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86-599: In contrast with standard versions of the Taurus, the Taurus SHO was not designed with a Mercury Sable counterpart; however, the 2010-2019 SHO served as the basis for the Ford Police Interceptor Sedan (replacing the long-running Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor ). The final version is the only Taurus ever offered with the twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine. The first three generations of

172-621: A "50th Anniversary" edition of the Sable, to celebrate Mercury's 50th anniversary. Keeping with the name, only 50 were sold, combined between GS and LS models. This Sable was actually a test bed for creating a luxury sport version of the Sable called the LTS, similar to that of the Ford Taurus SHO. It was meant to use the SHO's chassis, interior, and suspension, but not the engine. After the launch of

258-421: A SHO-specific decklid spoiler, dual polished stainless steel exhaust tips, new parking lamp bezels, and a SHO EcoBoost rear logo. While the 4th generation SHO remained largely unchanged after 2013, 2017 brought a few light updates to the SHO. Ford SYNC 3, which featured both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was made standard on all SHO's. A revised Sony audio system featuring ClearPhase and Live Acoustics technology

344-540: A cross country trip. 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. Rear tire clearance was a primary hindrance for a production version, with Ford unable to justify the modification of the rear body shell. This generation of SHO has become prominent in American pop culture due to comedian Conan O'Brien using

430-474: A drive gear (R, OD, D, 1) from "N" or "P". This can become quite violent. Reasons for this part's failure: Piston stuck, or seals or springs damaged or missing. Correction for this problem: Check these parts for damage. Replace as required (located inside the transaxle, recommended that a transmission shop do the repair, but a full rebuild of the transaxle is NOT required). In general, however, difficulty shifting from neutral to overdrive, OD to N, N to R, and R to N

516-407: A few other factory swaps, a SHO Ranger being one. The SHO differed from the normal Taurus on the exterior by having a Mercury Sable hood, different bumpers, side cladding, and fog lamps. The interior also differed, with sports seats and an 8000 rpm tachometer . 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

602-496: A green 1992 model that he personally owns in a number of comedy sketches. He would later facetiously claim to be the main influence behind Ford's decision to revive the model in a 2009 sketch when he "reviewed" the 2010 SHO with a Ford employee. For 1996, the SHO was redesigned, following the Ford Taurus (third generation) design. Unlike its predecessors, this SHO was more refined and used less radical bodywork. It differed from

688-413: A manual transmission. The first-generation Sable was offered in two body styles: a four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon. While its 1983–1986 Marquis predecessor shared nearly its entire body with its Ford LTD counterpart, the Sable sedan shared only its doors and roof stamping with the Taurus. In what would become a tradition for four model generations, the station wagon body for both model lines

774-494: 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. This included SHO-specific shock absorbers, springs, stabilizer bars and strut mount bushings. An optional Performance Package offered better brake pads, recalibrated steering, a "Sport Mode" for the stability control, additional cooling capacity by way of an engine oil cooler, transmission cooler, and PTU cooler;

860-452: A result of this issue. A few rare special editions of the Sable were made, all consisting of first generation models. During MY 1987, Mercury introduced a special edition of the Sable called the "LS Monochrome Edition," which as an option would color the bumpers, side trim, and wheels white. It was only offered during MY 1987; the production quantity is not known and it is also unknown how many still exist. During MY 1989, Mercury created

946-591: A revised front bumper and grille, redesigned headlamps; the LED taillamps were retained, but given white lenses. The fifth-generation Sable adopted the trim lines of the Montego and Milan, with an unnamed standard trim level and a top Premier trim. Water pumps on the 2008 and 2009 Mercury Sable equipped with the 3.5 L Ford Cyclone V6 have a tendency to fail and potentially ruin the engine when they do. The water pumps on these engines are internally mounted and driven by

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1032-546: A shorter 3.16 to 1 final drive ratio, summer tires, spare tire delete, mobility kit (tire inflator with sealant), and an Alcantara wrapped steering wheel. Adaptive cruise control was not available with the Performance Package. 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 . A 2012 SHO

