A new Cobra?
Not quite. Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) is Ford’s Aussie performance arm, the equivalent of HSV, and the Cobra GT is a special edition saloon and ute. And it’s not that Cobra you’re thinking of either. The Cobra is the namesake of the legendary XC Falcon Cobra coupe, which stormed Bathurst in 1977 with a now infamous 1-2 orchestrated finish. Three decades later, the FPV GT Cobra sports the same blue-stripes-on-white paint scheme with the Cobra logo emblazoned on the front guards and sewn into the standard leather upholstery.
So what’s special about the Cobra?
It’s more a special edition than anything else. There are a few tweaks to the engine so now the ‘Boss’ 5.4-litre V8 makes 405bhp and 398lb ft. The 405bhp is equivalent to 302kW, and Ford makes a great deal that 302 is also equivalent to that 1977 Cobra’s engine capacity in cubic inches. A six-speed manual and a limited-slip diff with a high-torque clutch are standard, while (possibly to the dismay of purists) a German-sourced ZF six-speed auto is optional. The saloon is yours for AU$65,110 (£28,921), while the ute will set you back AU$61,200 (£27,191).
So can I get one?
Not a chance, according to FPV. Revealed on a parade lap before the Falcon’s 1-2-3 Bathurst victory (headed by UK Team 888’s Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup), Ford Performance Vehicles officially confirmed the GT Cobra sedan and ute. Just 400 sedans and 100 utes have been made and all 500 have already been snapped up by enthusiasts.