| Year
(of specifications) |
2012 |
| Engine |
5.0
litre V8 naturally aspirated |
| Transmission |
6
speed manual RWD |
| Max
speed |
155
mph |
| 0-60
mph |
- |
| Horsepower |
440
horsepower |
| weight |
3,631
lbs |
There are a few names and special edition models which are synonymous
with the Mustang badge, the Mach 1, Shelby, and the Boss 302
to name but a few. Amazingly it's been 42 years since the last
Boss 302 was launched, and in that time it's become one of the
most highly prized models for Mustang collectors. So to say
the new Boss 302 is overdue, is one hell of an understatement.
Upon its return, the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 is set to become
the quickest, best-handling, straight-off-the-production-line,
road-legal Mustang ever offered by Ford.
Based on the new Ford Mustang
GT - itself already a strong performer - the new Boss 302
will get upgraded components in almost every area including;
drivetrain, brakes, suspension, interior and exterior.
The design and engineering team for the new Mustang Boss 302
set their sites extremely high when planning the car. In fact
they aim to take on one of the worlds best and most praised
sports coupes in terms of performance.
"The decision to build a modern Boss was not entered
into lightly," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president,
Global Product Development. "The entire team at Ford
felt the time was right and with the right ingredients, the
world-class 2011 Mustang could support a successful, race-bred,
worthy successor to the original Boss 302. For us that meant
a production Mustang that could top one of the world's best
- the 2010 BMW M3 - in lap times
at Laguna Seca. We met our expectations." - It'll
be interesting to see if independent tests can replicate the
same results!
Drivetrain
Powering the new Mustang Boss 302 is a 5.0 litre V8 borrowed
from the Mustang GT. However the engine has been extensively
worked over to increase power output - which now stands at 440hp.
Modifications to the V8 include a redesigned air intake manifold,
CNC machined intake and exhaust ports, more aggressive camshafts
- which still offer a smooth idle, recalibrated ECU, lightened
valve train components, race specification crankshaft main and
rod bearings, forged aluminium pistons, upgraded connecting
rods, and a new exhaust system which has been tuned to give
a distinctive and powerful exhaust note.
The engine has been designed to be reliable as well as potent.
In fact one of the tests they did was run the engines in Mustang
302R race cars in a simulation equivalent to running the Daytona
250 race flat-out more than 175 times - in a row. Another test
simulated 1,500 back-to-back, full-power, quarter-mile drag
races. Despite the massive performance, the engineering team
behind the Mustang Boss 302's engine claim that it'll easily
handle 150,000 miles of hard driving.
Suspension
The suspension system of the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 has
also been revised, and is an upgraded version of the one found
in the Mustang GT. It features stiffer springs at all four corners,
stronger bushings, a larger diameter rear stabilizer bar, a
11 mm reduction in ride height at the front, and a whopping
1 mm reduction at the rear - that's about as thin as your fingernail!
The suspension system's real party trick is its adjustability.
"We've given drivers five settings for their shocks,"
said Brent Clark, supervisor of the Mustang vehicle dynamics
team. "One is the softest, two is the factory setting
and five is the firmest, and we've provided a wide range of
adjustment. A customer can drive to the track on setting two,
crank it up to five for improved response on the track, then
dial down to one for a more relaxed ride home. What's unique
is that drivers will find – thanks to the way the suspension
works as a complete system – the softest setting isn't
too loose and the firmest setting isn't too controlled; each
step just provides additional levels of control."
The shock adjustment is done manually - so you can't just flick
a switch on the dash. Ford have chosen this method to reduce
weight (and cost). To change the settings you just simply twist
the adjustment screw at the top of each shock tower to dial
in your chosen setting.
Brakes and Wheels
The new Ford Mustang Boss 302 is equipped with Brembo four piston
calipers up front, which bite onto 14 inch (355mm) ventilated
discs. At the rear the car is fitted with more or less the same
setup as found on the Mustang GT, but for a bit more stopping
power the pads have been exchanged in favor of higher-friction
units.
The 19 inch lightweight alloy wheels of the 2012 Boss 302 are
unique to the car. Colored black, they are wrapped in Pirelli
PZero tires. The front wheels are 9 inches wide, while the rear
wheels measure in at 9.5 inches in width.
Styling
The Ford Mustang Boss 302 is set apart from the rest of the
Mustang range by its unique exterior styling. Each car gets
either a black or white roof panel, matched to the color of
the side C-stripe. The exterior colors on offer are; Competition
Orange, Performance White, Kona Blue Metallic, Yellow Blaze
Tri-Coat Metallic and Race Red.
Up front the car 2012 Boss 302 gets a new grille and facia,
and a lower front splitter. The front splitter is designed to
improve airflow around and under the car to reduce lift.
At the rear of the car is a new rear spoiler which is designed
to compliment the car's lines and improve the overall aerodynamics.
"What we were after on Boss was reduced overall lift
with improved balance," said Dave Pericak, chief engineer
of the Ford Mustang. "We needed to keep the car glued
to the street or the track at high speeds without increasing
drag or affecting top speed and fuel usage. The end result is
an aero package that uses front, rear and underbody treatments
not for show, but for effect – the balance and stability
of this car all the way to its 155-mph top speed is just outstanding."
Similar and related vehicles:
Ford Mustang Boss 302S
Ford Mustang GT 5.0 (2011)
Ford Mustang GT (2010)
Ford Mustang GT
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