Ford Mustang Cobra Jet A new strip queen has debuted in Las Vegas, but this one won't be dancing on any poles. Ford Racing has taken the wraps off the new Mustang Cobra Jet Concept at SEMA, also revealing the motorsport wing's new white, black, and blue livery. This year's Cobra Jet ditches the supercharger for the engine setup Blue Oval fans have long been clamoring for - a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V-8. That's right, the Mustang Cobra Jet Concept dragster has been EcoBoosted (though it remains to be seen just how eco-friendly it is). The new Cobra Jet Concept marks the first time Ford's 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 has been turbocharged by the factory, and it also represents the first time Ford's factory-built, turn-key dragster has been fitted with turbochargers. In the past, the Cobra Jet Dragster's 5.0-liter V-8 was either left naturally aspirated, or fitted with a massive 2.9-liter Whipple Supercharger. That supercharger, according to Ford, requires as much as 100 horsepower to work.
Ford Mustang Cobra Jet
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| Ford Mustang Cobra Jet |
Ford Mustang Cobra Jet
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| Ford Mustang Cobra Jet |
Ford Mustang Cobra Jet
Fitting the engine with turbochargers negates that problem, and frees up power for faster trap times at the strip. Since it's designed to meet NHRA Stock and Super Stock regulations, the twin turbos on the Cobra Jet Concept are production-based. The dragster's Borg-Warner turbos are based on the new Focus ST's turbo, though they're about 40 percent larger on the Mustang, according to our source. Ford Racing used the smallest possible turbos in order to fight lag, but the units are big enough to give the engine the airflow it needs. Electronically controlled wastegates also do their part in combating lag. No horsepower or torque figures for the new twin-turbo V-8 have been released, but our source says the Cobra Jet Concept weighs around 3000 pounds, and is expected to run a high eight-second quarter-mile, at speeds above 150 mph. The twin-turbo Mustang Cobra Jet Concept remains just that - a concept. It isn't likely to see production unless demand is high enough. While buyers might not be able to get their hands on this twin-turbo beast just yet, some of its go fast parts, like the new intake manifold which is reportedly good for a 25-hp boost on a Mustang Boss 302, will be available in the Ford Racing catalog. Could the Mustang Cobra Jet Concept lead to a production Mustang with an EcoBoost V-8? Here's hoping, but we likely won't find out until after the new 2015 Mustang's release.
