Sure, the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 is already quite a powerful car, but it will go even faster if you pay some extra cash for the red-colored special TracKey. Whenever you start the Boss 302 using the TracKey, more than 200 parameters are changed in the car’s software instructions. This transforms the 444 horsepower street machine into a track racer.

It’s like having two cars in one. The TracKey will give you quicker throttle response, and a two-stage launch control feature that makes drag racing starts easy.

Ford has teams of researchers and engineers that have the sole purpose of developing new safety systems for Ford vehicles. One of the new systems that researchers at Ford are working on is the Automatic Braking Intersection Collision Avoidance System.

The system uses a series of wireless radio sensors around the vehicle. When the sensors detect another vehicle and determine that a side impact is imminent, the brakes for both vehicles are automatically applied.

Last week I spent a couple days with Ford in Dearborn, Michigan checking out the new MyFord Touch and Sync system that will debut first in the 2011 Edge SUV. This very cool system allows the driver to customize the view on the instrument panel to suit whatever their focus is.

The MyFord Touch system on the 2011 Edge has a large analog tach in the center of the cluster with two smaller 4.2-inch LCD screen on each side. Using the dual D-pad controller located on each side of the steering wheel you can move through all manner of gauges and information related to the entertainment, navigation, and climate controls of the vehicle. The system also has a larger 8-inch touchscreen in the dash that shows navigation and other items.

I have mentioned how cool the Microsoft Sync system in my Ford car is. At first glance, it seems to just be a hands free system for mobile phones, but closer inspection reveals a very robust system that lets the driver do lots of things using their voice.

Ford has announced that it is adding new features the Sync platform for drivers of 2010 and 2011 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles. The new features work with cars equipped with the Sync Traffic, Directions, & Information (TDI) app installed.

HD Radio has been around for a while now and promises free over-the-air broadcasts that rival CD quality. Many local FM stations in your area probably broadcast HD programming as well. Ford has announced that starting next year it will integrate HD receivers with iTunes tagging into its vehicles.

The new HD receivers will have a button on the front that users can hit to tag the songs for iTunes. Up to 100 tags can be stored in the SYNC system and downloaded via USB to an iPod to sync with iTunes. When the iPod is synced, the songs can then be purchased with iTunes.

Most of the new Ford cars and trucks have the SYNC system built-in that allows the use of a phone without having to hold the device. The SYNC system makes the car into a big hands free device.

Ford has announced that owners of SYNC equipped vehicles can now get a free app called SYNCMyPhone that will allow them to sync their contacts book with the car. The app installs on a computer and lets the user move up to 1200 contacts to a flash drive.

The next-generation Ford Explorers will offer something unique that we haven’t seen before. Rear seatbelts that will inflate in an accident the same way an airbag inflates. The idea is that rear inflatable seatbelts would be able to multiply the surface area of the belt against your body by up to 5 times.

So in an accident, your crash would be more “comfortable.” We aren’t sure if this would be practical or not, but it might save lives in the future. I wonder if it will hurt those people with more girth, by squeezing them tight.

One of the coolest options that Ford offers on most of its vehicles is the Sync Bluetooth system. Sync allows you to control your Bluetooth phone to make and receive calls and allows you to control your music collection as well.

Ford has announced that owners of 2010 Ford vehicles can now download a free Sync application called TDI (traffic, directions, information) that allows the Sync system to provide turn-by-turn driving directions using the drivers Bluetooth mobile phone.

Ford and Sprint are working hand in hand to connect upcoming Ford trucks to Sprint’s wireless broadband network. Specifically the dashboards of 2009 F-Series trucks and E-Series cargo vans. To start with they are aiming this at Construction workers.

It will help them track stuff like inventory and schematics. Not sure how they are going to do that on such a small screen, but that’s the plan. Ford boasts that the user can “review and edit graphically-rich blueprints” right from the cab of their truck.

Self-parking automobiles aren’t new, but Ford’s system, which is part of the company’s new power steering technology, will work on hills and uses sensors to monitor blind spots and notify the driver of approaching traffic. This new auto-parking technology debut on the 2010 Lincoln MKS sedan and Lincoln MKT luxury crossover vehicle.

The fancy new power steering uses the vehicle’s battery instead of it’s hydraulic system, which improves fuel economy and reduces carbon emissions. It should be showing up in almost ninety percent of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles by 2012.

Sure, we’ve heard it all when it comes to Ford jokes. Found On Road Dead, Fix Or Repair Daily, etc. Say what you like about Ford, you can’t deny the coolness of their SmartGauge LCD panels in their new 2010 hybrids.

Instead of the usual boring analog dials, Ford gives you a LCD screen cluster and even some animations. Notice the fuel gauge. Nice to look at, easy to find and functional. The best part about using an LCD display is that it’s fairly customizable. You can display battery charge, GPS and Satellite radio coverage, maybe even current mp3 track information. Of course there’s the usual boring MPH and RPM indicators. They just don’t look boring.

Love cars? Love zipping your mouse around your desktop pretending it’s a Mustang? Then this might be your thing Speed Racer. These mice are modeled after a range of classics including the Ford Mustang GT, a Chevy Concept Camaro and a Dodge Charger SRT8. The Road Mice collection offers 800 dpi resolution and will work with both PC and Mac. As for ergonomics, not so much. But they’ll let you enjoy a scaled down version if you can’t have the real deal parked in your garage. They retail for $44.95.

Today Ford announced that they have teamed up with Microsoft to offer some in-car software to enhance the use of digital audio players, mobile phones and multimedia in their vehicles. Ford Sync will be powered by Microsoft Auto Software and provide voice activated communications and entertainment in select Ford vehicles.

Sync is planned to be available in 12 different Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles yet this year and will allow users to access their mobile phone, mobile music and will host almost any digital media player including the iPod and Zune, all from voice commands or from controls on the steering wheel. Integration will happen via either Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phones or a USB 2.0 port inside the vehicle to connect digital audio players and most media storage devices. The Microsoft Auto software will support …