FIFTY YEARS OF BADASSERY

It makes sense that Ford saved its meanest Mustang Cobra Jet for the model’s 50th anniversary. The recently unveiled 2018 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet continues the model’s tradition as a limited-production strip-only weapon. As a nod to the original Cobra Jet’s 1968 debut, only 68 of these will be manufactured. However, that’s about where the similarities and the nostalgic crap end — this vehicle is an uncompromising badass combining the best of Ford’s current brute-force power with oldschool underpinnings capable of withstanding the damage. The quad-cam Coyote V8 is punched out to 5.2 litres, with a huge Whipple blower on top, and, while power figures have taken a back seat, it’s supposed to be good for an eight-second quarter-mile at 150mph. The standard independent rear has been replaced with a Strange Engineering nine-inch and fourlink set-up, drag-specific coilovers, and custom Weld Racing wheels and Hoosier tyres. We feel that the 2018 model looks sharper than every other Cobra Jet model of late, no doubt helped by its handsome profile, its no-nonsense stance, and the retro styling. Retailing at US$130K, and, with most of the production expected to be spoken for via pre-order, all this news piece is really good for is as a bucket-list-filler — although the Mustang is New Zealand’s most popular sports car, so maybe someone out there could be game to build a Cobra Jet replica.