Ford has caught the legend with the ’12 Boss 302

Mustang Monthly ^ | N ovember, 2011 issue | Donald Farr

[AAABEST]

About the same price as a Chevy Volt:

ENGINE/DRIVE TRAIN
Race-spec camshaft and bearings
Twin, independent variable camshaft timing
Torsen 3.73 limited slip differential
Beefed up clutch
Short-shift gear box
CNC machined intake, exhaust ports and combustion chamber
High strength aluminum, CNC ported (exhaust and intake) heads
Forged pistons, rods and crankshaft
Heavy-duty valve springs
Sodium filled exhaust valves
Lightened valve components to withstand higher RPMs
Daytona type intake manifold
Quad exhaust
Improved oil delivery to include cooling system and baffling (8 quarts synthetic)
Larger radiator with improved internals

SUSPENSION/STEERING/CHASIS
Five position, driver adjustable shocks and struts
Improved larger front and rear stabilizers
Performance rated coil springs
Improved, stiffer suspension bushings
Re-tuned speed-sensitive electric steering system – three adjustable settings
Four piston Brembo braking system with performance pads, vented brake shields and reinforced brake-lines
Aerodynamic racing splitter
Lower ride height (11mm front, 1mm rear)
19" lightweight painted aluminum wheels w/ Pirelli P-Zeros (staggered - 9" front/10" rear)
Track key: automatically adjusts hundreds of engine parameters to racetrack calibration

PERFORMANCE
444 HP - with no turbo/forced induction

7,500 RPM redline (stable to 8,400)

0-60 3.93 seconds
[a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5eBwqiqMPU">YouTube video

1/4 mile: 12.3 seconds @ 115.8 MPH

Capable of 1+ lateral G

Laguna Seca lap times: Mustang GT 500 1:44.32
BMW M3 1:42.96
Audi R8 1:40.75 BOSS 302 1:40.21

Motor Trend at Laguna Seca Raceway:
BOSS Beats BMW M3, Corvette Z06, Mercedes SLS AMG, Porsche Cayman, Porsche 997 Carrera, V12 Aston Martin, Shelby GT 500.
LINK

Bests 6.2 liter Camaro SS lap time by over 2 seconds at New Jersey Motorsports Park
YouTube Video

Destroys 424 HP Camaro SS on 1 mile straight-drag:
BOSS 33.11 seconds/150.16 MPH
Camaro SS 35.54 seconds/146.32 MPH
YouTube Video

[2banana]

I am more of a Shelby guy myself...:-)

But one good looking car.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I want one.

[Mannaggia l'America]

Nice.... I’m starting to think about which of my 4 kids doesn’t really need to go to college...

[AlmaKing]

Yeah, but can I put a car seat in it for my 4 year old?

[Quickgun]

Dang,My kids are already out of college.....What does a kidney bring these days? I have 2.........

[Mr. K]

This is great looking but it looks too much like the old ones- it should have SOME modern look to it- like computer generated graphics or something.

It is like hearing a remake of an old song that you used to love and the new band merely does it the exact same way (like a garage band copy) instead of adding their own unique sound to it.

[LasVegasMac]

Very cool.

Great show on Speed about this whole program awhile back - great.

[Stevenc131]

The original Boss 302 engine was way underrated for insurance purposes at 290hp like a lot cars back then. Various folks have put the 1969 Z28 Camaro on dynamometers, and the Chevy 302 has cranked out around 400 gross hp using the calculation methods of the time. Of course horsepower was calculated differently back then and today’s horsepower ratings are much more conservative, meaning the 2012 Boss engine is much more powerful than the original.

The original Boss 302s, Z28 Camaros and the AAR Cudas weren’t built for drag racing, but from a rolling start they would eat up a lot of cars with bigger engines, as a lot of unwary street racers found out when they pulled up beside one cruising around town.

The new fuel regulations are going to kill off automobiles as we know them, and sooner than most realize. Cars like the Boss 302 will be viewed as the high water mark for the internal combustion engine. Burn those tires while you still can!

[pgkdan]

Me too but my wife probably won’t let me trade in my new Taurus.

[Nervous Tick]

>> 444 HP - with no turbo/forced induction...7,500 RPM redline (stable to 8,400)... 0-60 3.93 seconds

That doesn’t sound very “green” to me. Who would buy such a thing when they could have a Volt instead?

;-)

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My ‘66 396 rat motor was rated at 375 horsepower by Chevrolet. My insurance man knew better...

[LasVegasMac]

The fist year that Shelby took over sponsorship of the Nascar race here was just incredible.

Various models of the Mustang on display everywhere - from 500 to 900 Hp.

Salesmen right there to, ready to take your order (Shelby facility right next to track)!

If I remember right, the pace car had as many ponies under the hood as the race cars did...850+.

That was an awesome day.

[CrazyIvan]

Keep the computers out of styling! I worked in computer design for several years and can look at some late model cars and recite the commands used to draw their shape. To me, the computer just does not produce appealing shapes. I’ll design and stress test the connecting rods with Solidworks, then gladly step asside and let an artist do the styling in clay.

[martin_fierro]

We interrupt this punchbowl to introduce a turd.

[StAnDeliver]

Sweet

[Mr. K]

I understand what you are saying, I just wish something about this said “2012 model” - it looks like it could be a direct copy of the older ones.

[Sybeck1]

302 same as 5.0???

[blackie]

Love it, I’ll take one!

Fords rock!!

[CrazyIvan]

I understand what you are saying, I just wish something about this said “2012 model” - it looks like it could be a direct copy of the older ones.

Just reviewed my post to you and it sounded kind of “in your
face” Sorry. It seems like there are two schools on this.
The retro cars are either as close as possible, or more of a
trubute to the original. The first retro Charger looked
nothing like the original to me. The new model looks like it
was meant to recall the original, but not duplicate it.