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Ford
Shelby Cobra Concept
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Racing legend Carroll Shelby leans
over the engine of his namesake the new Shelby Cobra Concept which was
revealed at the North American International Auto Show 1/4/03
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"Our original objective was to build a sports car that would outrun
Corvette," Shelby said. "I never dreamed it would become the icon that it
did."
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The new Ford Shelby Cobra concept marks the latest step in an exciting
evolution of Ford concept vehicles, with an evocative design, bonafide
performance credentials and – thanks to engineering as nimble and
efficient as a sports car – a level of feasibility that is already
close to production-level.
The Ford Shelby Cobra’s design reinforces this mission, with
minimalist interior and exterior elements that emphasize its
performance-oriented function. Cues like the massive grille opening,
side vents, low-back seats and bulging wheel arches establish an
emotional connection with Carroll Shelby’s original 1960s Cobras, but
no dimensions or proportions are copied in this thoroughly modern
two-seater.
The Ford Shelby Cobra concept team drew heavily on the Ford GT
production car – especially the space frame and suspension – to
maximize efficiencies. Although the cars have vastly different
characters and different dimensions, smart engineering quickly adapted
the rear-mid-engine Ford GT platform to this front-mid-engine
application.
Inspired by the biggest, baddest Cobra of all – the renowned 427 –
Ford engineers created a new aluminum-block V-10 to power the Ford
Shelby Cobra concept. This 6.4-liter engine, adapted from Ford’s MOD
family, delivers the rush of raw power associated with that big 1960s
V-8 monster – with 605 horsepower and 501 foot-pounds of torque –
without the aid of supercharging or turbocharging.
This combination of brute force and thorough engineering has created a
rarity in the world of auto shows – a concept car that can actually
do, rather than merely promise, zero to 60 in under four seconds, and
would easily exceed 100 mph if not electronically limited. With show
cars typically limited to a stately 15 mph or so, this fact points at
the level of engineering packed into the Ford Shelby Cobra concept –
and points to the authenticity that comes from working with Carroll
Shelby once again.
This production-feasible roadster has a
427-inspired 605-horsepower, all-aluminum V-10 engine mounted at the
front of an advanced aluminum chassis modified from the rear-engine
Ford GT.
It weighs slightly more than 3,000 pounds and is about as long as a
Mazda Miata. There’s no roof, no side glass, not even a radio. "That’s
the formula," said Carroll Shelby. "It’s a massive motor in a tiny,
lightweight car."
It weighs slightly more than 3,000
pounds and is about as long as a Mazda Miata. There’s no roof, no side
glass, not even a radio. "That’s the formula," said Carroll Shelby. "It’s
a massive motor in a tiny, lightweight car."
The Ford Shelby Cobra concept is not just a huge engine with a pair of
seats along for the ride. Owing to its front engine and rear transaxle
layout, the roadster has nearly perfect weight distribution and a
world-class supercar suspension for agility to match its alacrity.
What’s more, this ultimate roadster seats full-size adults without
compromise. It actually has more front-seat legroom than a Ford Crown
Victoria sedan. This key packaging achievement wouldn’t be necessary
on a typical show car – but is absolutely essential to demonstrate
production feasibility.
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