2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302: The Legend is Back!

"The Ford Mustang Boss 302 is back. And... it's... awesome. If a bit tacky."

If by "a bit tacky" you really mean "awesome, and also, totally rad" then I agree with you 100%.

Love the way the car looks!

@lostboyz

If you want to give it for free then why the hell not.

Stop doing this to me Ford! I have sworn off debt!

I don't really like the red wheels.

the laguna seca model needs to be dropped about 1-1.5". the splitter looks too far off the ground. i'm sure it still has some mild aerodynamic effect, but it just looks fake.

Hmmm, I don't think it is tacky at all and I'm no fan of Mustangs. Seems to me this car should be loud and distinctive and should somewhat resemble the original bosses with the stripes and graphics. I think this is no more tacky then a lime green 911 GT3 RS, or are those exempt from criticism?

tourian: Did you mention a 911 GT3 RS in a Mustang Forum?????????? LOLOL
I'd take a GT3RS in hot Pink any day of the week.

About this car though..I'm impressed. Two questions..how much less does it weigh and how much more does it cost over the regular 5.0? Regardless, the ideas are good. Paint job is kinda wierd but still. Someone at Ford deserves a raise. That person gets it. I'm sure that person also is trying to figure out how to get IRS into the car without blowing up the price. As soon as that happens the Stang would be officially legit in my book.

"I think this is no more tacky then a lime green 911 GT3 RS, or are those exempt from criticism?"

Exempt. The 911 looks like a frog and thus should be painted to match.
-mm

To clarify: The tacky part is the red/black grille/roof. In silver and orange....wow....

Looks like a good addition to the long term blog...

Really, really love the technical aspects, but I am not a fan of the graphics/color scheme. Although, the orange w/ black and black w/ silver don't seem bad.

I know its a personal thing, but it would be nice if they provided a "badge delete" option for this package.
And I am one of those people that think the "stock" GT3 RS is gaudy. However, most rs' I see on the street and in showrooms have been painted per owner's spec, which usually deletes the "highlight" colors. (yeah I am lucky that I actually see these driving around).

Perhaps a Bullitt edition with the same performance?

not a fan of the wheels, but it's going to be a collector's item.

Please let the next press release reveal that there's a "no-cost decal-delete" option. Are they serious?
I'd be embarassed even owning a Hot Wheels toy car that looks like these do.

I just personally don't like all of the tape all over the car. I'll take a Grabber Blue GT, no Cali Package. I like the exterior to be plain and simple. I'll spend the extra money on engine mods.

I'm sure these will fit nicely in Ford's CAFE plans going forward.

boxermike - I'm glad someone else makes those jokes.

Very cool, but I would be happy with the normal 5.0. I can't wait to drive one!

The the graphics on the black car aren't my cup of tea, but I like the orange one a lot.

Hmm . . . 28HP more with 10lbs less torque. I would take a standard Mustand with the 5.0 instead. Besides that front splitter just kills the looks of it for me.

I'm not too crazy about the exterior but I like the interior (Recaro seats too). 28HP (440HP) more. More than the regular Corvette? Is that right? A new Bullit edition will be fine for me.

Shelby GT500 still more expensive, right?

The black and silver model hinted at in the 4th photo might look okay.

If they make a white one with blue stripes I would buy one. Childhood dream car was a 70 Boss 302.

love the specs, hate the color schemes.

love the specs, hate the color schemes.

Ford is on a roll! 302 looks fantastic. Not a fan of the red roof but the black roof version looks very nice.

I'm actually a bit disappointed.
Ford has, in production, a brand new 7.0L (429!) motor CALLED the boss. I was totally expecting to see a 429 CJ Boss. Maybe they're saving it for the Mach 1.

Yawwnnn! These arent news. Just another mustang to get its ass whooped by the camaro z-28. btw, whats with the hot wheels toy appearance? seems to me like the guys over at ford need to grow up a bit more.

"If by "a bit tacky" you really mean "awesome, and also, totally rad" then I agree with you 100%. "

Its American- what did you expect them to say? Anything that is too American looking gets panned by IL. Why buy this when you can get a 3 series with a dull interior for the same money? Not everyone wants a dull looking high performance car. If you want that M3s are easy to find.

That's just too easy.

Damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Orange model is quite nice. The red/black and silver/red are high on the tackiness factor I would say.

To quote Rob Schneider from the Water Boysthe Camaro Development team just put out an official response:

"Oh no we SUCK again!"

"Orange model is quite nice. The red/black and silver/red are high on the tackiness factor I would say."

Agreed. The orange car nails the retro vibe almost exactly.

Well... I want to see more pictures of all their color options. Otherwise I give it a tepid "meh".

+1 1487 :)

C'mon guys, don't you ever want to own a completely loud, obnoxious, and very head-turning weekend car??? This bad boy fits that bill to the letter. Ford can do something like this because everyone likes to be nostalgic from time to time and the Mustang has an amazing history to draw from. Good move Ford. So many people have waited for this to show up and you delivered. I'd buy one if I really wanted to be in debt for the rest of my 20s.

@ xxxchevyguyxxx: You know that at the Z-28's predicted price point and performance that it puts itself up against the GT500 right? They have photos of prototypes testing with a Shelby on this site.

That thing is a beast!!!!! Let's see what Jack Roush and Saleen do with it!

The orange one is different from the black one. The orange one has different wheels, and a smaller front splitter. Both of which I much prefer over the black one.

What's the point of the blocked of foglamp area? I prefer it with the foglamps plus they already provide the block off.