1118-645: A substitute. Midler sued in response, leading to the memorable case Midler v. Ford Motor Co. which clarified whether impersonations could be considered an appropriation of identity. Launched at the end of 1985 as a 1986 model, the Mercury Sable replaced the Mercury Marquis as the mid-size Mercury line, slotted between the Topaz and Grand Marquis/Colony Park. Developed alongside the Ford Taurus,

1204-472: A unique rear bumper. 1992 models can be visually identified by not containing a rear trunklid spoiler, having downturned exhaust tips, and only a driver's side airbag (later models have both driver's and passenger airbags). For the 1993 model year, the rear brakes on the SHO were converted to solid discs, replacing the vented discs of almost identical dimensions that were used in the 1989–1992 model years. The lack of an automatic transmission had hurt sales, which

1290-437: Is "X." Applications: Earlier AXOD and AXOD-E models have a poor reliability record due to internal lubrication problems. These were mostly remedied by 1995. These transaxles require fluid and filter changes every 30,000 miles to maximize service life. Intermediate clutch failures resulting in poor 1–2 shifts or slipping are common on all AX family members. Failure of the "Neutral to Drive Accumulator" causes hard shifts into

1376-584: Is a range of automobiles manufactured and marketed by the Mercury brand of Ford Motor Company . Introduced on December 26, 1985, as the replacement for the Mercury Marquis , the Sable marked the transition of the mid-size Mercury product range to front-wheel drive. Over its production span, the Sable was Mercury's badge-engineered counterpart to the Ford Taurus , below the Grand Marquis in

1462-644: Is full soft, when no power (fast speeds and hard braking), full hard. This included modified suspensions strut and Adaptable Assisted Steering. Each corner of the car can be in either mode and acts independently. This eliminates dive on heavy braking and drastically reduces squat on acceleration. The shock solenoids on all 4 struts and the solenoid on the ZF rack and pinion steering changes their behaviour (hard or soft) based on (independent) suspension sensors and ABS sensor based speed detection. The 1996 and 1997 models had sensors on all 4 wheels. The 1998 models only had sensors on

1548-412: Is most likely caused by a stretched shifter cable. Other issues such as locking and/or breaking the parking "pawl" occurs in these transmissions primarily due to owner negligence in not operating the parking brake properly, or not using the parking brake at all. If the vehicle is allowed to "roll back" onto the pawl with heavy force (such as when parking on a steep incline), the pawl may break off or seize

1634-651: The 2007 Chicago Auto Show . While the 2008 revival of the Ford Taurus (renaming the Five Hundred) largely ended retail sale of the Crown Victoria, the Sable remained below the Grand Marquis in the Mercury range. While approximately 10 inches shorter and 500 pounds lighter than the Grand Marquis, the fifth-generation Sable was the first produced as a full-size car. For the first time, the model line

1720-433: The 4-cylinder MT-5 was discontinued in that year. The transmission was designed and manufactured by Mazda and had the following gear ratios with a final drive ratio of 3.74: The first generation Taurus SHO can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds with a quarter mile time of 15.0-15.2 seconds. Car and Driver reported a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h) in their December 1989 issue. A special edition of

1806-576: The Chevrolet Citation , General Motors produced the quartet of the Chevrolet Celebrity / Pontiac 6000 / Oldsmobile Cutlass / Buick Century ; a year later, Chrysler expanded its K cars into the mid-size segment with the first front-wheel-drive Chrysler New Yorker . Coinciding with the 1986 launch of the Sable, General Motors downsized Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac full-size sedans to front-wheel drive, only slightly larger than

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1892-471: The sixth-generation Taurus . The final Sable was produced on May 21, 2009; in total, 2,112,374 Sables were produced during its 1985–2005 production. In early 1980, the Mercury Sable began development alongside the Ford Taurus; the $ 3.5 billion project would become the largest development ever undertaken by Ford at the time. Originally intended to replace its full-size and mid-size rear-wheel drive product lines ( Panther and Fox platforms, respectively),

