Ford Taurus: 2013 Updates Add New EcoBoost Power, SHO Revised

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Keef
I think it makes the European cars feel overpriced and weak. Eighty thousand dollars for a small trunk and electrical problems? I'll take a 365 hp Taurus, thank you very much...
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America has always offered something along the lines of half price, more power and a car that isn't quite as "nice." Granted, nobody is going to cross-shop a Taurus with an S-Class, but the Taurus just doesn't really seem to fit right, to me at least.

And how are the European cars "weak?" With the exception of the A8, they all have more power and are smaller.
 
Fords saying is : " we have a better idea "

Well uuuuuuuum when will they use it ?

besides the Mustang and the F series trucks as vanishing point pointed out , this is not very appealing to me , however it did get a little better than the previous model.
 
Nicksfix
Well uuuuuuuum when will they use it ?
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Use what? EcoBoost? Every model is supposed to have an EcoBoost I4 option by 2013, including the full-size trucks. I don't know if they're planning on applying the EBV6 to the trucks, but I sure as hell hope they will.
 
Philly
I always wanted a Super Duty powered by an I4.
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Why? Just to see how ridiculously slow it would be?:scared: It would be so slow they'd have ban it from the roads!:) If it had a turbo, it would be better though.

Has anybody noticed that American manufacturers tend to put in the bigger, less powerful, less fuel-efficient V6s in their trucks/SUV's? For example, Ford put the 4.2 L V6 in the F-150, when they could have had a 210 hp four liter, a 263 hp 3.5, a 272 hp 3.7, or even the 240 hp 3 liter.
Even Toyota put the 4 L in the Tundra/4Runner, when they coulda had the 3.5 from the Camry. These are tough times, guys, and little things count.

Coulda had a (smaller) V6!
 
It could be something to do with the difficulties in adapting the different engines to the existing transmissions (which of course are different than offered elsewhere).
 
MinoltaMan89
Ford put the 4.2 L V6 in the F-150, when they could have had a 210 hp four liter
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You don't realize how utterly crap the 4.0L Ford V6 is. And yes, they use it in the Mustang.

It was designed as a pushrod 2.8L and is now an overhead cam 4.0. And not a good one at that.

The 4.2L however is like the energizer bunny and while not the most powerful around it's got plenty of low end and quite simply just works.

The 3.5L they throw in the Taurus is incredibly weak on the bottom, at least so it feels when driving one, the old 150hp Vulcan feels much nicer. The 3.7 isn't going to be much better. They have the peak numbers but they don't work well in a pickup.
 
Rotary Junkie
You don't realize how utterly crap the 4.0L Ford V6 is. And yes, they use it in the Mustang.

It was designed as a pushrod 2.8L and is now an overhead cam 4.0. And not a good one at that.

The 4.2L however is like the energizer bunny and while not the most powerful around it's got plenty of low end and quite simply just works.

The 3.5L they throw in the Taurus is incredibly weak on the bottom, at least so it feels when driving one, the old 150hp Vulcan feels much nicer. The 3.7 isn't going to be much better. They have the peak numbers but they don't work well in a pickup.
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Don't forget that any aluminum block won't be as durable in workload situations when compared to an iron block. And the engines they stuff into SUVs and Trucks are designed for one purpose--hauling/towing and not speed. Which means torque > horsepower. The Ford 4.2L V6 is actually quite a gem to drive for a V6 as is the GM 4.3L V6. They are old-world engine technology that just gets the job done and last forever. Something the 3.5L wouldn't be if stuck into a base model work truck F150 which is what the V6's are for. The 4.0L works decently well enough in the Sport Trac--its just not geared very well and I think the power output is rather small for such a large displacement 6cyl. Ford's change to the 4.6L V8 as its base engine for the trucks is a mistake I believe. Ford needs to cast the 3.5L Duratec in iron then stuff it into any SUV/Truck application. That's my suggestion. Keep the technology, just make the block stronger for hard work applications.
 
As JCE and Rotary said, the base model engines are used more in work truck applications than the big V8s. It makes more sense to use the Ecoboost V6 to replace the 4.6 in the F150 than it does to replace the 4.2, because the 4.6 isn't a good truck engine anyways.
The Mustang is a different story, but that would benefit more from a boosted 4 than a boosted 6.
 
Indeed. A boosted 6 could, forseeably, end up in GT500 territory. Going EcoBoost four, like the GenCoupe's turbo, would be more beneficial.
 
Reviews Are Starting to Pop-Up

2010_ford_taurus_sho_18_gallery_image_large.jpg


Starting with Car and Driver​

Critical Details:

  • $37,995 base MSRP
  • EPA 17 City, 25 HWY
  • 0-60 MPH in 5.2 seconds
  • Quarter mile, 13.7 @ 103 MPH
  • Top Speed: 133 MPH (electronically limited)
  • 70-0 in 174 ft
  • Skidpad rating, 0.84g
  • Curb weight of 4346 lbs

According to the article, it handles pretty good for a car of its size, but its often the weight that gets in the way. Still, considering that its as fast (if not faster) than your run-of-the-mill German in this size class, I'd call it a smacking good deal... And one of the biggest sleeper vehicles we've seen in years.

Now we just have to hope/pray that Ford has the stones to make an SHO/SVT version of the Fusion with some of the same bits and pieces.
 
