2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302: Ultimate Guide

The Same Awesome Package With Some Design Tweaks

2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302

Still the Boss

For 2013 the Boss 302 was back sporting small styling changes that benefitted all Mustangs across the line. Mechanically the car remained unchanged as there was little reason for engineers to fiddle with the Boss’s near perfect package.

Any changes to the Boss 302 for 2013 revolved around the esthetics of the car. Along with the front and rear end styling refinements found on Mustang GT’s the standard Boss 302 wore new low-gloss black reflective hood and hockey stick side graphics that were inspired by the 1970 Boss 302. The roof was now finished in the same colour as the rest of the car and the rear spoiler was painted in a low-gloss black to match the striping package. Colours on the standard Boss 302 were Performance White, School Bus Yellow, Race Red, Grabber Blue and the funky Gotta Have It Green Metallic Tri-Coat. Inside little had changed.

2013 added a tire mobility kit and hood extractors to help reduce heat, plus some fancier technology inside the cabin. But in terms of pure racetrack capability, you’ll hardly lose out by opting for 2012.

The new 2013 Boss 302 leaned heavily on inspiration from the famous 1970 Boss 302, including the iconic hockey stick stripes adorning the sides. While the 2012 Boss Mustang was ground breaking in innovations, the 2013 model focuses on refinement of an already fantastic foundation. As you’d expect, the changes to the 2013 Boss 302 are not ground shaking. However, the overall first impression of the new model are one of substance and a more muscular feel overall.

The areas that jump out at you on the new 2013 Mustang Boss start with the new vented hood louvers combined with removable grille caps where you’d find fog lights on the 2013 Mustang GT. These two new additions allow you to draw more air under hood and vent it, getting cool air to important areas, such as the front brakes and under hood. The front fascia has been modified and is again more muscular looking, with it’s more squared off lines and re-designed front splitter/spoiler.

And of course, the addition of the 1970 style reflective hockey stick and Boss 302 logo added to the sides, hood stripe and rear light panel blackout take you back to the look of the second year for this iconic pony car. While nostalgic touches take you back to the pony car’s beginnings, the new 2013 Boss 302 tech specifications and additions do not.

Bringing this Ford Mustang to the present and improving for the future are new HID headlights for better on the road visual performance and bright led surrounded tail lights, replacing the standard units from the previous year.

A black rear spoiler completes the look at the rear, thankfully not including the high mounted stop light. You can’t say that for the 1970 Boss 302 even though it was the same as the standard sportsroof (fastback) cars. I’d like to see some new wheel well flares and maybe even an updated version of the still very cool Magnum 500’s from the 70’s.

Grabber Blue is back and the new, big and bold School Bus Yellow for the 2013 Boss 302 should please many 1970 Boss fans as well as the return of a blacked out tail light panel. And the cool looking lime green number pictured above is painted in “Gotta Have It Green” just screams Look At Me!

This was once again one bad Mustang. 444 horsepower and 380 ft/lb torque from a little ‘ol 302 cubic inch (5.0L) having 11.0:1 compression engine with a base price of $40,995. The engine uses a chain driven double overhead cam, 4 valves per cylinder, hydraulic lash adjusters and variable intake and exhaust timing (VCT). What this means to the driver is they have about 7,500 RPMs to play withTypical of all mustangs, it has a front engine and rear drive. Rumored to be a 4 passenger car, I sincerely doubt it unless they consist of the driver, passenger and 2 beers. The Laguna Seca has a rear seat delete, but I guess if your passengers were laying down, you could get 2 small people back there.

The Boss for all its good points has one major flaw. It cannot go any faster than the GT Mustang. That sucks. The GT gets to 155 mph in 5th gear and just stops there, you waste a whole gear! The Boss get to 155mph faster than the GT, but it stops there too. One can remove the speed limiter restriction on the car, but it voids the warranty. Hum. Speed limiters suck.

5.0L V8 Boss H.O. Equipment group 500A

To learn about the Laguna Seca option which consists of an Equipment Group 501A, please check out the Laguna Seca page:

Standard Equipment on the V8 5.0L Boss Mustang, EPA mileage rated at 17 city and 26 highway , 20 mph combined, 412 HP @6500rpm and 390 lb-ft torque at 4250 rpm.

