Last week, website The Fast Lane Car received an interesting question from a reader named Ben: is the new, 2017 Ford Fusion V6 Sport effectively a replacement for the Ford Taurus SHO?
You’ll recall that the Taurus SHO – or “Super-High Output” – is a performance variant of the Ford Taurus sedan produced in four distinct generations. The first was rather a legend, being at the time the third-fastest sedan sold in the United States, and deriving its power from a 7,000-rpm, 3.0-liter Yamaha V6. Only a 5-speed manual transmission was available.
Over the SHO’s subsequent generations, the car was gradually shifted into the mainstream, arguably losing much of what made it such a joy at the start.
So, then, will the EcoBoost-powered Ford Fusion V6 Sport be a worthy successor to the (still in-production) Ford Taurus SHO? We rather agree with the mixed answer given by TFL Car‘s Nathan: yes and no. In terms of performance, the AWD Fusion V6 Sport offers up some 325 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque which, while less than the 365 horsepower produced by the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, should still be plenty enough to propel the 3,700-pound sedan in a right hurry. That, in-conjunction with its upgraded suspension with real-time computer damper control, ought to put its performance about level with the current, fourth-generation Taurus SHO.
However, those hoping as Ben does that the new Fusion V6 Sport will be a spiritual successor to the original SHO might be sorely disappointed. The new sedan ships exclusively with a 6-speed automatic gearbox, and with such pedestrian available features as Ford’s Blind Spot Information System and Enhanced Active Park Assist, overall livability and ease-of-use will be lightyears ahead of the comparatively-uncouth first-generation Taurus SHO. Not that that’s a bad thing, but it could certainly be said that the new Fusion Sport has considerably less edginess.
If you find yourself wanting a fun and potent cruiser in the same vein as the original SHO, you might be better off doing as Nathan suggests and buying a Focus ST.
Comment
Anything with four doors is not really meant to compete in the typical “sports coupe” market. A few standouts exist, like the much-more-expensive (and great) Chevy SS, or the exclusively pricey Maserati or Porsche sedans.
But comparing a Fusion Sport to a Focus ST is not really an apples-to-apples comparison (and that’s a good thing).
I purchased a Fusion Sport two weeks ago when it hit the local dealer’s lot. The author is correct, and I would confidently state that a Focus ST would handily trounce the Fusion Sport in braking, cornering, and (maybe) acceleration. But for those like me who need something with four doors and more family-oriented, the Fusion is a good compromise and absolutely the best value for the money in it’s class (in other words, in the world of $30k sedans).
With 93 Octane, torque rises to 380 lb-ft.
For those with more performance enthusiasm, keep your eye on the aftermarket tuning kits that will soon be offered for the Fusion Sport. Stage 1 kits already exist for this twin-turbo 2.7L powerplant and can already add 60+ wheel horsepower and 80+ wheel torque on 93 Octane programs in the Edge Sport and F150 applications. So for the ultimate family sedan “sleeper car” straight-line-speed project, the Fusion Sport is absolutely impossible to beat for the money. That’s a narrow niche of car enthusiasts, but among that small niche of folks like me who want a sleeper, this car will soon become a legend.