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I'd love to see this in a shootout with the Genesis Sedan.
 
Wow its heavy but still with AWD and that power output its a cracking good deal. And with 0-60mph in almost 5 seconds flat I'd call that a REALLY good deal. The M5 does 0-60mph in what 4.5-4.8 seconds? And for 2.5 times the price you only get about 0.7 faster? I'll take the SHO. THANK YOU FORD FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING AND BEING COOL!

Ford = Epic win

*edit*
Oh and its funny to see the new SHO alongside the older ones--the old ones look like 1990's Corolla's size wise compared to it. :lol:
 
RE: Omnis & Hyundai Love

I was thinking the same. Based on the C&D Test figures...

2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6
  • $38,000 base MSRP
  • EPA-rated 17 City, 25 HWY
  • 0-60 MPH in 5.6 seconds
  • Quarter mile, 14.1 @ 103 MPH
  • 0.86g on the skidpad
  • 70-0 in 169 ft.

That's going to be one helluva knock-out fight.
 
Two small issues I have with the new SHO. A low top speed limiter and its quiet? I like quiet--but not in a performance minded trim model. I can't wait to see what Steeda or other aftermarket companies do to liven this thing up. :D

Brad edit your post with the SHO stats to show the 0.84g skidpad.
 
JCE
Ford = Epic win

*edit*
Oh and its funny to see the new SHO alongside the older ones--the old ones look like 1990's Corolla's size wise compared to it. :lol:
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While I cannot bring myself to actually like the car, I will agree that this car is a WIN for Ford. Ford is on a pretty good WINning streak so far...

As for the size comparison, I was thinking the new one looks like a Rolls or something next to the older two. I just can't get over how huge it is! :eek:
 
JCE
Two small issues I have with the new SHO. A low top speed limiter and its quiet? I like quiet--but not in a performance minded trim model. I can't wait to see what Steeda or other aftermarket companies do to liven this thing up. :D
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Chippage, CAI, exhaust, win.

And at that point it can be quiet at cruising speeds and yet sound like all the fury of hell being unleashed at WOT. Sounds like my sort of car.

Actually... I want these on sale already so I can see what happens when the boost gets bumped up... 450hp and deep 12s anyone?
 
4300lbs? not bad performance for such a heavy sedan. :nervous: now, let's see if we could get Taurus SHO-GLH.. Super High Output - Goes Like Hell :trouble:
 
I would love to see a SHO vs XR6 Turbo. Judging by the stats you're all posting though the Australian Ford might have a slight upper hand. It's a shame the G8 will be hardly here when the SHO is, that would have been a good old epic GM vs Ford battle.

Australia's equivalent XR6 Turbo
XR6Turbo_07_L_700.jpg

0-100km/hr: 5.2sec (0-60 in 5 flat or high 4s?) (Tested by Wheels)
1/4 mile: 13.4 (tested by Wheels)
Weight: 1694kg (3734lbs)
Price: $45,490 AUD ($36,400 US approx direct conversion)
Top Speed: I think it's 250km/hr electrically limited

It's something I really hope one of the Top Gears do.👍 (XR6-T vs SHO)
 
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A lot heavier than I expected which explains the not so great gas mileage. 365 hp V6 is quite impressive.
I do like the design of it for sure.
 
Awesome, just a damn shame about it being so quiet and the low top speed limiter. I wanna hear the turbo screaming and the sound of a blow off valve when one of these things blow by me haha.
 
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Paulie
Australia's equivalent XR6 Turbo
XR6Turbo_07_L_700.jpg

0-100km/hr: 5.2sec (0-60 in 5 flat or high 4s?) (Tested by Wheels)
1/4 mile: 13.4 (tested by Wheels)
Weight: 1694kg (3734lbs)
Price: $45,490 AUD ($36,400 US approx direct conversion)
Top Speed: I think it's 250km/hr electrically limited
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Why the hell don't we get that car? It looks so much better than the Taurus, which is just 20 some feet of boring, average car. That actually looks somewhat sporty and something not the size of a house. Although I don't know how I feel about the neon green paint.
 
The new Taurus isn't boring. It isn't exciting but is certainly isn't boring.
 
JCE
The new Taurus isn't boring. It isn't exciting but is certainly isn't boring.
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In your opinion, it puts me to sleep. There is nothing interesting about the car. It's not a bad looking vehicle but there are zero design elements that really pop out other then the fact that it's bigger than a house. I'd probably walk right past it and never give is a second look.
 
I dunno. I actually rather like the look. Granted, if they'd gone full-bore RS-kit on the car, it just wouldn't look right.

Granted, if IS a big car, but it's replacing the Crown Victoria, I'm pretty certain, and it'll be more spirited than that car ever was.
 
The Taurus/SHO is just a car for "grown ups" in general. I really like the direction they've taken with the platform, particularly with this and the MKS. Both are excellent values in their segments, competitive in almost every aspect with higher-priced German and Japanese alternatives. Really, it is a top-notch effort by Ford that will appeal to a very distinct crowd. If I'm honest, I should attempt to push my Grandfather toward buying one. Fast as hell, but still quiet and comfortable.

The only thing that needs changing on the car would be a brake upgrade, maybe a tasteful rear spoiler, and then some black-on-black paint and tire combos.
 

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