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Overview
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Specs
POWER, RIDE, HANDLING GIVE COMPETITIVE EDGE
The 2001 SVT Mustang Cobra continues to break away from the pack with muscle-car power and refined driving dynamics, thanks to its DOHC V8 engine and independent rear suspension system (IRS). The IRS provides a competitive edge over the SVT Cobra's rivals by giving the car a firm yet compliant ride and outstanding handling characteristics.
POWERTRAIN
The SVT Mustang Cobra's potent 4.6-liter, DOHC tumble-port V8 engine produces 320 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 317 foot-pounds of torque at 4,750 rpm.
The block is cast aluminum alloy, carrying a fully counterweighted, forged-steel crankshaft. Aluminum upper main, upper thrust and rod bearings add to the engine's durability. Six high-tensile steel bolts secure each main bearing cap, in an arrangement that spreads loads over a large area of the block.
The aluminum alloy pistons have shallow skirts and a special friction-reducing coating on their sliding surfaces, which improves both durability and the engine's free-revving characteristics. The pistons are designed to give the engine a compression ratio of 9.85:1.
The engine's intake system consists of a specially designed conical air filter, an 80mm mass-air flow sensor, and twin 57mm throttle body bores with butterfly valves that open simultaneously, providing exceptional throttle response by quickly yet progressively moving air into the cast-aluminum manifold.
In the upper manifold, eight tuned runners feed down to the intake ports and eight pairs of 37mm intake valves. The design of the runners and intake ports imparts a tumbling motion to the fuel-air charge as it enters the combustion chamber, which increases the mixture's volatility and makes it more powerful.
A distributorless, coil-on-plug ignition system fires each cylinder. The system is precise, uncomplicated, and gives a high-energy spark for efficient burn characteristics.
The exhaust manifolds are made of high-silicon, molybdenum iron, feeding into a stainless steel exhaust system with 2.25-inch pipes and low-restriction mufflers.
Each SVT Cobra engine is hand-assembled at the Romeo (Mich.) Engine Plant. Two-person teams assemble the engines on a separate, dedicated line, and their final task is fastening a signature plate, inscribed with their names, onto the right cam cover.
Behind the engine, a rugged 11-inch, single-plate clutch and Tremec™ 5-speed manual transmission deliver power to the SVT Cobra's 3.27:1 crown-and-pinion gears and limited slip differential. The differential assembly is housed in an aluminum case.
TRACTION CONTROL
An all-speed traction control system (TCS) is standard equipment on all the 2001 Ford SVT Mustang Cobras - a hybrid system that is designed to meet the performance needs of SVT Cobra drivers.
The system's "Power Start" feature allows the driver to spin the drive wheels under acceleration, as long as the car tracks straight. If the system senses the vehicle slipping sideways, the traction control system will engage. The system also has a driver-selectable on/off switch.
With the TCS activated, when either of the two rear ABS/traction control sensors detects a wheel spinning at a rate higher than its counterpart, the engine management system retards ignition timing and modulates the fuel-air ratio to reduce power to that wheel. If the spinning continues, engine management cuts off one or more cylinders, and the ABS applies braking to the spinning wheel, transferring power to the other drive wheel.
The sophisticated system can detect the difference between wheel spin due to acceleration from cornering slippage, based on differences in slip rates at the wheels.
The TCS engine management strategies work at all speeds, and the system can apply braking to either rear wheel at speeds up to 62 mph.
Source: FoMoCo |
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