<![CDATA[Jalopnik: ford mustang cobra jet]]> http://tags.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: ford mustang cobra jet]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/fordmustangcobrajet http://jalopnik.com/tag/fordmustangcobrajet <![CDATA[2010 Cobra Jet Mustang, Ford's New Turnkey Drag Racer]]> Ford Racing has pulled the wraps off the 2010 Cobra Jet Mustang, a snarling factory turnkey drag racer. Not just a new skin, it's a completely rethought racer which does everything hardcore drag racers could want right from the factory.

The latest Cobra Jet maintains the theme of all CJ's in the past — a factory chassis stripped of all non-essentials and outfitted with all the goodies drag racers want to go fast in a straight line. For 2010, Ford's taken things to a whole new level, making the Cobra Jet Mustang so good they're envisioning customers who buy the car and don't have to waste time replacing bits before taking runs down the strip.

What we're looking at here is the "Super" Cobra Jet, the top-of-the-line model with all options and the goodies, this one's even painted a special silver for SEMA, all others will be the traditional white. It's equipped with a 5.4 liter V8 with a 4.0-liter Whipple supercharger with headers, adjustable front and rear shocks, manual steering and an NHRA certified roll cage, competition shifter with trans brake, Hoosier drag radials on Weld wheels, a rear mounted battery and fuel cell, as well as a cut-off switch.

Those things are pretty normal for any drag racer, but the stuff making this factory runner a unique proposition is a little more thoughtful. Instead of just reusing the standard Mustang wiring loom, the CJ's is unique, which affords the Ford Racing guys some unique opportunities. Since there are no airbags in the car, they relocated all the fuses to the glovebox area, which has an easily removable upper cover. Also hidden in there is a computer hookup for convenient data recovery and diagnostics, which is pretty cool on it's own. The IP is otherwise fully instrumented with a lovely row of toggle switches in front of the performance shifter and transmission brake. You'll notice the hand brake lever is missing because that whole system is superfluous.

Speaking of brakes, the Cobra Jet is equipped with manual brakes because most racers prefer them to vacuum boosted brakes, and you can forget about traction control and ABS for that matter — this car doesn't even have side mirrors. This model is again, the top of the line, and will run in Superstock A and B Auto, but there will be other flavors available with different engines, options and race gadgets. Having been bathed in the tire smoke of this fine automobile in the Ford Racing shop's parking lot, we can attest to both the noise and fury of this latest iteration. We at admit to having gone a little weak in the knees a the sound of that big mill at full chat.

2010 COBRA JET MUSTANG CONTINUES THE EVOLUTION OF TURNKEY RACE CAR PROGRAM
LAS VEGAS – Since its victorious introduction at the NHRA Winternationals in 1968, Ford's Cobra Jet Mustang has created a legacy of power, performance and triumph.
The 40th Anniversary 2008 Cobra Jet Mustang lived up to the legend of the original, duplicating the NHRA Winternationals victory in 2009 and dominating drag strips across the land.
Today, Ford Racing unveiled the 2010 Cobra Jet Mustang at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, which marks the continued evolution of the CJ as a factory-produced turnkey race car. In honor of the SEMA introduction, Ford Racing built and unveiled a one-of-a-kind "SEMA Special" silver Cobra Jet complete with a charcoal Cobra Jet graphics package.
"The 2008 Cobra Jet was a great car, it did everything we wanted it to do," said Brian Wolfe, director, Ford North American Motorsports. "We're really proud of the car, but then again we're always trying to make the next one better.

