- Ford unveils its 2012 Mustang Boss 302 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
- A Boss 302 Laguna Seca track model will also be available in limited numbers.
- Mustang Boss 302 produces 440 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque from the Mustang GT 5.0's V8.
MONTEREY, California — The Boss is back. Ford is resurrecting the Mustang Boss 302, a hallowed name among pony-car aficionados that dates to the end of the muscle-car era in 1969-'70. The automaker describes the all-new 2012 edition as "the quickest, best-handling straight-production Mustang ever offered by Ford."
Starting with a 2011 Mustang GT, Ford has upgraded the engine, suspension, brakes, wheels and tires to create an ultra-quick, retro-inspired road car. The company said it will also build a limited number of Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca track models with racing suspension, stiffer body and additional aero treatments from the Ford Racing Boss 302R.
Mustang enthusiasts may remember that Parnelli Jones took the 1970 SCCA Trans-Am season opener at Laguna Seca in a Bud Moore-prepared Boss 302, while teammate George Follmer eventually won the series championship in a companion Boss 302, knocking off the likes of Mark Donohue in the Penske Javelin, Dan Gurney in the AAR Cuda and Jim Hall in the Chaparral Chevy Camaro Z28.
The standard-issue 2012 Boss 302 is plenty potent. Ford engineers have massaged the Mustang GT's 5.0-liter V8 with a new intake, revised cams and retuned ECU to yield 440 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Power is fed to the 3.73 rear end through a short-throw, close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox with an upgraded clutch. The standard limited-slip diff can be replaced with an optional Torsen LSD.
Top speed is 155 mph.
Ford wanted to make sure Boss 302 owners could adequately hear that big V8, so they removed 11 pounds of sound-deadening insulation, retuned the intake and fitted the exhaust system with extra side pipes that exit ahead of the rear wheel openings and have "attenuation discs" (to meet noise restrictions) that can be removed for more noise.
In keeping with its racing heritage, the latest Boss 302 gets such track-inspired suspension upgrades as higher-rate coils, stiffer bushings and a larger-diameter rear bar, as well as five-way adjustable shocks that are manually tuned with the twist of a screwdriver.
Brakes have been enhanced with a high-performance pad compound, plus Brembo four-pot calipers up front and unique ABS tuning. The Boss also features unique traction- and stability-control settings that can be disabled for track use.
Ford fits Pirelli P Zero rubber — 255/40ZR19s in front, 285/35ZR19s in rear — mounted on unique black alloy racing wheels.
Engineers also retuned the Mustang's speed-sensitive electronic steering system, enabling the driver to select from comfort, normal and sport modes.
The result of all these modifications and enhancements is significant, in terms of handling and lateral acceleration: Ford says the Boss 302 is the first non-SVT Mustang to pull more than 1.0g on the skid pad.
The aerodynamic modifications to the car are surprisingly subtle. The designers blocked off the foglamp openings, added a more aggressive front splitter adapted from the Boss 302R race car, along with a unique fascia and grille, and mounted a rear deck spoiler.
To cement the connection with the original cars, the latter-day Boss 302 comes with a roof panel coordinated to the color of the side C-stripe. Competition Orange, Performance White, Kona Blue Metallic, Yellow Blaze Tri-Coat Metallic and Race Red are the exterior color choices.
The cockpit features cloth-trimmed seats with suede-like center inserts and a unique steering wheel wrapped in Alcantara. Customers also can order Recaro/SVT buckets lifted from the Mustang GT500. Other differentiators include a dark metallic finish for the instrument panel, gauge cluster and door panels, plus a black cueball shift knob and "Powered by Ford" sill plates.
Inside Line says: Now all Ford needs to do is to hire Bruce Springsteen as its advertising spokesman. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
corky18522 says:
07:37 PM, 08/23/2010
HOW MUCH! We have a fully restored 1989 Mustang GT. with a beautiful paint job and new jasper engine.
sugarlandtx says:
07:21 AM, 08/17/2010
Tell me when I can buy and pricing.
ford_flexer says:
12:05 PM, 08/16/2010
Too bad camaro trying to make things better for you but ford knocks you out the way again challenegr won't stand a chance either.
tbone85 says:
10:34 AM, 08/16/2010
Overall, the design doesn't do it for me, but there's probably a small market out there for just such a vehicle.
"typically american: lazy/cheap."
Ironic; a comment relying on stereotypes is evidence of lazy thinking. Don't know where you're from, but I'm sure it's considered ignorant and rude everywhere.
zoomzoomn says:
06:11 AM, 08/16/2010
Stripes, cool. Wheels, a bit much. Red grill trim, eh. Red roof, way too far over the top...no pun intended.
k55 says:
10:30 AM, 08/14/2010
Cant you just see it?.......
"No way .....I think I'm going to keep my 93 until Ford does it right by re releasing the Charlie's Angels Mustang II" Mine's is nearly paid off and if just put some dubs on it it will be just as good.
Now there was a classic.
kaper says:
04:41 AM, 08/14/2010
Mechanically looks superb. Hopefully they will trickle down some of these upgrades to the 5.0. Cosmetically the exterior is impossible to live with. Maybe with GT 500 wheels, a normal roof, and toned down vinyl graphics, they would have a really desirable car. It's just too pimped out, or tarted up. Also, the standard mustang colors are OK, but what a great opportunity to introduce a few new colors to the mustang line-up. It's a long foul ball, close, but not a home run.
cardesigner82 says:
12:45 PM, 08/13/2010
I'd hate to be the bearer of bad news...but that's Orange, not Red.
dc325ix says:
11:59 AM, 08/13/2010
liking the color but I agree with ns5 the wheels need something perhaps a different design as the rims dont look right for some reason
nonohonda says:
11:11 AM, 08/13/2010
Love all the tweaks and upgrades. Not feeling the color scheme though. Don't like the red or the black version. Now Grabber Blue......