Australia set to miss out (again) on Mustang line-lock feature

Australia and New Zealand will likely continue as the only markets in the world not to offer the Ford Mustang with a burnout mode.

Ford Australia controversially omitted the feature in 2015 in the belief that it contravened Australia's anti-hooning laws. The ‘line-lock feature’ was originally limited to the V8-powered GT Mustang, but has now been extended to the four-cylinder Ecoboost Mustang as part of updates for 2018.

Designed for drag racing, the line-lock technology works by locking the front brakes so that the driver can spin the vehicle’s rear tyres for up to 15 seconds. The feature, in theory, allows drivers in a safe environment to warm up their tyres prior to a launch, therefore netting the best possible quarter-mile time. A burnout can also clean the tyres of any debris and lay down a layer of rubber on the starting line for better traction.

"Using steering wheel-mounted thumb switches, a driver toggles through a menu on the instrument cluster to activate electronic line-lock. Once engaged, the system builds pressure on the front brake calipers. Another button press holds the pressure for up to 15 seconds, allowing the driver to hit the throttle and spin the rear wheels while the car stays in place," Ford says of the feature, which is now animated via the car's digital instrument cluster.

Ford Australia communications manager Jasmine Mobarek declined to speculate on whether stakeholders have changed tack on the issue. Given the ever-present nature of our anti-hooning laws, and the arguably unfair lashing Ford Australia copped over the Focus RS' drift mode, we're guessing not.

"We will announce specifications closer to launch," Mobarek said.

Ford’s global performance boss has previously expressed his disappointment over the omission of the feature in Australia, usually activated with the push of button.

It is understood the electronic line-lock feature is simply dormant in Australian Mustangs, meaning that it can be activated with a software fix.

The 2018 Mustang is set to arrive in Australia next year, introducing tweaked styling and a new 10-speed automatic transmission.

"We introduced line-lock on EcoBoost Mustangs because we didn’t want those customers to miss out,” said Mark Schaller, the global marketing manager for the Ford Mustang.

“The number of people choosing EcoBoost power continues to grow globally, and with the increased torque and new features coming on the new Mustang, customers will not be disappointed.”