Autoblog

Ford Mustang Cobra Jet wheelies with abandon

Zach Bowman — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ford, Racing

Yes, that is a Ford Mustang Cobra Jet with its nose pointed toward the stars and its rear valance on the ground. Marvel at that image while you can, because the car doesn't maintain that posture for long. Once the front tires re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, the situation goes muddy quickly. There's a bounce or two, some sideways action and a few brief concrete kisses before the party comes to a complete stop. Anyone who says drag racing is boring clearly hasn't watched someone ping-pong their purpose-built factory drag car down the quarter mile.

Word has it the driver of this particular pony-shaped pinball walked away from the incident without injury, though we imagine it was a minute or two before his car crawled up to the Christmas tree once again. Check out the video below for a look at the show for yourself.

Continue reading Ford Mustang Cobra Jet wheelies with abandon

Ford Mustang Cobra Jet wheelies with abandon originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Racing debuts twin-turbo Mustang Cobra Jet Concept [w/video]

Drew Phillips — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Racing

Last year at SEMA, Chevrolet absolutely stole the show with its COPO Camaro Concept. Not to be upstaged by their Bowtie counterparts, the boys over at the Blue Oval have countered with the car you see here, the Mustang Cobra Jet Concept. Built by Ford Racing and based on the 2013 Mustang Cobra Jet, this one-off racer features a pair of twin turbochargers attached to a 5.0-liter V8 using the same technology as Ford's EcoBoost engines.

While the current crop of Cobra Jets are plenty fast, running eight-second quarter miles in NHRA trim, Ford Racing says that the 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger currently used requires as much as 100 horsepower to operate - horsepower that isn't being delivered to the meaty rear tires. The turbos, however, provide a much lower parasitic loss in power. Relatively small turbos - similar to the ones used on the Focus ST - were also used on the concept, ensuring that there would be as little lag as possible.

Will we see a production version of the twin-turbo Mustang Cobra Jet Concept in the future? Perhaps, especially as the next generation Mustang has long been rumored to get an EcoBoost engine. Until then, check out the plethora of photos (both live and stock) of the car as well as a video of the Cobra Jet in action below.

Continue reading Ford Racing debuts twin-turbo Mustang Cobra Jet Concept [w/video]

Ford Racing debuts twin-turbo Mustang Cobra Jet Concept [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch a COPO Camaro in the 8s out of the box

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing

If this YouTube video is to be believed, then Chevrolet definitely did not forget to put the FAST in the COPO Camaro. Car number three and its 327-cubic-inch engine topped with the 4.0-liter blower ran what looks like an 8.88-second quarter-mile at the strip, out of the box.

That puts it at the pointy end of the three-way competition between it, the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet and the Mopar Challenger Drag Pak. Ford has said the Cobra Jet will run in under 10 seconds, while the Challenger Drag Pak did a 9.43 out of the box last year. We're sure this is just the beginning of what will be a long, and very loud, rivalry. Have a look at the video below to see the latest round.

Continue reading Watch a COPO Camaro in the 8s out of the box

Watch a COPO Camaro in the 8s out of the box originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Mustang dragster mule caught brandishing gargantuan hood scoop

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:47:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Racing

Spy Shots: Ford Mustang Drag Racer - Click above for high-res image gallery

Our spy photographers have trained their expensive camera lenses on something very interesting. Caught running around one of Ford's private test tracks, this Mustang is clearly set to live life a quarter mile at a time. Out back sits a pair of massive Hoosier slicks, while up front, a set of skinny Hoosiers are tucked under the fenders. Oh right, we're not sure if you noticed, but there's a massive hood scoop planted on the front of this pony car.

What's going on under the hood? We don't know. The front-end (minus the scoop) is from a GT500, while the rear end is standard Mustang GT attire. That scoop, however, looks like it was pulled off a Donzi 22 Shelby GT speedboat. Actually, scratch that... it looks even bigger. Check out this possible next-generation Mustang Cobra Jet by clicking through the gallery below.

Ford Mustang dragster mule caught brandishing gargantuan hood scoop originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 May 2011 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, watch out for second!

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ford, First Drives

2008 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet - Click above for high-res gallery

Saturday afternoon we went for what may have been the shortest and quickest first drive in the history of Autoblog. When we go on a typical first drive with a manufacturer, we get to drive a vehicle around for at least a few hours in a variety of environments. Not so this past Saturday, when we tried out the latest customer race car product from Ford Racing, the Cobra Jet, a Mustang conceived at the behest of drag racers who wanted a factory built car ready to take to their local drag strip.

The original Mustang Cobra Jet appeared back in 1968 with a big, powerful engine and all of the interior bits normally stripped out by racers already absent. Those cars would go on to be some of the most successful factory-built drag cars ever. A year ago, Ford began preparing to build a run of 50 brand new cars bearing the legendary nameplate. Officially designated "FR500CJ," the new cars were delivered to customers last Fall and have been seen racing regularly at strips across the country throughout the year.

