1996 · Ford · United States
1996 Ford Taurus SHO: the V8 automatic arrives
The SHO becomes a V8 automatic: a 3.4-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 and four-speed automatic, with no manual transmission offered.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
This record's own dek describes 1996 as the year the SHO becomes a V8 automatic, with a 3.4-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 and a four-speed automatic and no manual transmission offered. This record's own overview states that V8SHO.COM, crediting Ford Motorsports, rates the engine at 235 hp at 6,100 rpm and 230 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm, while a period review on The Auto Channel lists 230 hp and 225 lb-ft instead, and that both ratings are kept in this record rather than one being discarded.1,2
This record's own overview states that V8SHO.COM gives 5,033 SHOs for the model year, credited to BlueOvalNews and Ford's Atlanta Assembly Plant: 4,942 left-hand-drive and 91 right-hand-drive cars, a split this record's own production notes describe as partitioning the 5,033 total in the source's own table. The same review gives a base price of $25,930, with a preferred equipment package on the test car at $1,855, leather seats at $1,190, and a six-disc CD changer at $595. These three figures are documented as prices on the review's own test vehicle rather than as installation counts, since this record's own options array carries no entries for the year.3,2
This record's own conflicts section carries the power and torque dispute already noted, with its own treatment stating: lead with 235 horsepower and 230 lb-ft, which the 1997 and 1999 reviews and the buyer's-guide data also print, and show the 230 horsepower and 225 lb-ft figures as printed in this review. This record's own production notes also state that no color, trim, or option counts were found for 1996, and that the left-hand-drive figure may include Canadian cars, with the US-only share not stated.1,2
Six exterior colors are documented for the year without production counts, including Rose Mist Clearcoat Metallic and Medium Willow Green Clearcoat Metallic alongside Ebony Satin, Silver Frost, Charcoal Gray, and Toreador Red, all clearcoat finishes. Two interior colors, Medium Graphite and Saddle, are documented for the same span without counts, this record's own key facts noting that Rose Mist and Medium Willow Green are colors the source's options page does not list for later years.4
This record's own specifications section documents a 108.5-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 197.5 inches as printed in the 1996/1997 review against 198.4 inches for the generation on V8SHO.COM, a curb weight of 3,379 lb, P225/55VR16 tires, and EPA ratings of 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. Its own prices section carries a note that the 1997 base price was $26,460 in a separate review and in The Auto Channel's buyer's guide.1,2
This record's own performance section, drawn from the same 1996/1997 review, documents 0-60 mph in 8.2 seconds, a quarter-mile in 16.4 seconds at a trap speed of 86.7 mph, and a top speed of 139 mph, with the test-car model year not stated. This record's own identification section documents that the V8 SHO carries engine code N in the eighth VIN position, illustrated with an example 1997 VIN pattern rather than a 1996 one, and series 54.2,5
Fact sheet · 1996 · United States
The numbers
1996 Ford Taurus SHO — The SHO becomes a V8 automatic: a 3.4-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 and four-speed automatic, with no manual transmission offered.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taurus SHO, all3 SHO · 4-door sedan · 3.4 DOHC V8 · 4-speed automatic · all markets built | 5,033 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left-hand drive3 SHO · 4-door sedan · 3.4 DOHC V8 · 4-speed automatic · left-hand-drive markets | 4,942 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Right-hand drive (export)3 SHO · 4-door sedan · 3.4 DOHC V8 · 4-speed automatic · right-hand-drive export | 91 | built, model-year | Reported |
The left- and right-hand-drive rows partition 5,033 in the source's own table.
No colour, trim or option counts were found for 1996. The left-hand-drive figure may include Canadian cars; the US-only share is not stated.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Taurus SHO, base2 | $25,930 | base price in a period review headed 1996/1997 (destination treatment not stated), 1996 model year (test-car year not stated) |
| Preferred equipment package (on test car)2 | $1,855 | option price as listed in review, 1996–1997 |
| Leather seats2 | $1,190 | option price as listed in review, 1996–1997 |
| Six-disc CD changer2 | $595 | option price as listed in review, 1996–1997 |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| N · 3.4-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 (SHO)1,2,5 207 cu in · sequential electronic fuel injection | 235 hp @ 6,100, 230 lb-ft @ 4,800 (manufacturer rating as given by V8SHO.COM, credited to Ford Motorsports (standard not stated)); 230 hp @ 6,000, 225 lb-ft @ 4,800 (as printed in The Auto Channel review specification box (standard not stated)) | standard (only engine) | 5,0333 Reported |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| Four-speed automatic2 | standard (only transmission) | 5,0333 Reported |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
|
Rose Mist Clearcoat Metallic4 | Not yet sourced |
|
Ebony Satin Clearcoat4 | Not yet sourced |
|
Medium Willow Green Clearcoat Metallic4 | Not yet sourced |
|
Silver Frost Clearcoat Metallic4 | Not yet sourced |
|
Charcoal Gray Clearcoat Metallic4 | Not yet sourced |
|
Toreador Red Clearcoat Metallic4 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
|
Medium Graphite4 | Not yet sourced |
|
Saddle4 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement1 | 3,392 cc | SHO V8, 1996–1999 |
| Wheelbase1,2 | 108.5 in | SHO, 1996–1999 |
| Overall length2 | 197.5 in | as printed in the 1996/1997 review (V8SHO.COM gives 198.4 for the generation) |
| Curb weight2 | 3,379 lb | review test car |
| Tires2 | P225/55VR16 | SHO |
| EPA fuel economy, city2 | 17 mpg | period rating as printed in the review |
| EPA fuel economy, highway2 | 26 mpg | period rating as printed in the review |
Period road tests
| Test | Car tested | Result |
|---|---|---|
| The Auto Channel (Tom Hagin), 1996–199720-60 mph | Taurus SHO 3.4 V8, four-speed automatic; test-car model year (1996 or 1997) not stated; with preferred equipment package, leather and CD changermethod not described | 8.2 s |
| The Auto Channel (Tom Hagin), 1996–19972quarter-mile | Taurus SHO 3.4 V8, four-speed automatic; test-car model year not statedtrap speed 86.7 mph; method not described | 16.4 s |
| The Auto Channel (Tom Hagin), 1996–19972top speed | Taurus SHO 3.4 V8, four-speed automatic; test-car model year not statedmethod not described; may be a quoted figure | 139 mph |
A road test result belongs to the one car that was tested, with its engine, gearing, tires, and conditions. It is not a figure for every car of the year.
Identification
- VIN
- The V8 SHO carries engine code N in the eighth VIN position (example 1997 pattern 1FALP54N3VA100001); series 54.5
Where the sources disagree
Identification
Read a 1996 Ford VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1996
- Buick Riviera The supercharged 3800 rose to 240 hp; production 18,036 or 17,389 depending on source.
- Chevrolet Impala SS The final and largest year, 41,941 built; production ended December 13, 1996.
- Ford Thunderbird No Super Coupe: the Thunderbird was LX-only, with the 4.6 V-8 as its performance engine.
- Mercury Cougar Outside the muscle focus: 38,929 Cougars for 1996 per Wikipedia's table.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The WS6 Ram Air returns: 30,937 Firebirds, and about 2,000 WS6 Trans Ams by one uncited count.
- Pontiac Grand Prix Last year of the first W-body Grand Prix.