  • 6 speed manual transmission
  • 4-wheel Disc ABS
  • All speed traction control
  • Coil over strut front suspension
  • Coil spring 3 link solid axle rear suspension
  • Front and rear stabilizer bars
  • Selectable steering mode, Sport, Standard or Comfort
  • 4 way power manual front seats, Charcoal black cloth with a Gray embossed BOSS 302 signature
  • 4 way manual passenger seat
  • Split fold seats on coupe
  • 6 gauge instrument cluster with chrome accents and MyColor Illumination
  • Manual air conditioning
  • Ambient lighting
  • Leather trimmed front bucket seats
  • Auto dimming rear view mirror
  • Dark aluminum instrument panel applique and black cue ball shaped shift knob
  • Bright chrome speaker surrounds
  • Alcantra suede wrapped steering wheel
  • Shaker 500 audio system, AM/FM w/single CD player, MP3 input, 8 speakers and 500 watts
  • Sirius satellite radio with 6 months subscription
  • SYNC
  • Universal garage door opener
  • Vinyl door trim panel inserts
  • Audio input jack
  • Carpeted charcoal black front floor mats
  • Cruise control
  • Floor console with armrest and locking storage
  • Ice blue lighting
  • Message center
  • Power door locks
  • Power windows with one touch up and down
  • 2 powerpoints, one on dash & one in console
  • Premium AM/FM stereo with single CD player
  • Sunvisors with multi purpose storage system & vanity mirrors
  • Tilt steering wheel
  • Easy Fuel Cap-less Fuel Filler system
  • 2 cup holders
  • Driver footrest
  • LED Sequential rear turn signal
  • Variable interval windshield wipers
  • Rear window defroster
  • Complex refractor halogen headlights
  • LED high mounted 3rd stop lamp
  • 19×9 front, 19×9.5 rear black painted aluminum wheels
  • 255/40R Z rated front and 285/35R Z rated near max performance Pirelli P Zero summer only tires
  • Compact spare tire
  • Stainless steel quad exhaust with rear and side openings
  • Rear quarter mounted antenna
  • Tire pressure monitoring system (does not include spare)
  • SOS post crash Alert system
  • Passive anti theft system
  • Remote keyless entry system with integrated key & FOB
  • MyKey owner control system
  • Front seat side airbags
  • Illuminated entry system
  • Advancetrac stability control system
  • Dual stage front airbags
  • 3.73:1 limited slip differential
  • 5 setting adjustable shocks
  • 25mm rear stabilizer bar
  • Special front and rear springs
  • Unique intake manifold with production plate
  • Brembo 14″ vented front rotors and 4 piston calipers
  • 11.8 rear vented rotors with high performance pad compound
  • Black decklid stripe
  • Grille with blocked off fog lamp openings
  • Modified front facia with front chin spoiler
  • Unique hood stripes and reverse “C” side stripes

Production

2013 Boss 302

  • School Bus Yellow (856)
  • Race Red (798)
  • Gotta Have it Green (792)
  • Performance White (672)
  • Grabber Blue (435)

Press Release

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15, 2011 – The Ford Mustang Boss 302 is all about performance, and a nod to heritage comes standard with new paint options and design details for 2013.

A new hockey stick graphic featuring reflective stripes is added to the new Boss, calling back the 1970 Boss 302. 2013 Boss 302 and Boss Laguna Seca models feature new School Bus Yellow paint, honoring Parnelli Jones’ 1970 Trans-Am championship car prepared by Bud Moore.

“Everything we did for 2013 is consistent with and links directly back to our 1970 heritage. The reflective stripes and hockey stick graphic in particular mean something to Mustang enthusiasts,” said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. “Last year, we proved the car had what it takes to perform, and this year we focused on enhancing its eye-catching looks and celebrating its history.”

The reflective stripes on Boss come to life when lights hit them, similar to how they did in 1970 on the Mustang Boss 302. The new stripe follows the classic hockey stick motif by going over the fender and extending down the body panel.

Boss Laguna Seca has new Sterling Gray accents and will be available in vintage School Bus Yellow and black paint offerings, complemented by hockey stick stripes and gray interior rear cross-brace. Gray also sets off 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. Unlike the previous model, the roof will not feature colored accents.

Similar to the redesigned base Mustang lineup, the front end offers a more powerful design with a more prominent grille. A more powerful splitter and functional hood extractors add to that look. Boss Mustang has new signature lighting, with standard HID headlamps and LED-surround taillamps.

The 2013 Boss also offers a unique functional design feature in the grille with removable covers where fog lamps would be. For improved cooling on track days, the covers can be easily removed with a screwdriver.