Gallery: First Drive: Ford Mustang Cobra Jet

Continue reading First Drive: Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, watch out for second!

First Drive: Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, watch out for second! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Mustang Cobra Jet rumbles off the assembly line

Noah Joseph — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Ford

Click above to view the first Cobra Jet coming off the assembly line

The name "Cobra Jet" may remind some of an unfortunate Sam Jackson film, but to Mustang and drag racing enthusiasts it refers to the latest addition to the pony-car family, the Mustang FR500CJ. The drag-racing version of the outgoing Mustang was unveiled at SEMA just a few months ago and is already rolling off the assembly line as the latest model in the Ford Racing line-up.

Featuring a modified 5.4-liter V8 with cold air induction, the Cobra Jet features stainless competition headers, upgraded rear axle and driveshaft, drag-optimized adjustable suspension, and unique wheels wrapped in slicks. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual or three-speed automatic, and the interior is augmented by racing buckets and short-throw shifter (on the manual version). The vehicles, which receive unique VINs since they aren't street legal, are delivered in body-on-white, with louvered rear window panels. The package presents an affordable and straightforward racing platform for those seeking domination of the quarter-mile. Check it out in the galleries below.

Gallery: Ford Mustang Cobra Jet assembly line

Gallery: Ford Mustang FR500CJ Cobra Jet

Gallery: SEMA 2008: Ford FR500CJ Cobra Jet Mustang

[Source: Fuel Slut via WCF]

Ford Mustang Cobra Jet rumbles off the assembly line originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More pics of the new Mustang FR500CJ Cobra Jet

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ford

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ford Mustang FR500CJ Cobra Jet

We first told you about Ford's new Mustang Cobra Jet factory drag car in June of 2007 and last week Ford posted a video on YouTube of a test session with the new car showing its stuff at Milan DragWay. Now we've received some fresh high-res pics of the Cobra Jet in our inbox from Ford. Last we heard Ford is only building 50 of these drag race specials all of which are powered by a blown 5.4-liter 32-valve V8 based on the GT500 motor. This engine has been breathed on a little more heavily then the GT500 and the car looks like it's been stripped down. With the usual drag combo of skinny front and fat rear tires, this Cobra looks like it might be a contender.

Gallery: Ford Mustang FR500CJ Cobra Jet

More pics of the new Mustang FR500CJ Cobra Jet originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Ford Racing tests FR500CJ "Cobra Jet" Mustang

Dan Roth — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, SEMA Show, Tuners, Videos, Ford

Click above to watch video after the jump

Back in the first Ponycar era, a Ford Mustang packed with a Cobra Jet V8 was a mighty drag strip warrior. Better still was the Super Cobra Jet, augmenting the CJ's enhanced breathing with a stouter lower end. Either way, a 428-powered Mustang would tear off elapsed times in the high 13s - still fast today. Since the current Mustang is a headlong dive into nostalgia, it stands to reason that Ford's working up a new Cobra Jet and eyeing drag racing domination yet again. We have no details other than a video after the jump that shows an obviously tweaked Mustang making a quarter mile run at Milan Dragway in Michigan, but the actual car will be coming to SEMA very soon, so Ford Racing is likely making sure that nothing blows up once the package is offered for sale. We've sent in our resume for the job of drag-race test driver; shoot, you don't even have to steer!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ford Racing tests FR500CJ "Cobra Jet" Mustang

VIDEO: Ford Racing tests FR500CJ "Cobra Jet" Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford to launch Mustang Cobra Jet factory drag racer this summer

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:22:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ford

1968 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet

Ford has a long history of creating factory-built racers based on its regular production cars. Over the past four decades, most of those have have been derived from the Mustang. Since the mid-90s, that has included several runs of Cobra Rs, and today, a couple of variants of the FR500. Later this summer, Ford will revive another Mustang variant from the first generation when the Cobra Jet is reborn. The original Cobra Jet was built as a drag racing special with a high-torque long-stroke 428 cu. in. V8. Forty years later, Ford will be building a new Cobra Jet this summer.

The new Cobra Jet will be powered by a supercharged 5.4L 32-valve V8 based on the GT500 engine. The Cobra Jet engine will be built on the same niche engine line as the GT500 and will have plenty of capacity for modifications by racers. (note: post edited at the request of the manufacturer) Ford is only planning to build 50 new Cobra Jets at the behest of a handful of dealers, who may end up buying all the cars and then re-selling them. The new drag racing specials are expected to be priced at $69,900.

[Source: Ford]

Ford to launch Mustang Cobra Jet factory drag racer this summer originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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