2010 Ford Taurus

The 1986 Ford Taurus, with European-inspired styling that was almost as sleek as the stunning Audi 5000, was a huge success.

The high-performance SHO that followed was an enthusiast’s dream because it was fast, fun and reasonably priced.

Today’s Taurus is considerably more sophisticated, and its price reflects that. The 2010 Taurus makes the first one look like an antique, and the twin-turbo, all-wheel-drive SHO is light years ahead of the first one. Technological progress has its reward.

The new SHO is composed, confident and as solid as a billet of aluminum. The original Taurus SHO was quite a handful when you smashed the throttle because the front wheels struggled to grip the pavement. The new car pushes you back in the seat with a steady thrust when you flatten the throttle. The acceleration is strong but measured, similar to a Boeing 767 rolling towards liftoff.

Ford’s EcoBoost, twin-turbo V-6 delivers 355 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. That’s more power and torque from 3.5 liters than the 4.6-liter V-8 in the Explorer.

Ford’s rationale is that a twin-turbo V-6 can produce the power of a V-8 without sacrificing fuel economy when driven normally. Fuel economy is rated at 17 miles per gallon in the city and 25 on the highway.

The transmission is a six-speed automatic that can be shifted manually with paddles on the steering wheel.

The Taurus has a 112.9-inch wheelbase, but it is not small. The body looks beefy because it is wide and tall. The extra height makes it easy to get in and out and gives the driver a nice, upright driving position. Older folks take note.

The nose is bold, and subtle character lines, from the power-dome hood to creases over the fenders, reflect a level of styling detail that is more like that of a luxury model.