2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302: First Look

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Is the new Mustang GT with its 412-horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8 not enough for you, but the idea of a 540-hp Shelby GT500 is too daunting? Then you are the right person for Ford’s new 440-hp 2012 Boss 302.
 
The concept of special one-off performance Mustangs is an old one; the first Boss 302 debuted more than 40 years ago. The new Boss seems like a throwback in more ways than a unique paint job, though. Ford removed 11 pounds of sound-deadening material to bring more of the engine and exhaust noise into the cabin.

But that’s likely where the resemblance to an unrefined muscle car of yore ends.

The company used the BMW M3 as the benchmark for the Boss 302’s handling and overall performance. The company says the Boss can best the M3 on a racetrack like Laguna Seca in California. Ford also rolled out a track-ready version called the Boss 302 Laguna Seca that deletes the rear seats and adds racier aerodynamic bodywork.

Pricing and sale date haven’t been announced, but because it is a 2012 model year, it can’t go on sale until at least Jan. 1, 2011. If you need something to occupy your time until then, check out more photos below.