More news this morning about the best Mustang yet: Ford’s going to give owners a chance to “computer tune” their own cars, and some training to try to keep them out of the local Armco.
The horsepower rating for the 2012 BOSS Mustang is now officially 444, making this the most powerful normally-aspirated Mustang ever produced. Forget the old big-blocks; in factory tune, they didn’t come close to this mill. Owners who aren’t satisfied with this can purchase a “Track Key” from their local Ford dealer. The Track Key will enable a “race tune” with…
200 engine mapping functions as well as increased low end torque, dual stage launch control, and a lumpy idle!
Best of all, use of the Track Key won’t void your warranty. Are you listening, Nissan and Porsche? Probably not.
In tacit recognition of this hopped-up Mustang’s ability to kill its drivers in no time flat, Ford is working with Miller Motorsports Park to offer a “Track Attack” day to all purchasers. Fly in, drive one of Ford’s cars, learn to stay out of trouble. You’d be stupid not to take advantage of it, but if past factory programs of this nature are any guide, most owners won’t bother.
My love for the current Mustang is well-known, but I’ll go a step further and say that everybody who is in the market for a $40K+ performance car should consider waiting to see what the BOSS can do. You’d hate to buy an M3 or an S5 only to find the cart-axled hillbilly special walking away from you in Mid-Ohio’s Turn One…
Very nice. If the Boss comes in cheaper than a Corvette, anybody who’s not a blind loyal fan boy will have to give the Mustang a second look. Especially given the factory warranty with the Mustang. Lots of “hopped up” Camaros and Vettes out there but how many get to keep their warranty?
Camaro, not Corvette. It’s important to remember the difference between a GT car and a real sports car. The base Vette is only down 14 hp, is lighter by about 400lbs and has a far superior suspension and center of gravity. There’s little doubt who is the real “boss”, so to speak.
I would be the poster boy for “blind loyal GM fan boy” But there is this sweet little 2008 GT rag sittting at a Ford dealer in Florida. US and Canadian money at par, a cheap flight and nice drive home,,,,,,,,I am soooooo tempted.
Go for it Mikey. It’s not the power monster that the new GTs are but hey Pontiac is dead and they aren’t going to build any more Firebird convertibles…
So… That drive train would bolt into a late model Town Car, right?
*sigh*
Referencing Sajeev’s earlier “piston slap” “The REAL Swagger Wagon!”
Not sure if you are joking or not but I for one would really like to know if perhaps a more sporting engine/trans/diff from ford could fit in a town car. Seems like the drivetrain seems to be the biggest issue with comparisons to other large cars. However, as noted previously, maybe the simplicity of the drivetrain is a boon for longterm ownership.
I’ve seen a Crown Vic with a Mustang 5-speed before. That constitutes ‘sporty’ right? If not the Marauder uses a 4.6 DOHC so the new 5.0 or at the very least the 5.4 DOHC should fit in a Panther. But then again any engine will fit in any car for the right price.
Last time I checked the Ford Performance catalog, I saw a Boss crate motor that dropped into any Modular-motor Panther car.
Eating ricers (LIKE A BOSS)
Massive wheelspin (LIKE A BOSS)
Stupid power (LIKE A BOSS)
Factory warranty (LIKE A BOSS)
Continue ad nauseum.
I’ve never considered myself a “mustang man” but this is pretty awesome. The garish over the top image of a mustang is just too much for me although recent models have made me take a second look.
I wonder if it will have the 149 mph speed limiter like the GT? To have that amount of power on tap with the electronic nanny defeats the purpose of having it in the first place for me – those 3am runs down the Interstate!
So far, I’m impressed with Ford’s ability to continuously improve upon its successes. Its unlike their past track record and probably due to Alan Mulally.
I live near Fords engineering and research division and saw one of these pulling out of their parking lot about two months ago. It was orange and black like the picture (not predominantly black like mags have shown). It looks very nice.
The M3 and S5 are real cars that exude sports AND luxury from the front bumper to the rear. The Mustang is a stunning example of ‘compromise’…with styling that makes the Camry look like a Pagani, and an interior that would put Al Gore to sleep.
Add to that the ancient log out back and the severely inflated price, and you end up with your typical modern day Ford:
Over-promised and under-delivering.