1978-422: The 2 front wheels. The SARC suspension option was deleted on the 1999 models using the same struts of the 1996-2007 (non-SHO) Taurus, but keeping the adjustable power steering option. A month after the introduction of the sixth generation Taurus, Ford unveiled the much-awaited return of the SHO at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show . After skipping two Ford Taurus generations, the resurrected sport sedan went on sale in

2064-487: 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. With

2150-622: The AX4N), ended in November 2006. The AXOD has a code letter of "T" on its data plate. The AXOD transaxle has 17 bolts to retain its fluid pan. Applications: The AXOD was updated with electronic controls in 1991 as the AXOD-E . The electronic shifting and torque converter controls were integrated with the Taurus's electronic control module for smoother shifts. This had a data plate code of "T" for 1991 and 1992 models. Applications: The AXOD-E

2236-461: The DN101 platform; the wheelbase was extended from 106 to 108.5 inches. As before, the Sable returned as a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon. While mechanically identical to its Ford Taurus counterpart, the sedans of the two model lines shared less sheetmetal than before, with only the front doors, hood, and front fenders common between the Taurus and Sable (as before, the Sable served as

2322-661: The GS as options. For 1998, the Sable underwent a mid-cycle revision, distinguished by new headlights and a centered Mercury emblem in the grille; the Sable G was discontinued. The Vulcan V6 engine became standard on all Sables, with the Duratec optional only on the LS for 1999. In an effort to stimulate sales, Mercury cut the price of the Sable by up to $ 2,000 for 1999 (by revising the availability of options). The Sable received another redesign in 1999 for MY 2000, which minimized some of

2408-487: The Marquis, the Sable was equipped with front disc brakes and rear drum brakes; station wagons were fitted with larger rear brakes. For 1986, the Sable was offered was with two engines: a 90 hp HSC I4 (mated to a three-speed automatic) and a 140 hp Vulcan V6 (paired to a four-speed automatic). Following poor sales of the four-cylinder engine in the Sable, the engine was dropped from the line (though remaining standard on

2494-549: The Mercury brand in Mexico, Ford of Mexico marketed the model line as the Ford Taurus. In South Korea, the Mercury Sable was marketed by Kia alongside the Kia Potentia (Mazda Luce/929) as they assemble Kia Pride as Ford Festiva in export market. The first-generation Sable used the front-wheel drive Ford DN5 platform , sharing its 106 in (2,692 mm) wheelbase with the Ford Taurus. As with its Marquis predecessor,

2580-404: The Mercury range. From the 1986 to 2005 model years, it was produced as a mid-size four-door sedan and five-door station wagon. For 2006, the Sable was replaced by the full-size Montego and mid-size Milan. It was reintroduced for 2008 as a full-size car, offered as a four-door sedan. Because of declining sales, the Sable was discontinued after the 2009 model year, leaving no Mercury counterpart for

2666-507: The SHO called the Plus package became available in late 1990. 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. There were also some SHOs that came with only part of

Ford Taurus SHO - Misplaced Pages Continue

2752-574: The SHO were assembled by Ford at Atlanta Assembly ( Hapeville, Georgia ); the fourth generation was assembled by Chicago Assembly ( Chicago, Illinois ). In 1984, executives of the Yamaha Motor Corporation signed a contract with the Ford Motor Company to develop, produce, and supply a compact 60° DOHC V6 engine based upon the existing Vulcan engine for transverse application. There has been some confusion about

2838-531: The SHO would detract sales to that division of Ford Motor Company. 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. As of 1996, The SHO V8 came with a Semi-Active Ride Controller, (SARC) which modified the hardness and stiffness of driving at different speeds. When energized (Lower speeds) it

