Forza Motorsport 3 Car of the Day 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R

Geschrieben am 26. Okt, 2009 in Forza Motorsport 3

Ford’s Special Vehicle Operations makers of the Mustang SVO with its turbo 2.3-liter four in the mid 1980s was also in charge of overseeing race programs and performance parts development. In 1990 Ford wanted to get into the tuning scene from a factory perspective and the Special Vehicle Team was created.

A press release from back in the day explained SVT’s mission statement well saying it was “to use the best-available resources from both inside and outside Ford [Motor Company] to explore new ways of creating and marketing high-performance vehicles. The cross-functional team is charged with delivering limited-edition, high-performance derivative cars and trucks designed to delight serious drivers…. SVT’s refined, understated ‘form follows function’ philosophy reflects our passion for multi-dimensional performance.”

SVT was quick to act and its first two creations popped some retinas at the 1992 Chicago Auto Show. Built from early production 1993 Fox chassis models, the two hard-hitters, the SVT Mustang Cobra and an equally performance modified pickup, the SVT F-150 Lightning, provided the new division a diverse portfolio right off the bat.

Successful, Ford’s hot rod gang stepped their game up in 1993, building a race version; the Cobra R. Being a lightweight racer, the Cobra R’s diet meant it lost air conditioning, rear carpeting, the radio, speakers and the accompanying wiring as well as all sound dampening insulation, carpet padding, and body seam sealer. The rear seats and hardware were also tossed.

The SVT Cobra R is powered by 5.0-liter V8 with GT-40 heads and an aggressive camshaft. The Cobra R is rated at 235 horsepower and can lay down 0-60s in the 5.7-second range. The R model can be quickly spotted by its black powdercoated ‘Tribar’ wheels with polished center caps and the fact that it comes in any color as long as it’s red. Ford produced only 107 Rs in 1993 which means it’s a rare, highly collectable thrill ride.