Well, design is a subjective thing,and even if the Mustangs base styling is a tad on the boring side to help it sell (how many Zonda’s do Pagani sell each year?) I have a feeling most people enjoy it’s retro style. (even if the Camry is almost as good looking as it’s styling ‘original’ the Mondeo, when will the japanese stop copying?) ‘The log’ on the other hand can’t possibly be there for no other reason than to make the car more fun to experienced drivers , and add that retro-fell to it. (I can’t see it having any economical or engineering problems to build it with an IRS as the European Granada had one as early as ’72) And there’s nothing new about Ford’s being over-promising and under-delivering, as long as you understand they are cheap for a reason (when will people stop thinking it’s a bargain?). Us smart Ford guys always wait until the base model gets cheap and then rebuild it to far beyond Boss spec ;)
I own a BMW 3-series, and I’d happily take a Boss Mustang over an M3 or S5, to say nothing of the laughable offerings in the same segment from Government Motors.
As an officially designated Disgruntled Old Coot I will revel in impeding the gear heads of the herd by continuing to drive the posted speed limited. Of course, I also believe/practice the “slower traffic to the right” concept but in urban areas, especially when traffic is thick safety, at times, requires using more then the farthest-right lanes.
In town, if I need to turn left up ahead I will stay in the left lane as I determine necessary… no abrupt last minute/second moves on my part just to please childish mentalities.
Part of me actually hopes for expensive gasoline so the local hillbillies with un- and poorly muffled engines who drive in a manner consisting of constant acceleration the deceleration so as to maximize noise output will be able to afford perhaps 20 minutes maximum of driving….. forcing the anti-social brainless tumors to either drive “easier” and less noisily to maximize mpgs or maybe walk more.
If I’m understanding you correctly, in the World According to Obbop all those who don’t drive in a manner which you consider to be safe and reasonable fall into the category of childish mentalities, local hillbillies or anti-social brainless tumors (nice). You also don’t have a problem putting all drivers around you at risk while you drive unsafely to inconvenience the few who fall into your predetermined categories, identified by their choice of auto and style of driving only.
OK.
And as an officially designated Young Punk, I will enjoy continuing to pass you on the shoulder, cut you off, and proceed to my destination in an illegal and highly enjoyable manner, as I have places to go that aren’t Country Kitchen Buffet or the local bingo parlour.
Cheers. ;)
@ the repliers =O)…and I when I see you coming will simply move over in to your lane to force you to slow down and then smile and wave as you flip me off. I have places to go other than the Country Kitchen buffet as well, but generally I leave in time to get there without breaking the sound barrier. What a lame and, yes, childish, excuse. Perhaps at some point you will error but hopefully survive so you can live with consequesnces of ruining or ending someone elses life for the rest of yours.
Nice Mustang!
@Ralph SS:
That’s why I pass on the shoulder. ;)
As a 65-year-old who has been driving for nearly 50 years, I side with John Fritz and PeregrineFalcon. If I were content to drive like obbop and Ralph SS, I would have one of Steve Lang’s beaters instead of an Infiniti coupe.
I arrive 30 to 60 minutes early for work. This has nothing to do with dedication to my job. It’s the natural result of getting on the road while traffic is light enough that I can get around the slowpokes. When rolling along at 10 mph over the posted limit, I watch my rear view mirror so that I can stay out of the way of people catching up to me at 20 over. I wish the slowpokes were as courteous.
Yesterday morning, I was on I76 in northeastern Colorado. Smooth, straight road with negligible traffic. The posted limit is 75 mph. It should be 100 or more. At least, it’s not 55. That would cause me to get rid of the Infiniti and make do with a beater for the few places I absolutely cannot avoid going.
@kendahl…….I’m with you, I’m the old retired dude with a ball cap, driving an Impala. 10 -12 klms over the limit. I use my mirrors,and get out of the way if someone wants to go faster. I also know what lane to drive in.
I firmly believe if you can’t handle the pace,park it, and take the bus.
@Ralph SS: My former nextdoor neighbour drives an old Cadillac. He brags about people like you, and ramming into the back of them when they pull a stunt like that to shove them off the road. One day you’ll meet him, or someone like him.
Slow traffic move to the right, don’t hog the left lanes. Faster traffic move to the left. Don’t just pick a lane then become oblivious to what’s going on around you, or try to play traffic cop because you have a chip on your shoulder about someone passing you. That just makes you an even bigger idiot than the person who is speeding past you in the first place.
@mikey: I wish there were more courteous drivers like you (and I) on the road.
Everyone:
Please lay off the poet laureate of TTAC and sit at the Great One’s knee and be enlightened! We all have to vent some time!