2924-478: The SHO, and all the publicity and praise it received, Ford shelved the Sable LTS to focus on the SHO, and because it feared it would cannibalize sales of the SHO. The Sable LTS remained in a " development hell " until mid-1994 when it was introduced as a high end version of the Sable, but by then, it was just a highly optioned LS. An unknown number of these Sables still exist, but a pristine condition GS in this trim

3010-589: The Sable G and GS, the standard engine was the 3.0 L Vulcan V6, producing 145 hp. For the Sable LS, the standard engine was a 3.0 L DOHC Duratec V6, producing 200 hp; optional in the Sable GS, the Duratec engine was an enlarged version of the engine from the Mercury Mystique. For 1997, the Sable underwent several cost-cutting revisions; several features of the LS became available on

3096-404: The Sable used unibody construction. The Sable was equipped with a four-wheel independent suspension. The front axle was fitted with MacPherson struts and a stabilizer bar; the rear axle on sedans was a coil-spring 4-link layout (also with MacPherson struts), while the rear suspension on station wagons was a coil-spring double-wishbone design (short/long arm), along with a stabilizer bar. As with

3182-521: The Sable was discontinued, along with the Taurus wagon; the Taurus sedan continued to be produced, but primarily for the fleet market. The last Sable left the Atlanta plant on April 29, 2005. The fifth-generation Mercury Sable was launched for the 2008 model year. Developed as a mid-cycle update of the Mercury Montego, the production vehicle revived the more widely-recognized Sable nameplate at

3268-581: The Sable was marketed alongside its Marquis predecessor for 1986, as Ford sought to protect its investment in the project. Though outsold by the Taurus (which would go on to become the best-selling car in the United States) by a wide margin, the Sable would prove successful on its own, competing with the Grand Marquis to serve as the highest-selling Mercury model line. The Sable was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list on its release in 1986 and again in 1990 and 1991. As Ford did not market

3354-465: The Taurus MT-5 nor the Taurus SHO was ever introduced. For the 1992 model year, the second-generation Sable was introduced. As part of a $ 650 million investment in the Taurus and Sable, both model lines received significant updates, focusing on the interior and front and rear fascias. In contrast to the previous Sable, Ford chose an evolutionary change for the model line; though visibly similar to

3440-405: The Taurus and Sable were sitting behind a curtain. With the flashing of strobe lights and a drum-roll, the curtain was pulled back and the two cars were revealed to the public. Ford planned a sensual marketing campaign for the Sable featuring singer and entertainer Bette Midler . However, Midler turned down Ford's offer and refused to appear in the ads, so Ford utilized an impersonator of Midler as

3526-414: The Taurus through 1991), along with the 3-speed automatic. For 1988, a 3.8 L Essex V6 was introduced as an optional engine. Though rated with the same 140 hp output as the 3.0 L Vulcan V6, the 3.8 L V6 was rated with nearly 35% more torque output (popular in the heavier station wagons). In contrast to the Taurus, the first-generation Sable (nor any of its successors) was not offered with

Ford Taurus SHO - Misplaced Pages Continue

3612-470: The Taurus, in a departure from tradition, the Sable was designed with a model-specific dashboard (partly integrated into the door panels). Sable sedans were equipped with a 50/50 split bench seat as standard equipment (joining the Grand Marquis as a six-passenger Mercury sedan); as an option, front bucket seats were offered (reducing capacity to five). The Sable wagon was offered with an optional rear-facing third-row seat, bringing seating to seven or eight; for

3698-531: The Taurus, the Sable was the first American-produced sedan to use aerodynamic composite headlights with replaceable halogen bulbs; to begin their use, Ford (and other auto manufacturers) lobbied the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to have them approved, with the 1984 Continental Mark VII becoming the first American car to use them. While the Sable shared largely the same interior features as

3784-683: The Taurus/Sable were focused toward the mid-size segment in 1981, as the company felt stabilization of gasoline prices justified the continuation of its full-size model lines. The Taurus was to replace the Ford LTD while the Sable replaced the Mercury Marquis. While designed entirely in North America, the Taurus/Sable were designed under a similar approach as the Ford Escort , using an interdisciplinary team approach; each element of

