Ford Mustang Cobra

[thepolarfoxqx]

For 2003 Mustang Cobra gets a 390hp DOHC 4.6L Supercharged V8. Those of you who moan that its platform is 24 years old, keep in mind that A: It gets the DEW Lite platform for 2005 (Jag S-Type, T-Bird, Lincoln LS), and the Cobra gets a multi-link rear suspension - which is a pretty nice improvement. Here is a thought for you - in terms of performance and refinement - would this new car not compete with an M3 - similar price - the Cobra has more power - the M3 - more luxury (though the cobra gets conv. top and some interior materials from jag XK). This car can haul 4 people - beats a Corvette C5 LS1 to 60 - and gives Z06 LS6 something to worry about. Anyone have any thoughts?

[LOTUSV8]

No doubt the Cobra is a fast car....but it hardly qualifies as a supercar. Its really a muscle car. Don't get me wrong but, 390 bhp@3600+lbs doesn't sound very appealing to me.

[thepolarfoxqx]

No, Cobra is no supercar, GT40 is, it is a sports car, just because it has a wild v8 doesn't make it a muscle car. It is as much a sports car as your ZR1. 390hp is 3,600lbs isn't bad, but remember how flat and wide the torque curve is. Best of all, they are very modern cars - with potential left in them.

[LOTUSV8]

The Cobra/Mustang/Camaro/Firebird will never the sports car the Vette or Viper is. The Vette/Viper are true 2 seater sport car vs. the Cobra/Mustangs 4 seat pony/muscle car format. Sure it has potential, but there is nothing impressive about a 390bhp engine with a blower. (from an engineering standpoint)

[thepolarfoxqx]

First off - viper is not a sports car. It is a poorly designed chasis (yes, it is unstable and has unimpressive handling numbers - shamed by 4 seaters at half the price), and has a tuned up truck motor dating back forever that uses pushrods, I am sorry, pushrods belong in lawn tractors. Corvette lays decent claim. What is impressive about 500hp from 8.3L? not a whole lot. The mustang cobra employs DOHC and a roots s/c - along with a few other tricks - the end result - the power comes on low and strong - nearing peak torque by 2,000 - not dropping off till past 5,500 - peak horsepower is at 6,000. Redline 6,500. Cost: $35,000. Only a tad slower than viper (1/2 second to 60?). Just by using a smaller s/c pully, you could increase horsepower over 500 as boost is set at a resonable 8 psi currently. The Lotus Esprit V8 makes 350hp from 3.5L - and suffers turbo lag. Just because it has a back seat doesn't make it not a sports car. I am not saying that the 4.6 S/C is the greatest thing every, but in the scheme of american sports car engines, this is one of the most advanced and available engines. It is based on archetecture introduced in 1997 - the engines in viper and corvette directly trace their designs and archetecture to engines introduced in the mid to late fifties. Maybe if Chrysler and GM would build somewhat modern engines for their sports cars, they would be more competitive. Corvette is already a very good sports car. Viper - has its niche - for people who thrive on cubic inches. Mustang Cobra is (and with a highly modified suspension and body torsion resistance - it is hardly the platform the debuted in '7 is arguably the most modern in its engineering. If viper had the specific output of cobra - it would make over 700 horsepower. How is that for engineering?

[LOTUSV8]

I'm sorry sticking a blower on DOHC isn't all that impressive. Its only being done because without the blower its just another slow Cobra.

[thepolarfoxqx]

This engine pumps out 85 hp/L with a low power blower. The reason such a low pressure is used is for better response. What do you call a good engine? Sure, there are better german engines, - but dollar for dollar, you can't get faster. period. If you think that the Lotus (well, its really a rover) 3.5L V8 is special, keep in mind its less than stellar reliability history, the fact that it can only make 100hp/l to spite being nearly a supercar - and being twin turbo. Cobras have always been tuner favorites because there is so much potential left in them. If there is one thing to say about american cars, they have a lot of power left to be extracted from them. There are few cars for twice the price of cobra that can haul 4 people close to as fast as it can. Mercedes has long used blowers to make mild engines wild. Porsche has relied upon turbos, as have the japanese manufacturers. What is the Rover 3.5L V8 without a turbo? A wimpy ornary british motor without enough torque to be worth while. What is the 4.6L DOHC Cobra motor without a blower. A pretty nice powerplant, not amazing, but pretty nice.

[T88TurboStang]

ok first of all the cobra does not have 390.....how do i know that, easy, ford hides there numbers now.... the cobra has over 430 to the crank... and runs 380-90 to the wheels...... i konw this becuase i have seen bone stock ones dynoed before my very eyes, and the great thing about a "FACTORY" s/c is that it is waranteed.... which means this fellas.... you swap out the pully to a smaller one...add a chip...and exhaust for 1000$... and you have easy easy 470 hp to the rear wheels.... and how about htis... isaw one smoke the hell out of a 550 maranelo...so know the stats before you konw wha tyou rae talking about...you think vipers are that great... with 480 hp and 500 hp, yea well they only run 410 to the wheels....ooh wait the cobra can do 470 with what....a smalll 30 dollar pully.... lol lol

[thepolarfoxqx]

The Cobra is an amazing car, I go by the specs that the factory puts out. The factory says 390. Based on the 0-60 numbers from tests (4.7-4. - 390 fits. I think if Ford could pull the weight on the cobra down 3200-3400 pounds - they would have an amazing car.

Too bad they didn't use the 5.4L from the Cobra R with a low inertia S/C - that woulda been really cool.

[T88TurboStang]

at a local mustang shop..they tuned a supercharged cobra R...and ran 580 to the rear wheels....and that was only 3/4 tuned....... they said htey will get 600 to the rear wheels with a better fuel system...ignition..and timeing it better...now taht is some muscle..dayum