Bigs n' Littles: Inside Line pits Ford's new Taurus SHO against Infiniti G37

[wickedstangs]

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedans/Saloons</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Sports/GTs</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/infiniti/" rel="tag">Infiniti</a></p><a href="http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=151726?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1.*"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/2009-g37-infiniti-ct-sho-taurus-580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Back when we gave you our <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/first-drive-2010-ford-taurus-the-once-and-future-king/">first drive impressions of Ford's new Taurus</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/23/first-drive-2010-ford-taurus-sho-offers-excellence-without-emot/">Taurus SHO</a>, we expressed a measure of concern that it wasn't immediately clear as to which competitors Dearborn's new offerings might square off against. While carving out a new niche can sometimes mean that you can coerce buyers from all segments of the market (Chrysler's PT Cruiser was a good example of this when it launched, as was the Mini Cooper), we openly questioned whether that will be the case with the Blue Oval's big new sedan: <br /><blockquote><em>"The Taurus name has never been extended upmarket like this before (let alone in such a waterlogged economy), and it isn't immediately clear who the model's competitors are - a detail that could prove problematic when trying to target customers."</em><br /></blockquote>Judging by their new comparison test which pits the SHO against a Journey-spec Infiniti G37 sedan, the folks over at Inside Line share our quandary. After all, given that the rear-drive Infiniti is significantly smaller and lighter, driven by half-as-many wheels (and seemingly from a different end of the market), this seems like a questionable matchup. And yet, there really aren't many cars that are better comparisons - the Chrysler 300C AWD, perhaps, or the front-drive Chevrolet Impala SS, but both are older propositions that are massively outclassed by the spanking new Ford. We might have suggested the Acura TL, but Inside Line already tested that car in a comparison and found it wanting.<br /><br />Given that the Blue Oval itself appears to be targeting upmarket brands with some of its benchmarks, perhaps the G isn't an unreasonable choice, especially given that its as-tested price ended up being cheaper than the Ford. In any case, the SHO vs. G37 comparison makes for interesting reading, so check it out by clicking on the link below.<br /><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=151726?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1.*">Inside Line</a>; Image: Kurt Niebuhr]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/07/bigs-n-littles-inside-line-pits-fords-new-taurus-sho-against/">Bigs n' Littles: Inside Line pits Ford's new Taurus SHO against Infiniti G37</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/07/bigs-n-littles-inside-line-pits-fords-new-taurus-sho-against/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19087882/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/07/bigs-n-littles-inside-line-pits-fords-new-taurus-sho-against/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>


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[blackstallion06]

So what's missing? It includes more aggressive gearing (to improve acceleration); quicker steering (to improve transitional responses); upgraded brake pads (to improve feel and fade resistance); summer tires (to improve grip, reduce stopping distances and increase heat capacity); and the ability to shut off the conservatively tuned stability control system (to enable us to test the limits of the car, not those set by an engineer and a corporate lawyer).

It would've been nice had Ford included all these performance features on its "premium performance sedan," especially one headed for a track test.

The Track Results
Even without the performance gearing, the heavyweight SHO still makes the G37 glance over its shoulder at the track.

With its 5.8-second acceleration to 60 mph from a standstill (5.5 seconds with 1 foot of rollout like on a drag strip), the Ford is only 0.2 second behind the Infiniti, which does the task in 5.6 seconds (5.3 seconds with 1 foot of rollout). In the remainder of the quarter-mile, the G37 opens up a lead of 0.4 second and finishes with a significant 2.3-mph advantage, recording 13.8 seconds at 101.4 mph against the Ford's 14.2 seconds at 99.1 mph.



Was this a fair test? I say upgrade the turbos puts some performance tires on the car and a fre flowing exhaust see where the car stands. I talked to the dealer about the new SHO, pick up, or a new flex. I have to get rid of the mini van. I am so tired of dealing with DODGE. Its along story but... the window EXPLODED on drivers side sliding door. They would not replace the thing. I printed recalls from 99, 02, 05, and a few other years and still would not replace our glass thank goodness for USAA insurance company. I am getting rid of it and going to FORD. I even called there head quarters but no Luck there I talked to Habeba and he had to fix the slushy machine and refill the hot dog rack so no help there either... I will not buy another vehicle unless its a FORD

 

[sdsubzero4]

What did you expect, Dodge is closed for business.

 

[StarAngel]

Black, Good luck getting that going. Myz and I were 12+ year Toyota peeps but I will never buy anything unless its a FORD. I have been debating maybe trading in my Taco for a F-150 but that means I can't get a GT500 (thats according to Myz). She wants a GT500 as bad as I do lol.