Ford Motor Company had worked with Yamaha Motor Corporation to develop the compact DOHC V6 Ford SHO V6 engine for the 1989 Ford Taurus SHO. When the time came to replace that engine, the company again worked with Yamaha to build a new V8 based on their successful Duratec V6. This partnership created the 3.4 L V8 for the 1996 Taurus SHO. That engine went out of production after 1999, but was resurrected by Ford's Volvo Cars marque for use in the Volvo XC90 SUV in 2005.
Now at 4.4 L, the V8 engine is unique in Ford's wide range of V8 engines in that it is designed for transverse use and has a V6-like 60° bank angle.
SHO V8
The V8 SHO appeared in Spring of 1996. It was at 3.4 L and continued many of the traits of the SHO V6, including the all-aluminum construction, 4-valve per cylinder DOHC design, and a variable length intake manifold. Power was similar too, at 235 hp (175 kW) and 230 ft.lbf (312 Nm) of torque. This version was retired in 1999 since the new Duratec 30 and Vulcan V6s were at nearly the same power level.
Bore and stroke were identical to the Duratec 25 at 82.4 mm and 79.5 mm, respectively. The engines shared other traits as well, and insiders report that the designs are related, though not closely.
Manufacturing was also a shared process. Ford manufactured the aluminum engine blocks at their Windsor, Ontario plant, then shipped them to Japan for finishing by Yamaha. The finished engines were shipped back to the Taurus plant in Atlanta, Georgia for installation.
Volvo V8
Volvo plans to begin offering the 4.4 L V8 version of this engine in its large P2 platform automobiles in 2005. The engine will be made by Yamaha in Japan and will initially be offered in the Volvo XC90 SUV. Other vehicles likely to get the V8 engine include the Volvo S80, Volvo XC70, and a future Lincoln all wheel drive luxury car.
The engine is a 4.4 L aluminum DOHC V8 which produces 311 hp (232 kW) and 325 ft.lbf (441 Nm). Officials of all three companies involved insist that the Volvo V8 is not related to the SHO engine, but insiders dispute this claim.
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