The Taurus SHO is back, and it’s bigger, and more powerful than ever before.

This week, I got the keys to the new 2010 Taurus SHO. It’s a perk of the job that we get to drive some really cool factory hot rods before they’re unleashed on the rest of the world, and this is the latest and greatest of the new crop. Back in our October issue, we told you all about Ford’s new EcoBoost 3.5L V-6. It’s got twin turbochargers, it’s intercooled, and it makes 365 hp on 89 octane, thanks to direct injection technology. The new Taurus SHO has the EcoBoost under the hood, and it drives all four wheels through an equally impressive 6-speed automatic transmission.

There’s a lot to cover here, so I’m going to break this up into several daily blogs, starting with the overall appearance. From looking at pictures, it’s hard to get a feel for how large the new Taurus is. If you’re basing your opinion of the 2010 model on how large previous models were, don’t. This thing is big, and rather tank-like. I don't have the exact numbers, but we're talking well north of two tons. The belt line is high, and draws from the Chrysler 300C trick bag of a high belt line and a short greenhouse, only more subtle.

I like the appearance overall, but favor the side, rear, and rear three-quarter views more than the front. In a way, it’s opposite of the new Mustang, which has a beautiful nose, but a frumpy rearend. The slab-sided body is a love-it-or-hate-it deal, but given the large 20-inch wheels, it's on the right side of being proportional. In my opinion, no 2010 Taurus should come with anything smaller.

Getting inside for the first time, I was absolutely floored. I thought I was getting into the cockpit of a fighter jet. This thing is really cool. A massive, swept-back center stack is filled with goodies like HVAC, satellite radio, and displays. The materials and textures are cutting edge, and it feels like being in the lap of luxury. This thing even has a butt massager. No kidding. I pushed one of the buttons to adjust my seat, and the seat cushion started throbbing slowly! If the badging didn't say "Ford" you would swear you were in a Lincoln, or even something nicer.