Skip to main content

Smokescreen! Ford’s 2015 Mustang boasts ‘Line Lock’, a factory burnout feature

We’ve learned many exciting things about the forthcoming 2015 Ford Mustang, including a breakdown of its aerodynamics.

While slippery bodylines are important, they don’t really want to make us stand up and applaud. Enter Line Lock.

The engineers at Ford – when designing the new pony car – finally took a moment to think about the drag racer in us all and devised a new burnout feature.

Activated through the Mustang’s onboard Track Apps, the new Line Lock feature – as you can see in the video below – allows the front brakes to hold strong while the rear brakes remain at rest while you bury the pedal furiously into the floorboards. This proves that technology isn’t just used for efficiency but also for smokey, screaming fun.

The result, as Ford representatives claim, is to warm up the rubber for a quarter-mile run. Sure, it could be used for that. It could also be used as the burnout was initially intended: as a hillbilly mating ritual.

“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,” Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer, said in a prepared statement. “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 tire prep at the drag strip.”

So, with the 2015 Mustang, you can have world-class power, interior design, technology, looks, and – thankfully – you can also create a pretty mean smokescreen.

If there’s any better way to celebrate your 50th than with a screaming burnout, I haven’t heard of it.

Nick Jaynes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
Tesla and Elon Musk sued over use of AI image at Cybercab event
tesla and spacex CEO elon musk stylized image

Tesla’s recent We, Robot presentation has run into trouble, with one of the production companies behind Blade Runner 2049 suing Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, for alleged copyright infringement.

Tesla used the glitzy October 10 event to unveil its Cybercab and Robovan, and also to showcase the latest version of its Optimus humanoid robot.

Read more
Qualcomm wants to power your next car with the Snapdragon Cockpit and Ride Elite platforms
Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Ride Elite automotive platforms

It’s been a big year for Qualcomm. Alongside its massive launch into laptop chips through the Snapdragon X Elite series, Qualcomm is now entering the automotive space. The company has announced the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite platforms at its annual Snapdragon Summit, which it flew me out to attend.

The two platforms are designed for different purposes, and can be used togetheror separately. The Snapdragon Cockpit Elite is built for in-vehicle infotainment systems and services, while the Snapdragon Ride Elite is built to power autonomous vehicle systems, including all the cameras and sensors that go into those systems.

Read more
Scout Traveler and Scout Terra forge a new path for EVs
Scout Traveler and Scout Terra.

Electric vehicles are inseparable from newness, whether it’s new tech, new designs, or new companies like Rivian, Lucid, and Tesla. But the Volkswagen Group’s new EV-only brand also relies heavily on the past.

Unveiled Thursday, the Scout Traveler electric SUV and Scout Terra electric pickup truck are modern interpretations of the classic International Harvester Scout. Manufactured from 1961 to 1980, the original Scout helped popularize the idea of the rugged, off-road-capable utility vehicle, setting the stage for modern SUVs.

Read more