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New Ford Mustang May Have Electronic "Burnout" Button
cartechboy writes "Ford has decided to take the burnout into the 21st century for the new 2015 Mustang. The Mustang's new 'electronic' burnout system is intended to enable perfect burnouts every time, much like launch control has made it easier to accelerate quickly from a stop. So think of every new Mustang with a bright red 'burnout' button. While the details on how the burnout control system will work remain secret, it's possible that a combination of the features used in a typical launch control system, including traction and rev-limiting controls, together with a front brake locking system, could enable Ford to pull together existing technology in a completely new way. So far Ford has no comment."
The button is for thrifty people who want to get their moneys worth out of their tires. When you're about to get a new set of tires you do burnouts in the tire store parking lot until metal is showing, rotate the tires and repeat. Then proudly pull in to the service bay with absolutely no tread left on any of your tires.
Man, you really need that seminar!
Burnouts are a skill acquired when a Bogan (White trash or whatever) is finally able to purchase a vehicle capable of breaking traction on dry ground. After this qualification they are ready for a doughnut (or Dohhy) usually in a carpark where there are plenty of victi^h^h^h^h^honlookers present to qualify you as a full on dickhead.
Like much automation these days, such a feature would automate the process of becoming a dickhead, allowing many more dickheads because, as you are probably aware, what the world needs is more dickheads.
My ism, it's full of beliefs.
I guess I'm underwhelmed. I never realized people were that into destroying tires.
Mustang Cobras are bought as cars you can bring to the drag strip and maintain a factory warranty.
That said:
At a drag strip, generally before your run, you are sitting in line waiting, and waiting, and waiting, allowing enough time for your tires to cool off to ambient temperature. This is terrible for grip off the line. So generally, you'll roll into the burnout box (a small lowered area in the tarmac containing a little water) and perform a burnout. This does 2 things:
1) Warms up the tires to about 120-170 degrees, an ideal temperature for a powerful grip when the light goes green.
2) Clears off any debris you may have picked up travelling in the pit lanes or at the end of the track.
Both of these are for obtaining maximum traction. Traction generally equals safety (unless you're running a twin-turbo or heavily supercharged engine capable of lifting the front wheels off the ground, then you're asking for trouble on a whole new level and will likely never make use of the burnout button.) Considering how many people out there buy a 400+ horsepower Mustang without knowing the slightest thing about drag racing, expecting to show up at the track, put their pedal to the floor and go without so much a thought, this can prevent many trackday injuries caused by people who can't hold a proper burnout.
31 year old IT worker here, can confirm. The money is fantastic, unfortunately you trade in your soul.