Oh yeah, the rear wing is smaller on the orange Stang.

Love the color combos! Reminds me of the victory hammer s!

car and driver points out the differences.

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/10q3/2012_ford_mustang_boss_302_boss_302_laguna_seca-official_photos_and_info

Nice concept, but ditch the tacky painted inserts on the wheels. Too girly...

Holy Bat wings! Does it come with a voucher to pay for your 1st Speeding Ticket. That paint /decal combo has CLOCK ME stamped all over it.

I'll wait for a Dark Green Bullitt version.

ok, I gotta say I'm disappointed with this Edmunds news release. All the other car sites I looked at (motortrend, caranddriver, roadandtrack) provide far more information with many more pics.

What gives?

I was hoping for a new rear facia on the 2012. Otherwise, the non-Laguna Seca version looks great. Not a fan of the red wheels.

So this has 10 less(?!?!?!) lb-ft of torque than the base Mustang GT ???

Happy Dance!

HAHAHA....If its too American it gets criticized? What a weak, weak argument.

redlegg and 1487

-1

The Orange and black is fine the other is crap.

So the weight loss was a grand total of 11 pounds? Would be better as 10 x 11 at the very least :)

Maybe the laguna seca with recaros everybody is talking about will lessen the pork a bit.

It isn't an SVT product, and A Boss, let alone the best BOSS ever should have had fifteen years of SVT written all under it. (And an independent control blade rear end with that Torsen standard...but I digress...)

This is the sort of mostly sticker and gingerbread that Coletti warned us about...

It leaves me cold, and thinking they were mean with the performance (Ford, you added forty five pounds of exhaust and hangers exactly WHY again?) and exuberant on the trim, and in the face of the $helby assault on the other side.

They lied to SVT owners, and it shows.

those complaining about the torque loss it still seems to be faster over a road course so the changes seem most excellent indeed as well as handling improvments as well pulling over 1g on skidpads seems most excellent.

And please for gods sake dont put IRS into this car live axle is much superior for drag strips leave it alone heck most cars with IRS cant handle nearly as well as the mustang.

"those complaining about the torque loss it still seems to be faster over a road course so the changes seem most excellent indeed as well as handling improvements as well pulling over 1g on skidpads seems most excellent. "

That's my take as well. The thing is, you almost can't help but lose a bit of peak torque when you make more horsepower at a higher rpm. Torque always equals (HPx5252)/rpm

"Sticker and gingerbread?" What the heck are you talking about? I don't think so....

Gotta laugh at this guy and the other armchair critics nitpicking this car, when nobody's even seen or driven one in the flesh, except Ford engineers. These critics aren't gonna buy one anyway, which just fine. There'll be less competition to buy one out of the limited number production run.

Glad to see Ford's bringing back Calypso Coral, one of the best muscle car colors ever.

"Sticker and gingerbread?" "They lied to SVT owners"? What the heck are you talking about? I don't think so....

Gotta laugh at this guy and the other armchair critics nitpicking this car, when nobody's even seen or driven one in the flesh, except Ford engineers. These critics aren't gonna buy one anyway, which just fine. There'll be less competition to buy one out of the limited number production run.

Glad to see Ford's bringing back Calypso Coral, one of the best muscle car colors ever.

Hey guys,

Do you think Ford might be understating the numbers for this car? Why give GM and Chrysler exact figures to bench mark their cars against. I would understate HP and torque until the BOSS went on sale. I would underestimate gas mileage, HP and torque until the day the car could be sold. Why give the competition any help.

It looks awesome. I want one in grabber green with black stripes. And who in their right mind wouldnt remove the "attenuation discs" from the exhaust.

"Anything that is too American looking gets panned by IL. "

IL is not the only automotive website out there. I recommend you check out Motortrend, which gave the COTY award to the NEW Ford Thunderbird, the PT Cruiser, and the 1997 Chevy Malibu.

Those black/red and silver/red ones are more tacky than the Megane R26R's red wheels/black hood. At least that is real carbon fiber on the R26R.

Other than the unwise color choice, they do look like a riot to drive, much like the R26R.

Please, please get rid of that fat, ugly cartoon of a car (Camaro) and get one of these or even just a GT for the LT fleet. I bet you could get at least $25 at a Hot Wheels convention for the Chevy! If you read other magazines you get a much better picture of what this car can do. It is head and shoulders over the Camaro SS. The regular GT already handles better than the IRS Chevy and the BOSS 302 just puts another nail in the coffin. Ford has not used the BOSS name since '71.....it saved that name for the very best it could do. It will live up to its name Best On Street or Strip BOSS.

It's no Civic Si but OK I guess. If you want true street cred, you gots to have a Civic Si. Mustangs (Chalengers and Camaros) are just not Hi-Tech and that's why they are not in the Fast & Furious movies. They made four of the movies so i think they know what they are doing by not featuring Mustangs, Camaros, and Challengers.

I agree with sniperruff. There can not be anything said positive about American cars that is the rule. Ask the guys at Top Gear and Edmunds. If Americans made a car that got 100 MPG, made 1,000 HP, it would be panned by TG and Edmunds because it did not fly.

As far as Mr. Civic and the losers who drive them, think about this. Does anyone car about Civics, Lancers etc. as collector items? Does anyone ooh and aah at a 20 year old civic? Who cares? No one. People still like the looks of a 40 year old Mustang and/or Camero. Can anyone tell me the last time anyone cared about the looks of a 30 year old Corolla or Honda?