only the optional red key will transform the überstang (Yes, that’s a word. Look it up.) into a competition-ready track demon that makes the typical “sport” mode button look positively tame. With tantalizing choices like this, we now know how Neo must have felt.

Like a schizophrenic with two personalities, Ford engineers have developed a “dual-path powertain control module” that creates what is essentially two different vehicles. The black key starts a car anyone could live with. The red “Trackey” adds powertrain control software for track use, providing race-caliber calibration and two-stage launch control. The Jeckyl & Hyde setup also alters more than 200 engine management parameters to increase low-end torque, adjust the variable cam timing and alter things like spark mapping, engine braking and more.

“From an engine management standpoint, we’ve done just about everything possible to give TracKey users a full race car experience,” said Mustang powertrain engineer Jeff Seaman. “It’s not for use on the street.”

The software package includes a two-stage launch control feature similar to the one on the Mustang Cobra Jet race car. Drivers use steering wheel-mounted buttons to set a specific launch rpm. Once you stomp on it, the engine will rev to the preset rpm until the clutch is released, helping aid acceleration and vehicle control from a standing start.

Basically, if it doesn’t make the Boss launch faster, run harder or perform better, TracKey shuts it down.

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

TracKey is offered as a dealer-installed option (price TBA) at authorized Ford Racing dealers. The best part, aside from the tarmac-tearing capabilities of a car with TracKey, is none of this affects the warranty like any performance mods you might have in mind. Ford is quick to stress that TracKey is strictly for track use.

Uh-huh. Sure. Yes, using TracKey on the street is probably illegal in some way. But who’d know?

Photo: Ford

Authors: Stuart Swartzapfel

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