The new Ford Mustang will come with a special ‘burn-out’ feature when it arrives in New Zealand next year.
But the so-called electric ‘line-lock’ function (above) is not for use on public roads, says the Ford marketing people, but for racetrack or dragstrip use only. (We can’t wait for the Tui billboard).
The push of a button locks the car’s front brakes, enabling the car’s rear wheels to spin. The technology will only be available on the flagship GT variant of the Mustang, which uses a 5.0-litre V8 engine.
Says the Ford press release: “With the electronic line-lock feature enabled, when a driver releases the brake pedal, the hydraulic control unit for the stability control system will keep the front brakes locked while releasing the rear brakes.
“When Mustang is sitting in the burnout box of a drag strip, the driver can apply the accelerator to spin up the rear wheels to warm the tyres for maximum grip. This can all be done without having to balance one foot on the brake and the other on the gas, or install a mechanical line-lock.”
The marketing spin is that tyres perform better at higher temperatures, and a burnout is the quickest and simplest way to raise temperatures before a race.
“With the tyres properly warmed up, drivers can pull up to the staging line, engage launch control, and get a perfect catapult as soon as the lights go green,” Ford says.
Says chief Mustang engineer Dave Pericak: “We’re using advanced controls technology for the all-new Mustang to provide some of our most dedicated fans with an industry-first feature they can use when they go to the track.
“With electronic line-lock, customers who drive their Mustangs to work all week and then compete on the weekends will appreciate not having to modify their brake systems to be able to do effective tyre prep at the drag strip.”
The sixth-generation Mustang will also come with a launch control system which holds engine speed between 3000rpm and 4500rpm for optimum performance in varying conditions.