3870-461: The addition of Italian slicers the SHO now had right and left specific wheels. The 94-95 model years featured very subtle changes. They no longer came with chrome trim around the windows, the door handles were now painted body color, and black was no longer offered as an interior or exterior color. By request of Car and Driver magazine, a SHO station wagon was created by the Car and Driver staff with

3956-610: The addition of a driver-side airbag; a CD player was added as an option. The first-generation Mercury Sable was sold in two trim levels (opposed to the four of the Taurus). In line with other Mercury models, a base-trim GS (comparable to the GL-trim Taurus) and top-trim LS (slightly above the Taurus LX) was offered. As Mercury never offered the first-generation Sable with a manual transmission, no Mercury Sable equivalent to

4042-400: The basis for Ford and Mercury station wagons). In contrast to the oval-influenced roofline of the Ford Taurus, the Sable was styled with a sloped roofline with a rectangular rear window; the model received its own front and rear fascias. In place of the long-running lightbar, the Sable received a chrome-trimmed grille with oval headlight housings. In a design first for the model line, the Sable

4128-558: The camshafts welded. The number of engines with failure has been documented at about 1,200 out of about 20,000 engines. Other undocumented cases very likely exist. There was no SHO for the 2000 model year, some believed that the then President of Ford Motor Company Jac Nasser influenced the designers not to design a SHO model for he was focusing on the Premier Automotive Group that consisted of Lincoln, Jaguar, Volvo, Aston-Martin and Land Rover built under that umbrella and

4214-494: The configuration was also used by the Ford Mustang SVO and Ford Sierra . As with its Marquis predecessor, the Sable station wagon was designed with a rear liftback, but introduced a new configuration for the rear hatch, allowing the rear window glass to be opened separately from the rest of the rear hatch. In a design first for Mercury station wagons, exterior woodgrain trim was not offered as an option. Alongside

4300-413: The first time since the 1977 Cougar wagon, Mercury offered the design in its midsize station wagon. During its production, the first-generation Sable underwent few changes. For 1989, the exterior underwent a mid-cycle revision; the amber parking lamp lenses were replaced by clear units and sedans saw revisions to taillamp lenses. For 1990, the Sable underwent a redesign of the dashboard to accommodate

4386-458: The first use of aerodynamic body design by Ford for a sedan. In mid-1985, Ford unveiled the Mercury Sable alongside the Ford Taurus as a 1986 model. In place of a traditional auto show unveiling, the launch was held an MGM Studios soundstage (where Gone with the Wind was filmed). Ford workers came into the room, which was decorated in space-age decor, holding cups shaped like flying saucers and

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4472-414: The gears so that either the vehicle rolls away, or when the owner starts the vehicle and attempts to put the vehicle in gear, they are unable to move the shift lever from Park. This creates a compound issue in which the shifter linkage or cable can break due to excess force. The vehicle's owner guide states the appropriate procedure is to engage the parking brake before shifting to Park, rather than relying on

4558-509: The grille was made fully chrome. Inside were a new instrument cluster and steering wheel. Due to the Mercury brand's discontinuation in Canada, the fourth generation Sable was never available in the Canadian market; thus, it was unique to the U.S. and Mexico . The 2005 Mercury Montego and 2006 Milan were launched as replacements for the Sable. Shortly after the Montego's introduction

4644-522: The headlamps; the lightbar became a design feature later adapted by the Mercury Topaz and Tracer (and other automakers in the early 1990s). The lightbar design element largely emphasized the lack of a conventional grille (while primarily a "bottom-breather" design, a vestigial air intake slot was also designed into the bumper below the lightbar); a design pioneered by the 1950s Citroën DS , within Ford,

4730-411: The help of Ford engineers. They started with a production Taurus wagon, and from there installed SHO bodywork, including its unique front end. They then replaced the stock engine and drivetrain with SHO drivetrain. Inside, the interior was replicated of that of a high spec SHO sedan, including its sport seats, steering wheel, and included most of the SHO's equipment. The staff then tested it, and took it on

