Patents have been found and pictures of prototype SHO powerplants installed in the Taurus show that the original intent was for the larger FWD setup and the GN34 would have come later.

The SHO had a Yamaha Built V-6 engine that redlined at 7,000 RPM and became the only Taurus to feature a manual transmission since the 4-cylinder MT-5 was discontinued in that year.

It came as part of option package #212A and contained different styling cues from the standard SHO, including a plastic 'Power Bulge' hood, chrome window trim, a plastic spoiler without the 3rd brake light, body colored stripe in the lower cladding, black mirrors, black B and C pillars, rod shifter upgrade, and a body color TAURUS badge.

The second generation SHO utilized the Mercury Sable's front fenders, hood, and headlights with a different bumper, fog lamps, and no middle lightbar.

The lack of an automatic transmission hampered sales,[citation needed] a situation that Ford rectified for model year 1993.

[12] It was later discovered by enthusiasts that Ford had put less aggressive intake camshafts in the 3.2L motor to maintain the same horsepower rating as the 3.0L, while still having more torque.

The 1993 to 1995 automatics use the AX4S (previously named AXOD-E) transmission with these ratios: For MY 1993, Ford did a minor redesign of the SHO interior, updating the center console.

Other changes for 1993 included a trunklid spoiler, with integrated center high mount stop lamp, and "Italian" or directional Slicer wheels.

The Car and Driver staff as well as Ford admitted that the SHO wagon was created "just for fun", and was never meant to be a serious production vehicle, though a second example was built, and used for brake testing.

[14] This generation of SHO has become prominent in American pop culture due to comedian Conan O'Brien using a green 1992 model that he personally owns in a number of comedy sketches.

The 1996 and later models got the AX4N transmission, which has the same gearsets (and thus the same gear ratios) as the AX4S used in the 1993 to 1995 SHO, but had improved torque capacity and shift quality, such as 3-2 downshifts.

[20] A month after the introduction of the sixth generation Taurus, Ford unveiled the return of the SHO at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show.

[23] [24] This engine was mated to Ford's 6F55 [25] six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission with a paddle or console activated manual mode.

The fourth generation SHO came with Ford's new SR1 suspension setup with MacPherson front struts and a multi-link design in the rear.

Notably, many of the features found on the Performance Package (including the power-train) were shared with the EcoBoost version of the 2013-2019 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan.

They all had a SHO-specific decklid spoiler, dual polished stainless steel exhaust tips, new parking lamp bezels, and a SHO EcoBoost rear logo.

A revised Sony audio system featuring ClearPhase and Live Acoustics technology was introduced as standard equipment as well.