GreenBkk Auto | Ford’s Trick TracKey for the 2012 Mustang Boss 302

Ford’s Trick TracKey for the 2012 Mustang Boss 302

By RICHARD S. CHANG

Credit: The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com)

The standard ignition key for the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 next to the TracKey, which has the red insert.

Ford says the idea behind the TracKey, an ignition key that alters the engine management system in the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 to turn it into a street-illegal racecar, came during an all-night brainstorming session between Mustang team members. I wonder how many Bond movies they watched that night.

The TracKey, introduced this week, looks like a normal ignition key for the coming Mustang Boss 302, except there’s a bit of red in the middle. When it’s in the ignition, it alters more than 200 parameters in the car’s engine management system. The Mustang Boss 302 is already a beast of a car, with 444 horsepower. In TracKey mode, it becomes a track-ready racecar, with higher low-end torque and two-stage launch control.

“From an engine management standpoint, we’ve done just about everything possible to give TracKey users a full racecar experience,” said Jeff Seaman, the Mustang’s powertrain engineer, in a statement. “It’s not for use on the street – for example, the deceleration is set up to preserve the brakes, and the throttle response is very aggressive. A skilled driver on a closed course will really appreciate the benefits.”

The 2012 Mustang Boss 302.

Dave Pericak, the Mustang’s chief engineer, added, “Anything that could possibly affect all-out performance is deleted from the TracKey calibration. Throttle limiting and torque management — any daily driveability enhancements are removed and replaced with a pure Ford Racing competition calibration.”

Ford did not reveal pricing on the TracKey. But to further entice buyers, the automaker also announced a Track Attack program, essentially a complimentary driving instruction/track time at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, for anyone who buys the Mustang Boss 302. More details are expected early next year.

Credit: The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com)