4816-474: The interior were retained from the 1996 model, such as the integrated control console, which combined the sound system and climate controls into one panel; but the shape of that panel was changed from the controversial oval to a more conventional and conservative trapezoid. The suspension was also softened to appeal to a broader, non-sporting audience. To reduce the price and increase profitability, many features such as four-wheel disc brakes were eliminated on

4902-610: The mid-size Sable. For 1983, Mercury underwent a brand revision, with the Cougar reverting to its traditional role as a two-door personal coupe alongside the Ford Thunderbird; while retaining the same chassis underpinnings, the Thunderbird and Cougar underwent a complete exterior redesign, becoming the first Ford cars produced with highly aerodynamic designs, a central objective of the Taurus/Sable design. The 1983 Cougar

4988-475: The new AX4N transmission. The wagon version was available with mostly the same options as the sedan versions. Wagons had a maximum of 81.1 cubic feet of cargo area with the 60/40 split rear seat folded down. They featured a 2-way liftgate (raise the entire liftgate or just the window), a roof rack with crossbar and tie-downs, an optional rear-facing third seat, a lockable under-floor compartment, and an optional fold-out picnic table. With both rear split seats in

5074-413: The normal Taurus with different seats, Alloy wheels , bumpers , V8 drivetrain, as well as a wind deflector being placed on the driver's side windshield wiper , to keep it on the windshield at high speeds. This SHO model sold in lower numbers than the previous SHO generations, with sales peaking at 9,000 units in 1997. As a result, Ford cut the SHO when redesigning the Taurus for its fourth generation. It

5160-491: The original intended use of the engine. It was thought this engine was first intended to power a mid-engine sports car, that project (known internally as GN34) was canceled. 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. There were a few GN34 prototypes produced, most with standard Vulcan engines and

5246-423: The oval design elements from the 1996 model, replacing them with more conventional styling. The redesign also featured a taller roof over the rear-passenger space, to increase passenger headroom that had been sacrificed by the tapered 1996 design. The taller and roomier trunk also served to make the vehicle more functional. The interior was completely changed for a much more conservative design. Certain elements of

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5332-421: The package options known in the community as a 'partial plus', but these were really only regular SHOs that received the other options because Ford needed to use up what they had with the body change coming in 1992. White painted pluses had the option of white painted "slicer" wheels. 1991 was the only year that a "Mocha Frost" color option was offered. Also in 91 a green called "Deep Jewel Green Clearcoat Metallic"

5418-570: The pawl, as the pawl is a last line of defense to prevent the vehicle from moving unintentionally. If the parking pawl breaks off or bends, serious transaxle damage can occur. Recently, NHTSA launched an investigation into the Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey due to numerous complaints with regard to the equipped 4F50N transmission. Although the investigation is centered on the Torque Converter , these failures often require that

5504-419: The previous AX4S. Although similar in design and dimensions, it is a different transaxle than previous AXOD transmissions. The AX4N has 19 bolts to retain the fluid pan. It was used in the 1996–99 Taurus SHO models, and was standard on Duratec-powered models. It also appears in some 1994–2002 Vulcan -powered models. It became standard with both engines in 2003. It was renamed the 4F50N in 2001. The data plate code

5590-475: The previous generation, every body panel on the Sable sedan (except the doors) was changed. On the station wagon (shared with both the Sable and Taurus), the front fascia was redesigned, along with the interior. The interior of the Sable underwent a redesign of the door panels, dashboard, and interior controls. Following the 1990 addition of a driver-side airbag, the Sable gained a passenger-side airbag as an option for 1992 (becoming standard in 1993). For 1993,

5676-428: The rare LTS trim level was added. It featured leather bucket seats, Taurus LX–style alloy wheels, special cladding, and many leather wrapped interior trim parts. The LTS trim had either the standard 3.0 L Vulcan V6 or the optional 3.8 L Essex V6. The third-generation Sable was introduced for the 1996 model year. The platform used for the previous two generations underwent an extensive revision, redesignated as