"With the 2010 Cobra Jet, we had the luxury of a longer development cycle and the result is absolutely stunning. Where the 2008 Cobra Jet was an extremely potent starting point for NHRA Stock competition, the 2010 will enhance the car further. We are all excited to see the new Cobra Jet in competition."
For decades, the Mustang has been the preeminent car in many forms of racing, including drag racing. The 2008 Cobra Jet Mustang added to that legacy this season with high- profile wins at the NHRA Winternationals and U.S. Nationals, and by setting numerous track records across the country.
The 2010 Cobra Jet, like its predecessor, is a factory-built race car that is intended for NHRA Stock and Super Stock racing. The goal for the 2010 Cobra Jet was to enhance the race features to further make its own place in NHRA history. The 2010 CJ will come with all of the features of the 2008 car with enhancements that include options for a full race-prepared automatic or manual transmission, drag race-specific shocks and springs, manual steering and brakes, 8.50 certified rollcage, and an Aeromitive return-style fuel system with trunk-mounted fuel cell.
Additionally Ford Racing engineers have developed for the 2010 Cobra Jet a factory-first launch control/rev limiter that will allow drivers to preset the rpm after they stage the car. When they are ready to leave, all they do is put the throttle pedal to the floor; they don't have the engine speed to free rev. Previously, the launch control/rev limiter was only available as an aftermarket option.
Much like Ford Racing's previous Mustang FR500S race car, the Cobra Jet Mustang will get its start at the Auto Alliance International (AAI) assembly plant in Flat Rock, Mich. The entire 50-car run of 2010 Cobra Jets will be built on the same production line that produces the 2010 Ford Mustang production car. Production of Cobra Jets will commence in January, with delivery of all vehicles expected in the first quarter of 2010.
All of the additional parts and pieces for the CJ can be found in the Ford Performance Parts catalog. And since the Cobra Jet is produced from a base V-6 Mustang, any consumer can turn his Mustang into a Cobra Jet by purchasing the parts from the Ford Performance Parts catalog.
The 2010 CJ car features a choice for customers between two supercharged engines or three normally aspirated engines (pending NHRA approval). These options will allow the Cobra Jet to be eligible for more classes in the NHRA, as well as competition with other sanctioning bodies, including NMRA, NMCA, PSCA and IHRA.
All 50 of the 2010 Cobra Jet Mustangs have already been ordered by Ford dealers for delivery to customers. For those customers who missed out on the limited run of 2010 Cobra Jets, Ford Racing has set a goal to provide future versions of the Cobra Jet.

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<![CDATA[First Production Ford Mustang Cobra Jet FR500CJ Rolls Out]]> Here's the first shots of the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet FR500CJ starting production and aside from getting a factory-built honest-to-goodness drag racer, you get one of the coolest VIN number schemes ever.

Okay, yes, the Cobra Jet gets an upgraded 5.4-liter V8 with a cold air intake, A/C delete, 9-inch rear end, a six speed manual or three speed auto with custom shifter, a roll hoop, gauges, a specialized suspension and huge drag slicks, but it also gets a VIN starting with the car's name. This first car off the line is VIN number FR500CJ001. Since it's not a road legal car to begin with, it doesn't have to maintain the traditional VIN coding, so it can be whatever it wants to be. These shots apparently come from a largely unpublicized Job 1 celebration which took place December 18th as the first Cobra Jet came off the end of the line.
Hopefully, the annual Ford drag racing event at Milan Dragway happens again next summer. While we're not complaining about last years selection, if they accidentally brought along one of these, we wouldn't complain. (Hat tip to Jeremy!)

[via Fuel Slut (Why didn't we think of that name?)]


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<![CDATA[Ford Readies Mustang Cobra Jet Drag Race Package]]> Having had some time behind the wheel of a tamer drag Mustang we're floored at the idea of the Cobra Jet Mustang drag package, seen here chewing up the quarter-mile at the Milan Dragway in Michigan. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's another special edition Mustang. But this umpteenth pony variation appears to be a purpose-built drag racing 'Stang powered by the "cobra jet" variation of the 5.4-liter V8 found in the Shelby GT500KR. Further details are lacking, but those tiny tires on the front should indicate the sole purpose of this Mustang.

(Thanks to everyone who tipped us on this) [TechWeasel]

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