Ford unveils all-electric prototype, Mustang Cobra Jet 1400

MANILA: Some people may have experienced being in a drag strip, and some of the familiar aspects of it include the ear-shattering screech of race engines and the tart aroma of race fuel.

But while the drag strip will still be there, the experience promises to be a little different, thanks to the newest dragster model of Ford, the all-electric Mustang Cobra Jet 1400. The electric vehicle (EV) runs almost silently, and it will not use even a single drop of fuel. Still, the all-electric Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 is projected to reach a quarter-mile run in the low eight-second range at more than 274kph.

“Cobra Jet,” however, is not just a term that Ford coined from nowhere.  It serves as a tribute to the original Cobra Jet dragsters from the late 1960s, along with the original FE 428-cubic-inch V8-powered Cobra Jet manufactured in 1968. The Cobra Jet line though was resurrected in the late 2000s. In 2018, Ford celebrated its 50^th year in the automobile industry with a limited-edition Mustang dragster. The Mustang dragster was regarded as the fastest drag racing Mustang of Ford Performance to cover a quarter-mile in the mid-eight-second range.

In 2019, Ford introduced the all-electric Mustang Mach-E crossover. Production and delivery of the Mach-E will supposedly begin in the latter part of this year up to early 2021. Yet, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

After the launch of the all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E , the all-electric Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 model presents another opportunity to promote the legacy and efficiency of Mustang while, at the same time, integrating the most innovative technology into the future powertrains of Ford.

The battery-powered Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 model is projected and designed to produce more than 1,400 horsepower and more than 1,491Nm of instant torque to demonstrate electric powertrain functionality in the most challenging race environments. Using large amounts of power is characteristic of drag cars, as the entire goal is to get the most straight-line distance from start to finish.

The global director of Ford Icons, Dave Pericak, said that Ford has always utilized motorsport to showcase innovation. Electric powertrains provide an entirely new type of performance. Thus, the all-electric Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 is an example of promoting new technology to the maximum limit.

According to Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports, this project has been a challenge for the staff of Ford Performance. They perceive the Cobra Jet 1400 initiative as an ideal opportunity to begin the development of electric powertrains in a race car package that the company has gained a lot of expertise and experience in. They have set performance standards, which they wanted to exceed with the current Ford model.

For the maximization of the effectiveness and efficiency of the Cobra Jet 1400 project, Ford Performance has partnered with numerous specialized suppliers. Among these are Cascadia (a motor and inverter supplier), AEMEV (for software and motor controls and calibration), Watson Engineering (for chassis support and development), and MLe Racecars (a vehicle tuner, integrator, designer, and builder).

Ford Performance continuously tests the Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 ahead of its global premiere later this year at a drag racing event. This is where competitors, media, and fans gather to see the race car and its capability on asphalt.

Before this, a sneak peek of the all-electric Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 will be aired this April 26 (Sunday) through MotorTrend On Demand’s “Hard Cell,” which demonstrates electric vehicles pushing innovation limits.