5762-407: The sedan; station wagons retained four-wheel disc brakes. The 2002 Sable included extra equipment on every trim level, including a CD player and power driver's seat on the GS, and a power moonroof or leather interior on the LS. Side airbags and traction control were added as options on all models. For 2004, the Sable received minor cosmetic changes to the front and rear fascias; most noticeably,

5848-425: The steering wheel was redesigned (returning the horn to the center of the steering wheel). The base "GS" and luxury "LS" trim levels were carried over from the previous generation. A front cloth bench seat was standard on GS sedans and wagons, although cloth bucket seats were available on GS sedans only. Higher-end cloth bucket seats were standard on LS sedans, but a bench seat was a no cost option. A front bench

5934-466: The summer of 2009 as a 2010 model. In a first for the SHO nameplate, permanent torque vectoring all-wheel drive was standard. The power-plant was a 3.5L direct-injected Twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 , which utilized a pair of Garrett GT1549L turbochargers and produced 365 hp (272 kW) at 5500 rpm and 350 lb⋅ft (475 N⋅m) of torque at 1500-5250 rpm. This engine was mated to Ford's 6F55 six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission with

6020-413: The timing chain. As a result, when they fail, antifreeze is dumped directly into the crankcase; mixing with engine oil and potentially damaging the head gaskets and connecting rod bearings. These water pump failures could occur without warning, and repair could require engine disassembly or removal to access the water pump, or in some cases, engine replacement. A class action lawsuit was filed against Ford as

6106-492: The upright position, standard cargo capacity was 45.7 cubic feet. Wagons that were equipped with the front bench seat and rear folding seat could seat eight people; while over two feet shorter than the 1991 Mercury Colony Park, the Sable wagon became the sole eight-passenger vehicle offered by Lincoln-Mercury (as the Mercury Villager minivan seated seven). 1995 was the final model year of the second-generation Sable;

6192-471: The vehicle was designed concurrently, including manufacturing and assembly. Along with input from potential buyers (in stark contrast to the Edsel ), Ford used reverse engineering of competitive vehicles as a design input tool. During the development of the Sable, Mercury had become one of the final American brands to adopt front-wheel drive into its vehicle line. In 1982, as a sedan/station wagon version of

6278-469: Was a 4-speed automatic transaxle for transverse front wheel drive automobiles from the Ford Motor Company . It was introduced in the 1986 Ford Taurus / Mercury Sable (with the 3.0 L Vulcan V6 ). The AXOD and its successors are built in Ford's Van Dyke Transmission plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan . Production of the final member of the family, the 4F50N (a renaming of

6364-463: Was a situation that Ford rectified for model year 1993 . A 3.2 L version of the Ford SHO V6 engine was introduced for the automatic-equipped SHO, which still had 220 hp (164 kW), but now boasted 215 lb⋅ft (292 N⋅m), a 15 lb⋅ft (20 N⋅m) increase over the 3.0 L version. It was later discovered by enthusiasts that Ford had put less aggressive intake camshafts in

6450-568: Was also the only Ford Taurus generation with a V8 Engine . A 235 hp (175 kW) aluminum 3.4 L V8 engine with heads from Yamaha and block from Cosworth was specified for the SHO model, but it was given the same four speed transmission as the LX: the manual gearbox option was no longer offered on the SHO. Separation of the camshaft from its sprocket has been implicated in a growing number of engine failures, at around 50,000 miles (80,000 km). This problem can be rectified by having

6536-499: Was available, but only with the plus option. The SHO was redesigned for 1992, although it continued with the same powertrain as before: The Yamaha Built V-6 engine and 5-speed manual transmission . The second generation SHO borrowed from the Mercury Sable 's front fenders, hood, and headlights, but used a different bumper, fog lamps, and no middle lightbar. The SHO also got unique seats, side cladding, dual exhaust, as well as

