Basically the GenI front end and sideskirts are dead giveaways. The GenI is just overall a little more boxy. Here are the differences from year to year:
from
www.superhighoutput.com
Year-by-Year Changes
By Member: kjw86ca
1989 - came with the "basket weave" rims. A couple rare Taurus SHO's came with black basket weaves this year. Only available in MTX.
1990 - New dash introduced, new gauge cluster, steering wheel with air bag, new electronic EATC.
1991 - saw the addition of the SHO Plus model. It had a fiberglass hood, 24 Valve DOHC emblems on the side, and the first year of the body colored "TAURUS" logo on the trunk lid, many received updated rod shifter.
1992 - New body style ONLY available with a manual. Power still came from a 3.0L 24 Valve DOHC V6. Body colored "TAURUS" logo on the back, "SHO" stamped into rear bumper and "SHO" stamped into the sides. "24V DOHC" emblems now standard on all SHO fenders. 1992 had dual turn down style exahust tips. No spoiler, updated dash and interior panels, many characteristics of gen 1 still.
1993 - Despite being redesigned for 1992, 1993 saw a lot of changes. The interior was upgraded to an even better design, with a much nicer center console, a smoother steering wheel. I'm pretty sure 1993 had a standard passenger side air bag also. Exahust tips were changed to come straight out from under the bumper, and I beliver a spoiler became standard equpitment. This was also the first year of the SHOmatic. (Thats what motor trend called it...) This engine had 220 HP, 220 ft/lb torque. It came from a 3.2L 24V DOHC V6.
1994 - Different sway bar combinations, new computer for ATX, tweeking done to ATX transmission to improve durability. Body color door handles.
1995 - Last year of the V6 SHO.
1996 - Introduction of the oval Taurus. SHO was not introduced until a few months into the 1996 run. In the mean time, the gen 2 bodystyle SHO was still sold. The 1996 SHO came with a Ford/Yamaha designed 3.4L 32 Valve DOHC V8. Almost 240 HP (I think around 237 to be exact.) Ford prints that the engine has 235 HP, and 230 ft/lb torque, however. Only available in ATX. Came with a JBL sound system, big oval dual exahust tips, and a very rare cloth interior. They mostly all had leather. Also a cool little "PRND21" selector on the instrument cluster.
1997- Pretty much everything stayed the same.
1998-New "crystal" turn signals are put on the cars. I think late 1998's had a "black out" style headlight. Sound system changed to MACH audio. Rear turn signals changed to red instead of amber.
1999-LOTS of options taken out. No rear cup holders, no door trim, no pockets in the backs of the seats, no access to 2nd gear on the transmission selector, gauges changed to count by 20's instead of 10's. Came with blacked out headlights. Last year of the SHO. 1989-1999 RIP:-(.
