We had an idea that today would be a big day for Ford Motor Company and the new 5.0-powered Mustangs when an announcer at a recent Grand Am raced slipped up and stated that Ford would debut the Boss 302 street version this week. A few minutes ago, Ford made it official – the Boss is back – and Ford intends for the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 to be the ‘quickest, best-handling straight-production Mustang ever offered by Ford’. In addition to the 2012 Boss 302, Ford is offering the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca package for those who want a more track-ready version of the new Boss 302. (click here for full details on the Laguna Seca package).
The root of the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 is the same 5.0L V8 from the 2011 Mustang GT but some special modifications have upped the power to 440 horsepower and 380lb-ft of torque. First, the Boss 302 features an enlarged intake manifold that works in conjunction with more aggressive camshafts and a tune that optimizes power without hurting regular drivability. The engine air intake system has been designed to maximize air flow and the Boss features an exhaust system like no other production Mustang – adding flow and sound like no other factory Mustang before.
The 5.0L feeds the exhaust flow through a quad-tipped system with two of those tips exiting at the rear of the car similar to the current 2011 Mustang GT but the 2012 Boss 302 includes an extra set of exhaust tips that exit in front of the rear wheels. These auxiliary tips along the side of the car include a set of discs to quiet the side-exit exhaust but if you want supreme sound from your stock 2012 Boss 302, those discs can be removed. Also, the side pipe portion of the Boss exhaust is sized to match up with “cutouts” that vent exhaust more easily along with adding a ton of sound to the new Boss Mustang. (this unique exhaust setup can be viewed in the gallery to the right)
The big news, literally, for the 2011 Mustang is the resurrection of the 5.0-liter, 302-cubic-inch V-8, a 412-horsepower engine that replaces the 2010′s comparably anemic 315-horse, 4.6-liter. But the bigger deal, arguably, is the Mustang’s all-new base motor, a 3.7-liter V-6 that — thank you, Ford! — at long last puts to rest the rudimentary 4.0-liter six that dates back more than four decades. Now, if 40-plus years doesn’t sound like much, think of it this way: Engine years are like dog years. Do you think if Fido were 42, he’d be tugging very hard on the leash?
