2011 Ford Taurus SHO

2011 FORD TAURUS SHO

In the wake of its much-anticipated return to the marketplace for 2010, the Taurus SHO model came back with a vengeance for 2011 with the addition of a new performance package. The 2011 SHO (Super High Output) Taurus carried over the 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged Ford EcoBoost V-6 engine that was introduced in the 2010 SHO. This advanced powerplant generates 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 350 foot-pounds of torque at 3,500 rpm, all while offering the fuel-economy of smaller-displaced naturally aspirated engines.

The SHO is stirred by Ford’s SelectShift six-speed automatic transmission, along with a torque-sensing all-wheel-drive system. SelectShift offers either a fully automatic operation or a selectable manual shift mode for a more performance-oriented driving experience. Once the manual mode is selected, up-shifts and down-shifts are controlled by paddles located just behind the steering wheel, allowing the driver to select desired shift points along with a rev-matching downshift “throttle blip.” In addition the all-wheel-drive system continually monitors and distributes torque to the wheels that have the most traction, based upon a system of internal electromechanical clutches.

For 2011, a new SHO Performance Package was made available for performance-oriented driving enthusiasts. It includes hardware upgrades such as a sport-tuned suspension (employing unique shocks and springs), high-performance brake pads, a selectable ESC (Electronic Skid Control) track mode, a 3.16:1 final drive axle ratio, and 20-inch wheels with performance “summer-only” compound rated tires.

On the order guide, the 2011 Taurus SHO also offered two new color options: Kona Blue Metallic and Sterling Gray Metallic.