“The heart of any SHO is the motor,” said Ford’s group vice president of marketing and communications – Jim Farley. “The car has better performance and much better gas mileage than a BMW 550i, which uses a 4.8-liter V-8.”

The SHO was revealed to the public during the Chicago Auto Show and it did not fail to draw the attention that it has fought for. The base price for this new model will start a $37,995 – which includes shipping. The sales for the SHO will start in the fall.

The 2010 SHO will be given a twin turbo, direct injection, 3.5 liter V6 engine that has been engineered by Yamaha. The standard equipment comes with exclusive shocks and all wheel drive, springs, and sway bars. It has also been given a six speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters that have been places on either side of the steering wheel.

“I really think it is a significant product because it telegraphs how important driving feel and performance is to Ford and how we will be different as a car company,” said Farley.

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That is why they have chosen to crash test one and then to display it and show off its five star frontal and side crash test ratings that it received from the National Highway Safety Administration.

Taurus is not just going to let you look at the exterior – but will give you a chance to sit inside and see for yourself how safe and untouched you would be if you were in an accident. You can see from the picture just how well the car has done after it has been crashed.

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Aerodynamic teardrop-shaped headlights and large taillights are the major styling cues on the four-door Taurus sedan, which rides on a 108.5-inch wheelbase and wears 16-inch tires. At 197.6 inches long overall, the Taurus is approximately 8 inches longer than the Toyota Camry. Seven-spoke aluminum wheels are mounted on SEL models.

The Taurus sedan can seat up to six people with a front bench seat and folding center storage console, or five in models equipped with front bucket seats. All four doors contain map pockets, and the trunk holds 17 cubic feet of cargo. Standard SE equipment includes air conditioning, remote keyless entry, cruise control, a cassette stereo, and power windows, locks and mirrors. Moving up to the SEL model brings a driver’s door keypad, a six-way power driver’s seat, lighted visors, a HomeLink garage-door opener and a CD player.

Two 3.0-liter V-6s are available. The base Vulcan overhead-valve engine produces 153 horsepower. The alternative Duratec dual-overhead-cam V-6 makes 201 hp. Both engines team with a four-speed-automatic transmission that incorporates adaptive shift control. Ford also offers a flex-fuel version of the 153-hp V-6 that runs on a mixture of E-85 ethanol and gasoline, or either substance alone.

The Taurus sedan is satisfying in most respects, but it doesn’t stand above the midsize pack, which includes the league-leading Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Ride and handling are acceptable, but the Taurus can feel a little ponderous at times; it can also exhibit a harsher-than-expected ride. Performance with the dual-cam V-6 is vigorous and responsive.

The automatic transmission functions in an easygoing manner but may suffer just a bit of hesitation when downshifting. Interior space is ample, but large roof pillars impair visibility. All the seats are comfortable and supportive. Despite a few drawbacks, attractive prices help make the Taurus a good buy against much of the competition.

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When the Taurus X arrives at dealerships in late summer, it will feature Ford’s new 3.5-liter V-6 engine rated at 260 hp and matched to a six-speed automatic. This is a considerable upgrade from the previous Freestyle’s anemic 203-hp V-6, which was mated to a frustrating CVT automatic transmission.

There will also be an Eddie Bauer edition offered for the first time, and the Taurus X also features easy-­to-maneuver second-row seats. We’ll have more on the Taurus X later today, but for now there are more photos to peruse below.

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