2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca review

Mustang dimensions increased and the Ford hotrod grew in credibility and favour to command market position as an all-round road-going performance machine. By 1969, the Mustang was available in 11 distinct powertrain combinations, including the Trans-Am-destined 290 hp Boss 302.

With sleek, menacing looks and simply awesome abilities, 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca is a rare and impressive beast forged in the spirit of its 1969 namesake. The highly-sought after American performer has been purified and refined as a street-legal race car which delivers on its rumbling promise. Based on the 2011 Mustang GT, the limited-production 2012 Mustang Boss 302 is touted by its makers as the quickest, best-handling straight-production Mustang ever offered by Ford - and with the 2012 Laguna Seca package, the Boss 302 goes off the chart.

Inspired by the Boss 302's winning finish at the 1970 Trans-Am series opener, the Laguna Seca variant is aimed squarely at enthusiasts less concerned with creature comforts and convenience and more interested in peak track performance. It takes the already formidable standard Boss and builds it with an even stiffer chassis, less weight and an aerodynamics package proven on the Ford Racing Boss 302R. The Boss Laguna Seca uses the same 444-hp 5.0-litre V8 as the standard Boss, with refinements to the driveline, suspension, steering and brakes to deliver as close to a race-car experience as is possible on a street-legal machine.

"The decision to build a modern Boss was not entered into lightly," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. "The entire team at Ford felt the time was right, and with the right ingredients, the world-class 2011 Mustang could support a successful, race-bred, worthy successor to the original Boss 302. For us that meant a production Mustang that could top one of the world's best - the 2010 BMW M3 - in lap times at Laguna Seca. We met our expectations."

Led by Mike Harrison, the V8 engine team approached the new Boss 302 from the top down. With 412 horsepower from 5.0 litres, the 2011 GT engine was already a fierce performer, but to achieve the high-rev horsepower needed on the track, the engine team developed a brand new runners-in-the-box plenum/velocity stack combination. Helping the intake build power, revised camshafts using a more aggressive grind are actuated with the same twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) mechanism used on the Mustang GT. More aggressive control calibration yields 444 horsepower and 380 lb/ft of torque, while still offering a smooth idle and low-end torque for comfortable around-town driving. A race-inspired clutch with upgraded friction materials transmits power, while a short-throw, close-ratio six-speed manual transmission handles gear change duties.

Engineered as the ultimate 2012 Boss, the Laguna Seca variant benefits in addition from R-compound tires, rear seat-delete, aggressive front splitter for track use, and rear spoiler and rear cross-car bracing, whittling track times and boosting lateral acceleration to 1.03-g.

"Laguna Seca isn't intended for Boss buyers who simply want an exhilarating daily driver," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. "Think of it as a factory-built race car, which we hope avid racers and track-day fans are going to love."

"When we built the Boss, we had to step back and ask ourselves 'How do we improve on this?'" said David Pericak, Ford Mustang chief engineer. "That car is so strong we realized the Laguna Seca package was going to have to be just a fraction of a step back from the Ford Racing 302R to top it. So we went back and threw daily-driver practicality out the window, cut some things we couldn't cut on the volume model, like the back seat, and built it the way we would set up a production Boss for pure competition."

By eliminating the rear seats, Laguna Seca models can accommodate a cross-car X-brace that couples the structure between the rear wheels, offering chassis stiffness improvements up to 10 percent and facilitating optimum suspension tuning. Standard Recaro front seats are shared between the Boss and GT500, while an Alcantara-covered race steering wheel gives solid grip for hard cornering.

Engine power routes through a six-speed close-ratio manual gearbox to a standard 3.73-ratio Torsen limited-slip differential, helping the revised rear suspension deliver maximum torque and traction on the track.

Higher spring rates and a larger rear stabilizer bar give superior grip, and drivers can dial in a track-sympathetic level of shock stiffness using the four independently adjustable dampers with Laguna Seca-specific valving.

Laguna Seca models use lightweight 19-inch alloy racing wheels in staggered widths: 9 inches in front, 10 inches in the rear. R-compound ultra-high-performance tires, 255/40R-19 in the front, 285/35R-19 in the rear, maintain contact with the pavement.

While standard Boss 302 cars get vented brake dust shields to help cool the rotors, Laguna Seca models receive Ford Racing front brake ducts that force outside air directly onto the 14-inch vented front rotors, helping to eliminate brake fade and ensure hard, repeatable late braking on the track.

Styling delivers menacing road presence in spades, with bold racing overtones and superior aerodynamics. Boss 302 models with the Laguna Seca package are distinguished by a vivid red C-stripe against either Black or Ingot Silver paint, complemented by a red roof panel. Red also defines the front grille, mirror caps and rear pedestal spoiler, with Laguna Seca rear badging and two-tone red and silver wheels completing the picture.

A fierce front splitter for track use adds downforce at the front and helps to divert air under and around the car; air is simultaneously funnelled into the radiator and brake ducts to support cooling under race conditions. A large rear spoiler complements the effect provided by the front splitter and underbody aerodynamic treatments, with the combination adding 40 kg of downforce at 225 km/h.

"Balance is the key on Boss, and even more so on Laguna Seca," said Pericak. "It's not for everyone: It's stiffer, there's no back seat, and the aero package is designed for downforce, not speed bumps in the mall parking lot. But for hard-core Mustang racers who want something they can occasionally drive on the street, to shows or whatever, Laguna Seca is the car they've been waiting for, and they're not going to be disappointed."

The 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca has a limited production run of 750 vehicles and is priced in America at USD $47,140.

Specifications: 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca
Engine- 5.0-litre, 4-valve Ti-VCT V8
Displacement- 4951cc (302 ci)
Bore x Stroke - 92.2 x 92.7 mm (3.63 x 3.65in)
Compression ratio- 11.0:1
Power- 444bhp at 7400rpm
Torque - 380 lb/ft @ 4500rpm
Transmission- 6-speed manual
Brakes (type)- 4-wheel power disc brakes with 4-sensor, 4-channel ABS, low-expansion brake hoses
Brakes (front) -355mm x 32mm vented discs, four-piston Brembo 40/44mm fixed aluminium calipers
Brakes (rear) -300mm x 19mm vented discs, single-piston 43mm floating iron calipers, Performance Friction Compound pads
Wheels and tyres- 19 x 9in, 19 x 10in machined lightweight aluminium wheels; 255/40R-19 Pirelli Corsa comp, 285/35R-19 Pirelli Corsa comp tyres.
Steering- Rack and pinion with electric power-assisted steering
Suspension (front) -Independent MacPherson strut with reverse-L lower control arm, 34.6mm tubular stabilizer bar, strut tower brace, manual adjustable strut damping
Suspension (rear) -3-link solid axle with Torsen limited-slip differential, performance coil springs, Panhard bar, 26mm stabilizer bar, body X-brace and manual adjustable shock damping
Construction- Unitized welded steel body, aluminium hood
Wheelbase- 107.1in
Length- 188.1in
Kerb weight- 3637 lb
0-97 km/h- 4.1 sec (approx)
Production- Flat Rock, Michigan