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In reviving the SHO, Ford has put one of the best combinations of understated good looks and high-powered road rocketry available back on the streets for a new generation of drivers.

As I piloted our Autonet test car around the byways and avenues recently, I found that there are two basic types of people who make a point of commenting on it. There are those who know what's under the hood, and those who just think it's a darn good-looking car.

The first group is enamoured by the super-high-output engine (that's what "SHO" stands for, but you knew that); as they should be. Re-created for the 2010 model year as a 3.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V6, the powerplant lurks under the hood with a potential 365 hp.


The new engine (Ford is calling it "EcoBoost) will twist the wheels (all the wheels, as it's an all-wheel drive) with 350 lb.-ft. of torque that comes on at 3,500 rpm, and is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission, the only tranny choice with the SHO.

The autobox can be operated with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for those so inclined, but even left in full-on automatic, the big sedan demonstrates eager acceleration with no discernable lag. The steering is responsive and communicative, and a suitably sport-tuned suspension keeps the car flat and stable in the turns.

To make a long anecdote short, it goes real good; and the cognoscenti already knew that. I had a few people (a couple who are also performance car drivers) roll up to me at stoplights and ask about the SHO.

The second type of admirers I found the car drew were folks who were taken by the appearance, inside and out.

My tester, wrapped in a dark paint job (Atlantis Green Metallic -- an eye-catching cloak that could almost pass for black until you look at it for a while), sported 20-inch wheels and some tasteful exterior bling that pulled people in.

The headlights are narrowed into predatory slits, and the new-look grille threw a lot of people off: they didn't think it was a Ford.

Inside the SHO, the cabin is a showcase for how well Ford can finish an interior. The Taurus is a big car with ample room throughout, and the SHO-standard leather-and-suede upholstery provides excellent feel and comfort.

The dash sweeps into a centre console encasing the navigation and info display, and the driver's perch in particular is the best place to be in the Taurus. The full range of adjustment in the heated and cooled seats, the interior quiet and all that power underfoot add up to a thoroughly enjoyable big sedan.

Interestingly, no one who looked at the car while I was driving it were bothered about the price. I had initially thought it sounded expensive (I mean, we're talking over $50K here), but comparing the SHO to similar-segment vehicles, the high-output Taurus comes out ahead.

The only real criticism I have from my time in the vehicle is the visibility from within. As mentioned, it's a big-bodied sedan with an elevated rear end, making reversing a bit of a task. A rear backup camera and blind-spot sensors in the side mirrors helped mitigate this, but a lot of the field of view to the sides is obscured by the combination of fat pillars and narrow windows.

Overall, anyone considering a full-size, full-featured sedan with exceptional power under the hood should take a drive in the SHO, especially if they are considering a similarly equipped European car.

My tester, optioned up with voice-activated navigation package and active cruise/collision avoidance system came with a sticker price of $52,099.

REPORT CARD - RATING OUT OF FIVE
FUEL ECONOMY 3
VALUE FOR $ 4
STYLING 4 1/2
COMFORT 5
PERFORMANCE 4 1/2
OVERALL 4

Illustrations: The Taurus SHO's 20-inch rims and tasteful exterior bling drew a number of admirers.
• The Taurus SHO's cabin is a showcase of how well Ford can finish an interior.
• Power, to the tune of 365 hp and 350 lb.-ft. of torque, is delivered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6.
• Ford has labelled its super-high-output engine, like the one under the hood of the Taurus SHO, the EcoBoost.

– Photos by Wade Ozeroff