After arriving all-new for 1996, little changes on the Taurus for 97′. A lower priced G model was added mid-year. The most notable news was the return of the SHO model. Biggest news for the SHO was the engine. Still built by Yamaha in Japan, the basic engine block was now cast at Ford’s Windsor, Canada, engine plant. This 3.4-liter 60-degree DOHC V-8 engine produced 225 horsepower. Ford claimed it to be both more quiet and smoother than its predecessor as a result of a crank-driven counter-rotating balance shaft.
Although first generation SHO sales initially suffered because of the lack of an automatic transmission, this time Ford deleted the manual from the lineup. Since the automatic had become available, it had become 90 percent of sales. Much of that may be due to pent-up demand, but Ford was going along with most other manufacturers in dropping manual transmissions from high-line midsize sedans.
When it came to performance, however, there was a personality transformation. This small displacement V-8 had good low-rpm torque, yet the power just got better as the rpm climbed. It made a pleasant, non-intrusive growl to let you know it meant business. With the firmer suspension, the SHO also supplied much better road grip. You pay a price in comfort when the bumps made a greater impact, but it was a relatively small price. The SHO was no longer the rowdy car it once was, but now the most refined of the Taurus models.
What Junkies are Saying