New World Record Set by Ford’s Upgraded Electric Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800

Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn took its electric Super Cobra Jet demonstrator — called the Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800 — to the NHRA Winter Nationals in Pomona, Calif., on March 23, and broke the world record for the fastest quarter-mile pass with a full bodied-drag car.
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Ford Corbra Jet EV
Ford’s Cobra Jet EV Demonstrator broke its own quarter-mile record on March 23 in California. // Photo courtesy of Ford

Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn took its electric Super Cobra Jet demonstrator — called the Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800 — to the NHRA Winter Nationals in Pomona, Calif., on March 23, and broke the world record for the fastest quarter-mile pass with a full bodied-drag car.

The Super Cobra Jet 1800’s time of 7.759 seconds at 180.14 miles per hour broke its own record of 8.128 seconds at 171.97 miles per hour set in 2021.

“One of our goals with Ford Performance Electric Vehicle Demonstrators is to redefine what’s possible in racing with electric powertrains,” says Mark Rushbrook, director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “With the Cobra Jet EV demonstrator, we’ve now done that twice.”

Achieving such a feat was the culmination of cutting the battery system’s weight by more than 40 percent and fine-tuning the suspension geometry to perfection, Rushbrook says. The redesigned battery system also achieved a 30 percent power increase.

“Seeing an all-electric Mustang tear down the NHRA strip in under eight seconds was nothing short of awe-inspiring,” Rushbrook says. “It’s a clear signal that Ford is not just participating in the electric revolution, we’re leading it, bringing our electric vehicle technology to the pinnacle of competitive racing. Every lesson we learn on the track is a step toward enhancing the performance of our EVs for customers, especially in Ford’s hybrid technology advancement.

The Super Cobra Jet 1800’s journey from concept to record-breaker involved upgrades over the previous 1,400-horsepower version. In addition to the lighter battery and the improved suspension, the upgraded Cobra Jet EV Demonstrator has a custom control strategy, four PN250DZR inverters, and two double-stacked DS-250-115 motor pairings, all optimized for launch and performance.

“As we celebrate this historic achievement, it’s clear that the journey of the Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800 is far from over,” Rushbrook says. “The road ahead for Ford EVs in motorsports is as exciting as it is promising. With each record we break and every barrier we push past, we’re not just racing for the thrill of competition, we’re racing toward a future where the roar of an engine can be as silent as it is powerful.”