We all guessed it! The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO derives none of its surplus oomph from Yamaha-motorcycle-inspired rev-happiness. This one is all Dearborn-designed, and distinct from other 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 applications (like the MKS) in some meaningful ways. The need for bragging rights necessitated a boost in peak output, so horsepower is up ten from the MKS, to 365. Torque remains limited to the same 350 pound-feet (all of which is on tap from 1500-5000 rpm). Both ratings are indeed SAE Certified, and achieved running on the recommended -- but not required -- premium unleaded fuel. We're assured, however, that thanks to dual knock sensors and careful calibration, owners burning regular gas will still easily achieve the 350 pound-feet (perhaps over a slightly narrower plateau) of torque with just a small drop in total horsepower without compromising engine durability a bit.
When pressing the engineers on hand about where the ten extra ponies come from, there's some shuffling from foot-to-foot and mumblings about small tweaks to the engine's spark advance and turbo boost-management strategies, but one gets the sneaking suspicion that there may have been some stray horses left wandering in the Lincoln stable, and Ford just harnessed them up to the dyno. In any case, hitched to the same six-speed automatic (though with paddle shifting and higher-capacity clutch materials) and Haldex-type all-wheel-drive system that comes with an EcoBoost Lincoln (again tailored to the car's mission), the lighter Ford should enjoy a comfortable performance advantage even with the standard 2.77:1 axle ratio (shared with the MKS). Tick the option-package box marked 12S, however, and you get a more performance-oriented 3.16:1 ratio, along with bigger brakes, sharper calibration of the standard electric power steering system (the base SHO's itself is sportier than base Taurus and MKS), plus 20-inch wheels wearing Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires.
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