The name “Cobra Jet” means something serious to Mustang fans, harkening back to the 60’s and 70’s where the moniker denoted souped up pony cars eager for the quarter-mile. Back then, the 428 Cobra Jet was near the pinnacle of Mustang, though it could be enhanced by a Super Cobra Jet package.

Repeating itself, as history often does, Ford is taking aim at NHRA records with a newly improved Super Cobra Jet 1800 prototype, a step above 2021’s Cobra Jet 1400. Where these two models separate themselves from the Blue Oval’s deeper past is through their powertrains, as both of these modern Cobras are all-electric.

That also means the records looking to be breached by the 1800 are for full-bodied electric vehicles, including a high score set by the 1400 in June 2021– 8.128 seconds at 171.97 mph, driven by Bob Tasca III. The new record attempt will be done at an NHRA event later this year, planned to be driven by MLe Racecar’s Pat McCue. Other brands collaborating with Ford Performance include AEM-EV, Cascadia Motion and Watson Engineering.

The Super Cobra Jet 1800 borrows some high-tech bits from the 1400, such as the same four PN-250-DZR inverters and two double-stacked DS-250-115 motor pairings. Performance is enhanced by a new transmission, supplied by Liberty, as well as a lighter battery system designed by Ford Performance and MLe Racecars. The latter also revised the rear end with improved suspension geometry from PMR. Power is put down to the tarmac through larger Mickey Thompson drag radials, and on the virtual side of things is a proprietary control software running on AEM-EV hardware.

Fastest full-bodied electric vehicle may be the biggest goal, but the team also looks to set the record for fastest electric vehicle 0-60 time and fastest two-wheel drive electric vehicle 0-60 time.