Ford builds new Boss Mustang

Blue Oval confirms high performance hardcore Mustang Boss 302.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Tom Phillips

18th August 2010

The Boss is back! Forty-two years after the original Boss Mustang hit the road and won on the track in the USA, Ford has announced a hardcore performance version of the American market Mustang bearing the Boss name.

In the past, Ford has been guilty of churning out Mustangs which look the part but don’t perform. But the Boss is different. According to Mustang chief engineer Dave Pericak, "The Boss 302 isn't something a Mustang GT owner can buy all the parts for out of a catalog or that a tuner can get by adding a chip. This is a front-to-back re-engineered Mustang with every system designed to make a good driver great and a great driver even better."

Based on the Mustang GT, the Boss gets Ford’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8. Thanks to a new air intake, more aggressive camshafts and a retuned ECU power climbs from 406bhp to 434bhp. The car is only available with a close-ratio manual gearbox, and a limited slip diff is standard.

To ensure the Boss sounds the part, the car gets a novel quad exhaust layout with two pipes exiting at the side of the car, and two at the rear. The suspension has been thoroughly upgraded too, with new anti-roll bars, adjustable dampers and stiffer springs.

To compliment the mechanical changes, the Boss gets retro-style decals, a special bodykit featuring a front splitter and rear wing, and 19-inch alloys.

Ford will also make a limited run special version of the car. Called the Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca edition, the car features race-spec suspension, no rear seats, and a more pronounced bodykit. The name is a reference to the Laguna Seca track in California, where the Boss Mustang was benchmarked favourably against the BMW M3.

What Next

For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift!

< Previous Next >

6 Comments

Yak!

It looks like something my grandson would draw, and he isn't two yet! What is it with Yank cars? Why are they still building these old fashioned monsters? So, they have (so-called) great engines in them; high BHP, Lbs Ft Torque... but they are still crap built, pish poor fuel economy... why bother?
Look at the side profile of picture three. It could just as well be a picture from the 70's or 80's. I bet some modded Subaru would beat it. Lame old Same old.

By bob809 on 19 August, 2010, 12:50pm

Gorgeous!

Fantastic looking car! these so called old fashioned monsters are so much individual and stylish than 99% of their anonymous Jap/Koren/Euro box counterparts. Although I do agree with the 'generally' poor fuel economy of US cars.

By parsley on 19 August, 2010, 1:22pm

UK Model

Despite bob809's comments, I am sure that if the Mustang (coupe and conv) were to come over to the UK, they would do very well - particularly if kept at the same type of price as in the US. I just do not understand why they do not bring them over here? Even if available at Ford dealers still in LHD, I am sure they would get a good following - its so expensive to have to bring one over from the US and the specialist companies that do have significantly increased prices compared with the original price-tag in the US. Of course a RHD would probably turn it into a very popular sports car - and lets face it, Ford could do with one of those rather than messing with Capri's etc that all look like the focus / fiesta. The GT500 could easily compete with the Nissan, Mitsubishi, Jag & Scooby given the attractive price tag. So, come on Ford - start selling the Mustang GT Convertible in the UK (in any form) via Ford dealers at a good price, and I will be one of the first to order one.

By dsc25 on 19 August, 2010, 2:40pm

These are great cars.

I'm going to have to disagree with bob809. Sure- I'm an American but I used to be the first to stand up and say Ford built crappy cars. But as far as the US spec models they've really improved the quality drastically. So much that I'd gladly trade in my Toyota for just about anything they build these days. I've driven the latest Mustang and for starters the car is very solidly built. It also gets surprisingly good fuel economy for both the V6 and V8 models. My V8 version was getting 32MPG on average, which is amazing given the same car with a V8 got maybe 12-15 MPG a few years ago.

By setharp4 on 19 August, 2010, 5:57pm

About American Cars

To those among my lovely British cousins who denigrate American automobiles, let me paraphrase Dr. Frankenfurter in The "Rocky Horror Picture Show:"

"We don't build 'em for YOU!"

By Carl_Dunn on 19 August, 2010, 10:23pm

Agree with Carl_Dunn, not Bob809

Have driven a 2011 Mustang GT last month while in the States. Would love to see it here in Scandinavia sold directly through local Ford dealers. It's a real sweetheart of a car, powerful, muscular, well built and fuel efficient to boot.!!! These current American Ford offerings are nothing like the what the old perceptions of American cars were. Get current Bob809 and drive a new Ford Mustang before you spew out nonsense and untruths.

By mikkoo on 20 August, 2010, 1:04pm

You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join.