in Geneva. The Taurus has been gone for a while, returning briefly ( and unsuccessfully) as the 500 sedan and then again as the crossover Taurus X. However nostalgic Ford owners of old remember the reliable, affordable Taurus as perhaps the exemplary pinnacle of American middle class sedans. Well the Taurus is back, and at the very top of the line is the SHO. Look for it in Geneva as the crowning jewel to sit atop the laurels of Ford’s resurgent comeback- and rightfully earned. Another thing to look for would be if Ford enters an Eco-Boost or a full hybrid version of the Taurus; it would certainly stir the pot in the hybrid market and make valuable use of the stunning success (and rave reviews) that is Ford’s hybrid technology as applied in the Fusion.

Another glimmer of hope for the American Automakers has manifested itself in the form of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, which has coincidentally just been spotted out in the wild courtesy of members over at BringBackTheSHO.com. The pictures might trick the untrained eye into thinking it is merely a new Ford Taurus (aka the Ford 500) under heavy camouflage gear. Followers of this iconic American vehicle will recognize subtle differences hiding underneath the black tape such as a rear deck spoiler, dual exhaust, larger wheels, and front and rear bumper changes.  A badge piece that sits opposite of the “Taurus” on the rear trunk lid has also been covered up.

All of this is mostly speculation as the Executive Design Manager of Ford, Peter Horbury, has been directly asked about the future of the SHO, to which he refused to comment on. One point that might radically differ from the current guesses is the name that the car bears, which might end up carrying the ‘ST’ badge, which is what sporty European Fords wear, I’m guessing.

The engine powering the SHO (ST?) has been revealed as a 3.5 Liter V6 engine… with twin turbos! Official power rating was not announced yet but the same engine resides in the bay of the Lincoln MKS, which is rated at 355 HP and 350 ft-lb of torque. I’m guessing that the SHO may have a slightly up tuned version of the turbo V6 as it is a car with more of a sporting history than the Lincoln.

For those that did not grow up liking cars in the ’90’s, the SHO was a high output version (in fact, it stands for Super High Output) of the fairly plain Ford Taurus, sort of like the Subaru WRX STI. It was produced for two different generations spread over ten years, although the first and second generation (1989 to 1995) received the lion’s share of love from enthusiasts because of problems with the V8 engine on the third gen as well as the lack of a manual transmission option. The first two generations were powered by a 3.0 Liter V6 engine that was sourced from Yamaha, which provided the owners with 220 horsepower mated to a 5 speed transmission.