Mustangworld: The 2000 Cobra R

Cobra R is equipped with fundamentally the same steering package as the Cobra, a rack-and-pinion system with 15:1 ratio and 2.5 turns lock-to-lock. For Cobra R, the boost curve has been revised to give more precise overall feel, and the T-bar is stiffer to give on-center feel and feedback more suitable for racing. The rack stops are revised to accommodate the larger wheels and tires as well as the lowered ride height. The tie rod ends have been lowered 4mm to decrease bump steer with the car’s lowered ride height, and their boots have been upgraded for more heat resistance.

For the extremes of racing conditions, Cobra R’s power steering fluid is cooled by an air-to-oil cooler behind the front fascia, and also by a water-to-oil cooler integrated with the engine radiator. Brakes. Wheels. Tires To provide the kind of ultra-competitive braking capability the SVE team required, the Cobra’s Brembo 13-inch vented front rotors have been fitted with Brembo four-piston aluminum calipers on the Cobra R.

Air inlets designed into the Cobra fog light bezels are used to provide extra cooling for the Cobra R’s front brakes. Air ducts run from these inlets to special carbon-fiber heat shields fitted around the inside of the brakes to intercool the rotors. These heat shields are race-proven through development and use by Multimatic Motorsports, racing 1999 Cobras in the Motorola Cup series. The rear brake rotors and calipers are not changed from the Cobra, but special racing pads have been specified, which are 1mm thicker. These pads provide increased temperature stability, longer life and also help to decrease stopping distance.

The 2000 Cobra R is equipped with 18 x 9.5-inch, five-spoke aluminum alloy wheels with the Cobra R emblem on their center caps. These wheels provide the extra clearance required for the larger front brake calipers and, fitted with specially manufactured 265/4OZRl 8 BFGoodrich g-force KD tires, help give the elevated level of handling the SVE team demanded for this new Cobra R.

Chassis and Bodywork Cobra R’s basic body structure is the same as any other Mustang. In fact, one of the team’s objectives was to use as much existing componentry as possible, both for tooling cost management and to keep the manufacturing and assembly process as close as possible to the standard Mustang. Items deleted to reduce weight and enhance performance include all chassis sound damping material, trunk trim and spare tire cover, the rear seat and rear tnm. Even the 21-gallon fuel cell, produced by Fuel Safe for the Cobra R, uses the same mounting points as the stock tank, as well as the current production filler neck and evaporative system.

The Cobra R’s rear deck and rear fascia are the same as used on the Mustang V6 model. The Cobra rear fascia incorporates exhaust-pipe cutouts, which are not needed on the Cobra R due to its unique side-exit system. Unique Cobra R body parts include a specially designed rear wing and front splitter which, along with the lowered ride height, reduce front lift and increase rear downforce.

The "Mustang" Bumper: Why not "Cobra" like the new production y2k? The Cobra R uses the "Mustang" rear bumper from the V6 because the 2000 "Cobra" bumper has cut outs for a rear exhaust exit. The Cobra R of course has side exhaust.

The splitter itself virtually eliminates front-end lift above 100 mph. The splitter/wing combination dramatically increases the car’s aerodynamic stability, and the effects are especially noticeable approaching the car’s top speed of more than 170 mph. The “power dome” hood, also unique to the Cobra R, provides the extra clearance necessary for the engine’s intake

That's it for now...