What will this do the the previous year’s resale value that was supposedly special because it had substantially more power than the year before that?
what are you talking about ?
resale value on the normal 5.0 2011 Mustang will be better than the 4.6 2010 cars, of that there is no doubt.
the Boss is limited production (various numbers have been rumored, most are close to the correct number but not exactly correct) and will very likely transact over sticker in most cases. it will retain it’s value much better than a normal 5.0 Mustang.
any/all Boss owners can take advantage of the Track Key functions if they go to their dealer and purchase the Ford Racing re-flash for the ECU. resale values of the Boss should be very strong given the limited production and high demand.
so Boss > normal 5.0 > 4.6 wrt resale value and % of MSRP (or price paid) retained. nothing surprising there.
Not much power when compared to my 45 year old Corvette,and it had IRS. What is the quarter mile time? (the only thing that really matters)
Your C2’s HP rating was also in SAE gross, so you might as well just halve that when comparing to any modern ratings. Unless of course, you drive your car with no transmission or belt-driven accessories, test headers, and under ideal atmospheric conditions. :)
I worked for GM (Packard Electric) at the time , and it did have the so-called 40 horsepower headers, and a couple of other things Jim Mattison added. 405 at the flywheel. As soon as I find the part number I will post it. What do you drive? Again what is the quarter mile time?
The point being that “SAE Gross” (flywheel) ratings of yesteryear are definitely not in the slightest bit comparable to current “SAE Certified” numbers.
Quarter on the 2011 GT is in the low 13’s, I’d expect the Boss to make mid-12s.
Wow, let’s not get out of hand with the online penis measuring, Bill.
If quarter mile times truly were all that mattered, you’d be riding a bike. I think most people put quite a few things above quarter mile times, including yourself, or else you’d have sacrificed the comfort of 2 of your wheels and a roof in the quest for the fastest times.
For the record, I’d expect this new Mustang to be comfortably in the mid-12’s in the quarter mile; the regular 5.0 is reported to do it in around 12.7. I don’t know of anything mass-produced that left the factory with the ability to pull those kind of times back in the 60’s and 70’s, let alone with the safety, streetability and handling that this car is bound to have. As far as I’m concerned, that’s nothing to scoff at. Then there’s the fact that in the 60’s we were still running on leaded gas, and that fuel consumption and emissions levels were in a totally different stratosphere from today’s cars.
As has already been posted, SAE gross hp is considerably overrated compared to today’s SAE net procedures, possibly up to 25-30% according to this source: http://ateupwithmotor.com/terms-and-definitions/terms-and-definitions/47-gross-versus-net-horsepower.html
If this was all an option on the normal Mustang GT I would be very excited.
But Ford’s limited production decision means that these cars are going to sell for way over sticker and the majority will spend their lives as garage queens.
I’ll stick with the regular GT. Although it’s not like I’d have a choice anyway.
IIRC I read somewhere that this beast was going to have some magical exhaust flaps to choose between muffled and open.
If you can have more calibrations, other than stock AND covered by warranty, that’s awesome.
Is using the “red key” similar to taking the “red pill” like in Alice in Wonderland?
I’d be pretty pi$$ed if I paid 60 to $70,000 for The Ultimate Driving Machine and got my a$$ handed to me… by a Mustang?
Juniper and Others: My point was supposed to be, it is not that great of an improvement for 40 plus years. Sure the Corvette wouldn’t start on cloudy days, ate ate u-joints, but it sure was fun.
By the way ,I walk most places.
I completely agree to be honest. In the 60’s musclecars could out-accellerate the fastest supercars of the time (Astons and Ferrari’s)allthough they lacked some top speed. So to have a fairly equal evolution, musclecars of today should never use more than 4 seconds to reach 62 mph, and easily top 200mph, and still not…wait a sec , BMW, Audi and Mercedes (AMG) make the musclecars of today, allthough at a steeper price. The Mustang has realøly turned into a retro-fun-car thingy.
The market has changed. Customers were willing to accept weak brakes and suspension on their muscle cars, whereas those Astons and Ferraris and all the good handling cars were way beyond the pedestrian hardware in the 60s. The Mustang may still be a muscle car (well to a pursit a pony car never was) but the handling and braking improvements are phenomenal compared to 60’s street machines, and comparatively to the much more expensive sports cars.
0-60 Acceleration is limited by tires, less a function of HP. many 60’s muscle cars struggled to get below 7 seconds to 60 on tires of the day, while running way over 100 in the 1/4.
The EVO/STI revolution is over, Mustang is the new black.