---

Production of 'Ultimate' Ford Mustang Begins

15 March 2000

Production of 'Ultimate' Ford Mustang Begins

    DEARBORN, Mich., March 15 Production of the Ford Special
Vehicle Team's all-new 2000 SVT Mustang Cobra 'R' -- the pony car icon taken
to the extreme of pure performance -- began this week at Ford's Dearborn
Assembly Plant.  Developed specifically for racing -- but fully street legal
-- only 300 SVT Mustang Cobra R models will be built, and sold through select
SVT certified Ford dealers.
    "This is the fastest, best-handling Mustang ever.  It will set a
performance benchmark for the competition," says John Coletti, Ford Special
Vehicle Engineering manager.  "Cobra R combines high-performance hardware and
engineering that go a long way toward making it the best of the breed."
    Tom Scarpello, specialty vehicle marketing manager at Ford, says the 2000
Cobra R is both a race car and a modern icon.
    "Three hundred people will be able to have a lot of fun in this car, and
be very competitive racing it," Scarpello says.  "That's what Mustang, and
Cobra R in particular, is all about.  This car elevates the whole idea of
Mustang -- without changing what it's been for more than 35 years."
    Cobra R equipment includes a 385-horsepower 5.4-liter 4-valve DOHC V8
engine from Ford's modular engine family, a McLeod aluminum flywheel, a Tremec
six-speed manual transmission, 18 x 9.5-inch wheels and tires, Brembo 4-piston
aluminum front brake calipers, Eibach racing springs, and a 21-gallon Fuel
Safe fuel cell.  A rear wing and front splitter provide high-speed aerodynamic
stability.  The car's top speed is more than 170 mph.
    Winning on a road course is all about transitions in and out of corners,
and handling those corners is the 2000 Cobra R's forte.  With lateral
acceleration higher than 1.0g on the 100-foot skidpad, Cobra R sets a new
benchmark for road-holding in its class.
    "Everything we've done on this car is a notch, or several notches, above
anything we've done before," Coletti says.  "This 2000 Cobra R pushes the
performance envelope far beyond the capabilities of any previous Mustang."