Auto News 5

Ford took a lot of flack for the 2010 Taurus SHO. A big car with a big engine, the SHO had straight-line speed in spades, but when it came to braking, Ford's full-size car couldn't handle the pressure. Plagued by awkward pedal modulation and serious brake fade, the Super High Output Taurus drove more like a nostalgic marketing exercise than a red-blooded engineering effort. Ford engineers rectified several shortcomings on all Taurus models with a 2013 update, but they're especially eager to win back respect for the SHO. To that end, they're making even loftier claims about the new, optional Performance Package: they say that this 4300-pound family car is track-ready.