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Play Car of the Year: 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302
The Ford Mustang is a prime example of the automaker’s newfound commitment to ensuring its cars remain fresh. Over the past few years the pony car has received a continuous stream of improvements, from updated styling to new, more powerful engines. We’ve welcomed those changes, but the one that set off a frenzy in the Cars.com offices was the arrival of the high-performance retro-themed Mustang Boss 302. Whether you’re on the street or at the track, the Boss 302 is a blast. The 444-horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8 delivers authoritative power and sounds like there’s an angry bear trying to get out of the trunk. All that power is routed to the rear wheels through a short-throw six-speed manual transmission that’s an instrument of precision. In addition to a firmer suspension, the Boss 302 comes with adjustable shocks and struts and an adjustable steering system — right from the factory. Despite the emphasis on performance, the Boss 302 doesn’t make you pay a big price when it comes to everyday comfort. The available Recaro-brand front bucket seats are supportive enough for track work yet comfortable enough for commuting. Plus, you still get all of the cabin refinement of the regular Mustang. We’ve liked the Mustang’s blend of raw power and handling prowess. Those qualities have been relentlessly honed in the Boss 302, and we’re suitably impressed.
Work Car of the Year: 2012 Ford F-150
Once again, the Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck is Cars.com’s Work Truck of the Year. As the best-selling model in the U.S. for decades, the F-Series truly puts America to work. Due to the one-two punch of gas prices that are up and an economy that’s down, pickups aren’t as popular for personal use as they once were. However, they’re still the truck of choice for tradesmen, farmers, laborers and anyone with a job to do or a trailer to tow. The F-150 comes in a staggering array of cab and bed sizes, with many engine and driveline choices, and in trim levels starting with a bare-bones work truck and climbing to a level of richness that rivals luxury sedans. If you need your work truck to do double duty, the F-150 has you covered. The F-150 tops this class because it has stayed fresh and evolved with the market. There are no better examples than its best-in-class 17/23 mpg city/highway with a 3.7-liter V-6, and its pioneering 365-horsepower, EcoBoost turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6. The EcoBoost has the power to do real work and to accelerate with immediacy. It will change your mind about what kind of engine “belongs” in a work truck.
