If you’re a proud owner of a 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302, chances are you already know about TracKey. But for those who aren’t as fortunate to own one of these thoroughbred performance machines, reading about TracKey may just inspire you to buy a Boss… if not feel good just knowing about the feature. Heck, the feature may even come in handy next time you’re talking to a car-crazed buddy at a bar… in front of a few ladies. Now there’s a good way to score some machismo points, eh?
The Boss 302 comes with a key containing a silver Boss logo from the factory. Using this key to start the Boss treats the driver to 444 horsepower of smooth driving delight. 444 horses would be enough for most people. But for those who aren’t satisfied with the track-intended Mustang and demand more, there’s always the key with the red Boss logo — the TracKey.
Sliding the red key into the lock cylinder and giving it a twist offers up a competition-ready track car. You see, the red key integrates with the TracKey Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and adjusts variable cam timing, spark maps, engine braking, fuel control and other engine parameters — more than 600 in total — to yield a complete race car calibration. The red TracKey also enables launch control as well as a low-beat idle through the side pipes that makes the car sound like it has a racing cam installed. The result, according to Ford, is “an aggressive, race-bred driving experience all the way down to the lopey idle rumbling through the Boss quad exhaust” that also involves an increase in low-end torque; it brings the Boss 302R’s calibration from the race track to the street machine. Sounds good to us.
Developed by Mustang engineers in collaboration with Ford Racing, TracKey adds a second array of PCM software to the Boss. Removing the red key and starting the Boss 302 with the silver key automatically draws PCM settings from the factory instruction set without requiring any additional modifications. Back to “normal” with one key.
The software is installed by a Ford Racing authorized dealer only after a customer takes delivery of his or her Boss and carries a “best-in-the-aftermarket industry” 3-year/36,000 mile warranty. To top things off, the installation and usage of TracKey does not void Ford’s original warranty. The price? $302 retail.
We’ll take two please — one for our 2013 Gotta Have It Green Boss 302 and another for our Competition Orange Boss 302… which we’re set to order any day now. And to our fellow Camaro fans — does your SS offer something similar? No? thought so…
Here’s a demo of TracKey in action:
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