• State-of-the-art electronic line-lock will be a standard feature on all Mustangs, including EcoBoost models, expanding from only being available on V8 Mustang GT models.
• Models with new 12-inch, all digital instrument cluster will see on the display an industry first animation of a spinning alloy wheel creating a cloud of smoke when line lock initiates
• Video featuring Vaughn Gittin Jr. showcases the new Mustang EcoBoost and its line-lock feature to random pedestrians at Irwindale Speedway in California

The speed junkies at Ford have decided to have some fun when designing the 2018 Mustang and are expanding the State-of-the-Art electronic line-lock feature in 2018. This track-exclusive feature was previously only available on the V8-powered Mustang GT and will now be available on all 2018 Mustangs, which includes Mustangs with the 2.3 liter EcoBoost engine.

Many Mustang fans are surely as excited as we are about this announcement, but many others are also probably asking “What is line-lock and what makes it so cool?”

Electronic line-lock is normally a feature used by drag racers to heat up the rubber on their tires to provide improved traction when they take off from the starting line. Spinning the back tires while staying in place causes the tires to heat up and eventually burn causing both increased traction and a cloud of smoke. This technology is particularly useful for amateur race car drivers; especially bracket racers, to maintain consistent performance times.

The driver uses steering wheel-mounted switches to toggle through the instrument cluster and activate electronic line-lock. The system then builds pressure on the front break calipers while another button press holds the pressure for up to 15 seconds. This allows the driver to hit the throttle causing the rear wheels to spin while the cars stays in place. The result is a greatly improved traction on the track and the thrill that so many drivers seek to achieve when they get behind the wheel.

The Mustang designers wanted add just a little more coolness into the new pony car, so Ford decided to include an industry-first video-game-like animation of a spinning alloy wheel on all models with a 12-inch, all digital instrument display. The animation features when the wheels have begun rotating fast enough to burn and the animation actually shows the wheel spinning kicking up a cloud of smoke.

“Burnouts never get old, no matter how old you are and how many times you’ve done them”, said Vaughn Gittin Jr., Formula Drift Champion. “Who would have thought that we would see an EcoBoost Mustang producing 15 seconds of fury like this? You’ve got to love the rad things Ford is doing.”

Vaughn recently set out to show random pedestrians in Southern California the awesome power and sheer fun of the Mustangs new features. He recruited people off the streets to join him at Irwindale Speedway and lay some rubber themselves.

WARNING: TIRES WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS VIDEO

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plDofMvYYAQ

Electronic line-lock is just one of the features that consumers will see on the new Mustang when it rips onto showroom floors later this year. Visit http://buyfordnow.com to learn more.

Credit: http://media.ford.com