FORD'S ELECTRIC DRAG CAR, THE SUPER COBRA JET 1800, SHATTERS RECORDS AT NHRA WINTER NATIONALS
Ford just rewrote the rulebook on electric racing at the NHRA Winter Nationals. In a jaw-dropping display of both power and innovation, Ford's purpose-built Super Cobra Jet 1800 took the drag strip by storm by breaking the World Record for the fastest quarter-mile pass with a full-bodied electric drag car. The race-spec EV crossed the traps in an absolutely mind-blowing 7.759 seconds at a staggering 180.14 mph (298.90 km/h) in a pass that officially made history – again. Back in 2021, the drag EV set the bar high with a record-breaking run of 8.128 seconds at 171.97 mph (276.75 km/h). By completely smashing its own record, Ford proves it is at the forefront of the electric revolution in motorsports. Behind this groundbreaking achievement lies a story of relentless innovation, from slashing the weight of the battery system by over 40% to fine-tuning the suspension for optimal performance, every detail of the Super Cobra Jet 1800 has been meticulously set up for speed and power. It's not just about setting records though, it's about pushing the boundaries of what's possible with electric power and Ford is not just participating in the electric revolution; they’re leading it. With each lesson learned on the track, the automaker has gained valuable data which helps to enhance the performance of their showroom model EVs for customers worldwide. The journey from concept to record-breaker involved a collaboration between Ford Performance and MLe Racecars, resulting in a powerhouse setup featuring cutting-edge technology like four PN250DZR inverters and two double-stacked DS-250-115 motor pairings. The "blank page" redesign of the battery system also helped deliver a staggering 30 % power increase.
The Super Cobra Jet 1800 is powered by the same four PN-250-DZR inverters coupled to two double-stacked DS-250-115 motor pairings as before, but the setup is now mated to a bespoke new transmission from Liberty and is also powered by a reworked, lighter weight battery system designed by Ford Performance and MLe Racecars. The power is sent to an MLe Racecars-revised rear end featuring improved suspension geometry from PMR and larger Mickey Thompson drag radials to optimize launches. To make the Super Cobra Jet 1800 the best it can be, Ford Performance utilized proprietary control software running on AEM-EV hardware, with a new data acquisition system, dash, and power distribution system all designed in-house. “Our changes have made significant improvements to the car, including removing hundreds of pounds in weight and increasing horsepower to 1800,” explained Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsports. Originally, the Super Cobra Jet 1800 was not just going for a new full-bodied electric vehicle record, but it will also attempt to claim records for the fastest electric vehicle in the 0-60 mph category as well as the fastest 2-wheel drive electric vehicle 0-60 during an NHRA event. It’s properly impressive for a purpose-built drag car, although I must admit I did think it could be faster. The Rimac Nevera is a series production EV and it’s blitzed the quarter mile in 8.25 seconds, which is a mere 0.5 seconds slower than the purpose-built drag car. Makes ja think.
Take a look at the YouTube short from the folks at Mean Street Muscle. While this purpose-built drag car is the furthest thing from Muscle, it sure runs like an ethanol-guzzling drag car. Check how good electric power is getting with this mad pass: Super Cobrajet 1800 Electric Mustang 1800 HP, 2024 Winternationals, Pomona CA | Mean Streets Muscle
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