2013 Ford Taurus
20.05.12
Enhanced this year with the same valve technology as the Mustang V-6, the Taurus V-6 has 288 horsepower , which is 25 hp more than the 2012. It moves well enough from a stop and pulls energetically at higher revs, with a muscular exhaust note as you take on more speed. Front-drive cars weigh 227 pounds less than all-wheel-drive versions, which should increase acceleration off the line.
The standard six-speed automatic transmission needs grooming: It holds higher gears coming into corners, delaying needed downshifts until moments too late, and hunts through gears on hilly roads. Step into the gas to pass, and the transmission stair-steps down through multiple gears. A Sport mode does little to change the behavior.
The Taurus SHO automatic's reactions feel quicker, with faster shifts and less indecision. The turbocharged V-6 scampers from a stop, hustling to higher speeds with the punchiness of a V-8. Indeed, our friends at "MotorWeek" hit 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds in their 2010 SHO. That's more than half a second quicker than a V-8-powered, all-wheel-drive Chrysler 300C that "MotorWeek" tested. The SHO weighs 4,343 pounds — lighter than the 300C but much heavier than front-drive competitors from Hyundai, Toyota and Nissan. For such a portly car, this Ford flies.
Source: Chicago Tribune