The Ford Taurus SHO takes me back at bit. You see, way back when I first came to Canada, not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life, I found myself working in the auto detailing business. Now, not to blow my own trumpet or anything, I was actually quite successful. So much so, that within a couple of years, I was managing one of the premier shops in Toronto, company which specialized in auto show preparation work for the car manufacturers.

Around this time, I decided to switch companies. However, on learning that I was between jobs, Ford of Canada called and asked if I would care to oversee its Toronto Auto Show detailing under contract. Let’s just say that the deal was favorable, so I placed my new job on hold, and donned the blue oval hat for a few weeks.

The company actually boasted quite the display that year, what with its new Eddie Bauer Edition Explorer etc, but by far the main attraction was the launch of its new Ford Taurus SHO.

The Taurus had been a real success story in North America and the company was proud to be unveiling its new high-performance model. So much so, that a special revolving turntable had been set up centre stage specifically for its launch.

Everything was arranged, and the vehicles arrived at the Ford detailing centre in Mississauga, supposedly requiring a simple final polish. However, I’m guessing that someone failed to mention the importance of this vehicle to the youngsters employed in the wash bay.

Of course nowadays, conserving water could be looked upon as being green. However, that wasn’t exactly the color I went once I’d realized that those young [censored] had washed every vehicle (about 20-30 cars) without once renewing the water in their wash bucket.

The star of the SHOw was completely ruined. There were scratches upon scratches everywhere! In fact, even after several hours spent painstakingly compounding the vehicle, it was hardly showroom perfect, and the hood was simply beyond repair.

In desperation, I called head office seeking a replacement vehicle, but alas, the SHO was such a rare beast in Canada, none was available.

In the end, we managed to locate a clear Perspex demo hood in Quebec and hurriedly shipped that to Toronto, and that my friends is the reason visitors to the show were able to admire the vehicle’s engine bay so unobtrusively!

A rather long-winded lead into my review, but I think that it perfectly demonstrates that even the best laid plans, made by some of the largest concerns in the industry, can go astray because of one small cog in the wheel.

Which brings us nicely to the new 2010 Ford Taurus SHO.

I feel that Ford has done a wonderful job with the exterior of this vehicle. It appears bold and beefy looking, and looks well-planted on the road, and yet, it’s actually a rather tall vehicle. However, that fact has been well disguised by the vehicle’s higher than most waistlines, and with the assistance of some snazzy looking 20” aluminum rims. I’m also rather taken with the front face of the new Taurus SHO. It’s got a really stylish, yet slightly muscle-car thing happening up front, and even the word futuristic could fit in there somewhere. It’s simply perfect for this type of vehicle, it says, “I’m a family machine most of the time, but I have a mean streak in me, so if you get in my way, I’ll eat you up and spit you out. And then I’ll go back and collect the kids from school!!!”

Because of its floor height, exit and entry to the SHO is extremely good, and all four doors open wide enough for even the largest of passenger. There’s also a sizable truck, and with the fold-down rear seats, plenty of cargo space, even for longer items.