2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302

The CT International Auto Show rolls into The Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford Friday, November 2^nd through Sunday , November 4^th, with hundreds of the year’s new vehicles. This week on AJ’s Car of the Day, I’ll be featuring some of the most heart pounding dream rides that you’ll be drooling over at the show. (I’ll be there Saturday , November 3^rd from 4 to 6pm. Stop by and say hello !)

The 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 is essentially a leaner, meaner version of the Mustang GT. Adding a more powerful V8, an upgraded suspension and a more aggressive and retro-flavored look creates a true sports car that is just as comfortable tearing up the track as it is cruising the strip.

The Mustang Boss 302 takes a standard 5.0-liter V8 and adds an upgraded intake system and revised engine tuning to crank out 444 horsepower ( as compared to the Mustang GT's 420 hp, that's up from 412 hp, thanks to borrowed technology from the Boss).

The Boss 302 also pumps out 380 lb-ft. of torque and couples up exclusively to an upgraded six-speed manual transmission. A 3.73 rear axle uses carbon fiber plates in its limited slip differential to put the increased power to the rear wheels. A Torsen limited slip rear differential is available - coupled with unique Recaro-designed front seats in a special upgrade package.

To pay homage to the original 1970 Boss 302 Trans-Am championship-winning car prepared by Bud Moore and driven by Parnelli Jones, Ford brought back School Bus Yellow to the color palette. Other color changes for the Boss include new Sterling Gray accents, vintage hockey stick stripes, and a gray interior rear cross-brace. Sterling Gray is also used for the front grille, mirror caps and rear pedestal spoiler, while Laguna Seca rear badging and unique two-tone gray and silver wheels round out the exterior accents.

The Boss 302 recieved the heat extractors found on the Mustang GT hood, along with the new rear fascia treatment and color-matched rocker panels. The rear fascia offers a gloss-black panel between the taillamps, along with a smoked lens housing and special Laguna Seca badging. Up front, a more aggressive splitter and unique removal foglamp-delete upper grille set the Boss apart.

Wheels are also unique to the Boss, coming in two-tone gray and silver and measuring 18 inches in diameter, nine inches wide in the front, 9.5 in the rear. The wheels are wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero tires. Those new wheels wrap around 14-inch vented rotors and Brembo calipers up front and upgraded Mustang GT brakes with high performance pads out back. The ABS system has also been modified.

Its intake system has also been re-engineered to provide a throatier growl under hard acceleration, while a unique quad exhaust system made up of two standard Mustang GT outlets and two side pipes that exit on either side of the rear crossover. The side pipes send the exhaust through a set of metal discs to create an extra growling exhaust sound.

The Boss 302 takes the Mustang GT's standard suspension and adds higher-rate coil springs, stiffer bushings, adjustable shocks and springs and a larger diameter rear stabilizer bar. The body is lowered up front and out big to give it a more raked stance designed to recall the original. In addition, Ford modified the electric power steering for enhanced feedback and feel. Unlike other Mustangs, the Boss 302 allows drivers to select one of three steering settings in the instrument cluster menu - Comfort, Normal and Sport.

The standard Mustang traction and stability control programs have been altered with a new intermediate sport mode designed to allow for a little more flexibility on the track. One awesome new feature for 2013 is a 4.2-inch LCD screen loaded with Track Apps, which enable the driver to monitor performance measures such as g-forces and shows acceleration and braking times. Additionally, the Ford SYNC connectivity system now comes standard on the Mustang Boss 302.

Boss 302's are available in Competition Orange, Performance White, Kona Blue Metallic, Yellow Blaze Tri-Coat Metallic and Race Red, all of which either offer a black or white roof panel coordinated to the C-stripe along the side.

A special rear spoiler complements the look but also minimizes drag. The aero package is almost entirely copied from the Boss 302R race car.

Inside, the Boss 302 gets Alcantara trim on a unique steering wheel, cloth and suede-like standard seats, a dark metallic instrument panel finish and a black pool cue-style shift lever. The aforementioned optional Recaro seats have been lifted from the GT500.

The Boss won't be quite as quiet inside around town thanks to the reduced sound deadening. Quite a potent ride...one I wouldn't mind checking out first hand...that's for certain!

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