2010-mustang-cobra-jet-13.jpg
The Mustang Cobra Jet is one of the most feared drag racers to ever hit the track, and the new 2010 model looks to be even better. The last Cobra Jet came out in 2008 as a limited run of only 50 vehicles, all of which were sold before a single car came off the assembly line. The 2010 model run, also of fifty cars, is also already sold out. Called the FR500CJ, the new Cobra Jet benefits from the lessons of the 2008 model to make one of the best dragsters ever.
The 2010 Cobra Jet comes in two trims, the standard and the Super. The standard Cobra Jet has a 5.4-liter V8 engine with a 2.3-liter supercharger, which is tuned to 475 horsepower. The Super Cobra Jet gets a V8 with the same displacement, but the block is made out of aluminum to save weight, and the supercharger is a 4-liter Whipple. Power ratings for the Super Cobra Jet haven’t been released yet, but they’re sure to adhere to NHRA standards. There will also be three naturally-aspirated engine choices to ensure that the Cobra Jet can compete in a wide variety of racing segments.
2010-mustang-cobra-jet-15.jpg
And racing is never far from one’s mind when looking at the Cobra Jet. The car has an NHRA approved roll cage, and every car comes fitted with a racing harness. And, in a concession to the modern technology the underpins most racers, the cavity normally used for a passenger-side airbag now houses a connector for plugging in a diagnostics laptop computer so that pit teams can make ECU tuning changes on the fly.
2010-mustang-cobra-jet-18.jpg
As impressive as those specs and those features are, the most impressive thing is on the outside. It’s no secret that the 2010 Mustang is quite the looker, but the Cobra Jet takes that to another level. The big white-letter Hoosier tires, the blocked out quarter windows, and the custom hood all come together to create one mean-looking ‘Stang.
2010-mustang-cobra-jet-19.jpg
Just like the 2008 Cobra Jets, the 2010 models will start their production at the same Auto Alliance plant in Flat Rock, MI that makes the stock Mustang. From there, the cars will head to the Romeo engine production plant for final assembly and presumably NHRA certifications (as well as other certifications from other racing organizations like the IHRA, NMRA, etc.).
2010-mustang-cobra-jet-05.jpg
The 2010 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet had a starting price of $77,000, with a fully-equipped Super Cobra Jet topping out at $95,000. As mentioned earlier, the 50 factory models have been sold out for months already, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have one. Every single part on the car is available as an aftermarket modification from Ford Racing. There’s also the one-piece body in white shell, but don’t expect it to look like the Cobra Jet in these pictures. This design was a one-off created specifically for auto shows (it debuted at SEMA last month), while the production models will be white with red, white, and blue Cobra graphics options.
