Right here's What Made The Ford Taurus SHO V6 Engine So Particular

On the dyno, the SHO V6 achieved 220 horsepower and 200 ft-lbs of torque. Which may not appear spectacular by fashionable requirements, however in 1989, it was solely 5 horsepower lower than a V8-powered Mustang. In a Automobile and Driver take a look at, the 1989 Taurus SHO accelerated from 0-60 mph in simply 6.7 seconds, incomes the accolade of “The quickest four-door sedan you should purchase for lower than $50,000.” Really, it was so much lower than $50,000, with a base worth of roughly $20,000.

The Taurus SHO’s tachometer had a redline of seven,300 rpm however journalists suspected that was extra within the curiosity of defending the engine-driven equipment just like the alternator and a/c compressor. It has been stated that the true rpm potential is extra like 8,500 rpm, owing to the engine’s cast metal internals. 

Not solely was the SHO highly effective, nevertheless it was additionally extraordinarily clear burning and gasoline environment friendly. So environment friendly was the combustion course of that the engine defied the necessity for sure emissions management units that had been commonplace on the time, like an EGR valve or air-injection pump. Gasoline financial system was rated at a good 21 mpg across the metropolis, however a outstanding 34 mpg on the freeway.

For the 1992 mannequin yr, the SHO V6 grew from 3.0 to three.2 liters displacement to higher accommodate a brand new computerized transmission (the first-gen SHO was guide transmission solely). Attributable to milder tuning, the larger engine made the identical quantity of horsepower as its predecessor, however torque elevated by 15 ft-lbs. 

In 1996, the V6 was ditched in favor of an ill-fated unreliable V8 till the SHO package deal itself was axed in 1999. However whereas it lasted, the Taurus SHO was the last word sleeper — all on account of an unlikely East-West alliance.