6622-466: Was derived from the Sable; the Taurus wagon was styled with its own front fascia. To differentiate its 6-window roofline from the Taurus, the Sable sedan borrowed design elements from the Ford Scorpio liftback sedan, using blacked-out B, C, and D-pillars for a "floating roof" effect. In place of the body-color grille insert used by Ford, the Sable was fitted with a low-wattage lightbar between

6708-569: Was featured in the film Men in Black 3 as the MIB's official car. Visually, the differences from the regular Taurus were subtle. The 2010-2012 models were even more subtle, sporting a 3-bar chrome wide-toothed grill, SHO C-Pillar logo and 5-spoked wheels. The 2013-2019 model employed a black grille with small honeycomb-shaped/mesh-like look, 19" or optional 20" "flower" design wheels with other 20" designs in later years, and SHO fender badges. They all had

6794-438: Was fitted with the same interior as the Taurus (with the exception of seat fabrics). The trim lines saw a minor revision, with the Sable G introduced as a new entry-level model and the Sable LTS discontinued. The Sable G was offered solely as a sedan, with several standard power options (but only an AM/FM radio ). For higher sales volumes, the GS and LS made their return, offered both in sedan and station wagon form. For

6880-482: Was introduced as standard equipment as well. Additionally, two new 20 inch wheel choices were made available. The final update to the SHO was the deletion of the power rear sunshade for the 2019 model year. The 4th generation Taurus SHO ended production along with the rest of the Taurus line on March 1, 2019. The 2010 Taurus SHO was named Car of the Year by Esquire magazine. Mercury Sable The Mercury Sable

6966-470: Was introduced with the AX4S and the AX4N on some models. The transaxle pan on this model will sometimes read "AXOD Metric" since it is based on the AXOD transaxle. The data plate code for this transmission is "L." Applications: The AX4N is an improved version of the basic AXOD, and is more reliable. This transaxle shifting is non-synchronous (as indicated by the "N" in AX4N) and has improved shift quality over

7052-442: Was offered exclusively as a four-door sedan (no Mercury counterpart of the Taurus X wagon was developed). Front-wheel drive remained standard, with all-wheel drive becoming an option for the first time. In the transition from the Montego to the Sable, a number of changes were made to the body and chassis. Alongside the addition of the 263 hp 3.5L V6 and 6-speed 6F automatic, the exterior underwent several revisions, including

7138-437: Was renamed AX4S in 1993. In addition to the name change, improvements in the lubrication of the gearset and capacity upgrades were made. A centrifugal piston assembly was implemented in the intermediate clutch position to improve 1st–2nd and 2nd–1st shift quality and an increase in the clutch's durability was made on some models. High energy friction materials were also introduced. A new twin piston torque converter clutch (TCC)

7224-427: Was sold on eBay in 2007. A special one-of-a-kind Sable convertible was created in 1987 for the 1988 Detroit SAE auto show . It was built from a sedan chassis and featured a completely custom two-door body with a custom folding top. However, it was shelved; the only one sat in a warehouse for years until it was given a VIN , titled, and driven. It was sold on eBay in 2006. Ford AXOD transmission The AXOD

7310-413: Was standard on LS wagons, with bucket seats optional. Leather seating surfaces were available on all LS Sables. In 1992 for MY 1993, unpopular optional features such as the " InstaClear " heated windshield were eliminated. For 3.0L V6 engines, the drive belt system became a single-belt setup for 1993 (previously, the 3.0L alternator had used a separate belt). Also, some 3.0L 1994 models began receiving

7396-544: Was well received in the marketplace (outselling the 1983 Thunderbird); Ford would choose to abandon "boxy" car designs altogether, influencing other car manufacturers to follow suit during the 1980s. Following the Thunderbird and Cougar, Ford introduced the 1984 Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz. The compact front-wheel drive replacements for the Ford Fairmont/Mercury Zephyr, the Tempo/Topaz marked

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