Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Ford


Ford has launched its mini-site for the 2010 Taurus, and in addition to including images of its new flagship sedan in all available colors (see updated gallery below), a clue has been discovered that may shed some light on the rumored return of the much loved SHO model. Mousing over the word "GALLERY" will produce a drop down menu at the bottom of which is a selection called "PERFORMANCE SERIES". Mouse over that guy and the message "COMING FEBRUARY 2009" is revealed.

The 2009 Chicago Auto Show occurs in February, which suggests that Ford will be debut this "Performance Series" of the Taurus in the Windy City. Will it be the SHO? We don't know, though prior spy shots of a SHO-badged interior suggest an affirmative on that one.

When Ford debuted the new Taurus at the Detroit Auto Show this week, mention was made of both the standard 3.5L Duratec V6 and the "optional availability of Ford's advanced EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6, with an announcement regarding availability soon." So we expect that Ford will debut the 355-hp EcoBoost V6 in the Taurus at the Chicago show, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be be wearing any Super High Output badges. Ford seems keen on building the EcoBoost brand name, as "EcoBoost" will appear alongside the Lincoln MKS, MKT and Ford Flex when those new models are ordered up with the same advanced engine.

Frankly, we hope Ford just calls it the EcoBoost Taurus and leaves "SHO" alone for now. The 2010 Taurus may share a name with the one that was offered with a Yamaha V6 back in the '80s and '90s, but the new one is a much larger, heavier car that's ill-suited for sport sedan duties. We'll reiterate our wish once again: a Fusion SHO tuned by SVT with a manual or dual-sequential gearbox, front-wheel-drive, weight saving measures and a small EcoBoost four-cylinder capable of producing a reverential 220 horsepower and return well over 30 mpg on the highway. But that's just us.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus


[Source: BringBacktheSHO.com, Ford]2010 Ford Taurus SHO slated for Chicago debut? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.


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