Ford Brings Back Mustang Boss for 2012
Friday, August 13th, 2010
2012 Ford Mustang Boss | Source: Automotive News | Click to enlarge
Industry leader Automotive News is reporting today that Ford is back in the resurrection business. Specifically, there will be a new Ford Mustang Boss speeding at us for the 2012 model year.
The 2012 Mustang Boss was revealed Friday at Laguna Seca, the same place where Parnelli Jones drove a Boss 302 to victory in the 1970 Trans-Am opening race.
This version, based on the 5.0-liter Mustang GT comes with a 440 hp V-8 engine that sports revised camshafts mated to a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission. The torque is down 10 lb-ft from the GT, resulting in 380 lb-ft of torque, but Ford says this is because the engine’s been tuned to maximize RPMs. The 2012 Boss will have a top speed of 155 mph, and will achieve more than 1 g of lateral acceleration, making it the first non-SVT model to do so. Ford says that on closed courses, the new Mustang Boss is two seconds faster than the Mustang GT.
For 2012, the Ford Mustang Boss 302 is tricked out with a grille and lower front splitter meant to invoke the same kick-ass look as the 302R race car. (The splitter reduces underbody drag and front-end lift). It’s also got blocked-off fog lamp openings and a black or white roof panel that will match the chosen side strip color. Body color options are blue, white, yellow, and classic racecar red. The interior has an Alcantara suede Boss steering well, cue-ball shifter, and a dark instrument panel, and Recaro seats (stolen from the GT500) are available as an option.
The sound of the Boss 302 was also an important design factor: the new V-8 has a quad exhaust system that makes itself known. It’s been fitted with sound discs to tone the growl down to a sedate roar, but those are removable.
According to Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer, “Boss is a hallowed word around here, and we couldn’t put that name on a new Mustang until we were sure everything was in place to make this car a worthy successor. We were either going to do it right or not do it at all – no one on the team was going to let Boss become a sticker-and-wheel package.”
Pericak isn’t kidding. Performance upgrades abound in the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 include a chassis that’s been lowered 1 mm in back and 11 mm in front (as compared to the GT), adjustable shock absorbers and struts, as well as a larger rear stabilizer bar, high-rate springs, and stiffer suspension bushings. The wheels are black 19-inch alloy racers swathed in Pirelli PZero rubber, and the braking system features four-piston Brembo calipers in front, and enhanced pad compounds in back.
Just to make you really drool, though, Ford is also planning to offer a limited edition Boss 302 Laguna Seca model with a racing aero package and a stronger chassis.