Additionally, the rear end features a high-gloss black panel that connects the taillamps. The taillamps deliver a smoked appearance that matches up with the sinister look up front.

The new Mustang Boss includes Ford SYNC®, the voice-activated in-car connectivity system, as a standard feature. With the base SYNC package, customers enjoy the core hands-free features and services that have quickly established SYNC as a must-have technology, with more than 76 percent of current SYNC users saying they would recommend the system to others.

Some features of SYNC include:

  • Hands-free, voice-activated calling via a Bluetooth®-connected mobile phone and control of a USB-connected digital music player
  • 911 Assist™, the automated emergency calling service that is free for the life of the vehicle
    Vehicle Health Report, the on-demand diagnostic and maintenance information service

The powerful Boss engine 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 handles gear change duties.

Power is delivered to a 3.73-ratio rear axle using carbon fiber plates in the limited-slip differential to improve handling and longevity. For those who want even more precise control over power delivery, a torque-sensing (Torsen) limited-slip differential is available, coupled with Recaro® front seats.

In keeping with the Boss mandate to provide the best-handling Mustang ever, the already strong Mustang GT suspension system has been further refined. Higher-rate coil springs on all four corners, stiffer suspension bushings and a larger-diameter rear stabilizer bar all contribute to the road racing mission, and Boss models are lowered by 11 millimeters in front and 1 millimeter at the rear versus Mustang GT. But the real key to handling is in the adjustable shocks and struts, standard on all Boss Mustangs.

Working in concert with the suspension upgrades, Boss 302 receives unique, lightweight 19-inch black alloy racing wheels in staggered widths: 9 inches in front, 9.5 inches in the rear. The Pirelli PZero summer tires are sized specifically for each end of the car, with the front wheels receiving 255/40ZR-19 tires while the rear stays planted thanks to 285/35ZR-19 rubber.

Boss braking is also up to the challenge, using Brembo four-piston calipers acting on 14-inch vented rotors up front. In back, standard Mustang GT brakes are upgraded with a Boss-specific high-performance pad compound. The combination of vented brake shields and unique Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) tuning gives Boss drivers maximum control and rapid, repeatable fade-free stops in road and race situations alike.

Pictures

Specs & Performance

type Series Production Car
built at Flat Rock, Michigan, USA
engine 90º V8
position Front, Longitudinal
aspiration Natural
block material Aluminum
valvetrain DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl
fuel feed Injection
displacement 4951 cc / 302.13 in³
bore 92.2 mm / 3.63 in
stroke 92.7 mm / 3.65 in
compression 11.0:1
power 328.1 kw / 440 bhp
specific output 88.87 bhp per litre
bhp/weight 270.77 bhp per tonne
torque 515.2 nm / 380 ft lbs
redline 7500
body / frame Unitary Steel Monocoque w/Aluminum Hood
driven wheels RWD
wheel type Wide-Spoke Aluminum
front tires 255/40ZR-19 Pirelli PZero
rear tires 285/35ZR-19 Pirelli PZero
front brakes Ventilated Discs w/4-Piston Floating Calipers
f brake size 36 x 355 mm / 1.4 x 14.0 in
rear brakes Ventilated Discs w/Single-Piston Floating Calipers
r brake size 19 x 300 mm / 0.7 x 11.8 in
front wheels F 48.3 x 22.9 cm / 19 x 9 in
rear wheels R 48.3 x 24.1 cm / 19 x 9.5 in
f suspension MacPherson Struts w/Coil Springs, Anti-Roll Bar
r suspension Live Axle w/Coil Springs, Anti-Roll Bar
curb weight 1625 kg / 3580 lbs
weight distro 54.7 % / 45 %
wheelbase 2720.3 mm / 107.1 in
length 4777.7 mm / 188.1 in
width 1877.1 mm / 73.9 in
height 1399.5 mm / 55.1 in
transmission 6-Speed Manual
gear ratios 3.66:1, 2.43:1, 1.69:1, 1.32:1, 1.00:1, 0.65:1
final drive 3.73:1
top speed ~234.91 kph / 146 mph
0 – 60 mph ~4.6 seconds
0 – 100 mph ~11.0 seconds
0 – 1/4 mile ~13.2 seconds
fuel econ epa 15.68 L/100 km or 15 mpg-us
city fuel econ epa 13.84 L/100 km or 17 mpg-us
hwy fuel econ epa 9.05 L/100 km or 26 mpg-us
fuel capacity 60 litres or 15.84 gal.

Download Technical Specifications

Download Technical Specifications sheet