1996 Ford Taurus Sho - Vector Performance - American Car

Despite its fresh, sophisticated, 235-horse V-8, the new Ford Taurus SHO has surrendered the title of America's Sport Sedan to the faster, cheaper Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. Now, Vector Performance has taken a hurried initial step-the parts on our tester were all early-development prototypes-in a program to put the SHO back on top.

Limited modifications start with a "catalyst-back" Borla Performance stainless steel exhaust system that lets the world enjoy the 60-degree DOHC V-8's distinctive and exotic voice. For fade resistance in repeated high-speed stops, Vector installed Baer Racing's Baer Claw Track braking system up front: 13-inch (up 1.4 inches over stock) vented, cross-drilled rotors and two-piston PBR calipers. The stock rear rotors are cross-drilled to enhance their appearance. Beefy 245/45ZR17 Goodyear Eagle GS-Cs on stock-width 17x8.0 Fittipaldi Polaris aluminum wheels replace original-equipment 225/55VR16 Eagle RS-A's and give the SHO both a tauter ride and a more aggressive posture.

This near-$6000 package needs-and deserves-more development time. Compared with a stock '96 SHO, the modified car's 8.2-second 0-60-mph run was 0.7-second slower, while its 16.1-second, 88.3-mph quarter-mile performance fell behind by 0.4 second and 0.3 mph. Also, the combination of the SHO's high-geared automatic transmission, which upshifted well short of the redline, and its 32-valve V-8, which is sluggish at low revs, produced leisurely acceleration. On the other hand, the Vector SHO cut six feet from the stock version's 60-0-mph stopping distance, down to a brief 122 feet, and never faded despite heavy road-course abuse. A slim 0.02g skidpad enhancement moved lateral acceleration to 0.82 g, while the altered SHO gained a slender 0.3 mph in the slalom to reach 63.9 mph-all in all, decent gains for only a wheel and tire upgrade.

The Vector SHO looks and sounds like a world-class sport sedan, but this SHO needs more go to wrest the American Sport Sedan crown from the GTP. MT looks forward to driving the car again later in its evolution.-Mac DeMere

'97 Ford Taurus shoEngine: 3.4-liter DOHC V-8Major engine modifications:Borla Cat-Back exhaustHorsepower @ rpm:204 @ 6250 (est.)Torque, lb-ft @ rpm:204 @ 5000 (est.)Transmission: Stock 4-speed auto.Brakes, f/r: Baer Racing vented discs/stock discs, ABSWheels, in: Fittipaldi Polaris, 17x8.0Tires: Goodyear Eagle GS-C,245/45ZR17Other mods: NoneModifications and labor: $5984

NeuspeedVolkswagen JettaElevating the performance of Volkswagens has been the Neumann family's business for 21 years. Thus, it was no surprise that its company, Neuspeed, delivered a balanced performance package built from its full catalog of proprietary go-fast parts: Neuspeed injected a livelier character into the sporty Jetta GLX without compromising the factory feel

Targeting aggressive street driving, Neuspeed upgraded the suspension with its sport lowering springs, heavy-duty Neuspeed/Bilstein shocks, upgraded front and rear anti-roll bars, and upper strut tie bar. Replacing the 15x6.5-inch factory rolling stock are Borbet Type M 16x7.5-inch wheels wrapped with 205/45ZR16 Pirelli P7000s ($1436 total).

The moderate lowering gives the boxy Jetta a more aggressive stance and the handling to match. Darting through the slalom at 69.3 mph and rounding the skidpad at 0.85 g, the Neuspeed Jetta showed a massive improvement over the stock GTI VR6, which recorded a best of 65.6 mph and 0.80 g, respectively. Stainless steel brake lines provide a positive pedal feel and helped the car stop in a brief 124 feet with the stock disc brakes.