Among the buzz already surrounding the 2013 Mustang, Ford has announced that the specialized Cobra Jet drag version will be part of the lineup. However, like the more mainstream variants, it will feature a number of updates. The 5.4 quad cam V8 will return, in either naturally aspirated or supercharged forms, but joining it on the options list is a version of the 5.0 ‘Coyote’ engine, found in the current Mustang GT.

The reason for this, according to Ford Racing’s Jesse Kershaw, is that it will allow the ’13 CJ to compete in a wider variety of NHRA sanctioned events than previous versions of this car.

Other changes on the 2013 model  include revisions to the CJ’s suspension, steering, even the roll cage design and seats in an effort to balance improved capability while minimizing mass. “We’re looking at ways to cost-effectively take weight out of the Cobra Jet,” said Kershaw “and are also paying close attention to the final price. Based on our research we know where the car needs to be performance and price wise.”

The 2013 Mustang Cobra Jet is slated to make it’s debut at this year’s Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show, which runs from December 1-3 at the Orange County Convention Center, in Orlando, Florida, with production likely to begin sometime next year.

[Source: Mustangs Daily]

The headline could have also read “finally, a Honda with some torque.” Ok, we kid. But the mere existence of a rear-wheel-drive Acura Integra with a blown 454 Chevy big-block says two things: 1.) you can turn anything into a Pro Street racer with enough knuckle sweat, and 2.) always follow your dreams, kids.

The impressive Integra was reportedly built by Pro Street Unlimited, based in Manchester NH, and features a manual transmission, a belt-driven supercharger, electric blue paint and a sound like God’s Own Cuisinart. Rumors that this car is the current prototype for the next NSX are still unsubstantiated.

[Source: 1A Auto Blog]

Watch the video after the jump:

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Ford has been keeping itself pretty busy with new versions of the ever popular Mustang, and now it has made one only for drag racers.

It’s called the Mustang Cobra Jet and it is strictly for drag racing, so no you can’t drive it to the mall. What you can do is trailer it to your local drag strip and lay some rubber. Under the hood is a 5.4-liter V8, which now features an aluminum-block. You can choose to then have either a 2.3-liter TVS supercharger or a mammoth 4.0-liter Ford Racing whipple supercharger.

Out of the factory gate, both units produce a humble NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) approved 425 hp. Although, both units are easily tweakable and can produce hundreds more ponies. Couple that with sticky Goodyear racing slicks, and you can get the quarter-mile covered in under 10-seconds, under 9-seconds with the whipple-charger.

Ford recently threw a party to deliver the first of the 2012 Mustang Cobra Jets, where customers from North and South America were flown in to receive their new toy.

If you want an out of the box drag racer, you can go to your local Ford dealer and order one. Prices start at $91,990.

[Source: Autoblog]

Following in the footsteps of the Mustang Cobra Jet and Challenger Drag Pak, Chevrolet is reportedly considering a track-only Camaro to terrorize dragstrips across the nation.

The rumors came from Ford, surprisingly enough, in an effort to keep tabs on their rivals. Ford Racing’s drag racing manager Jesse Kershaw let this information slip during an interview, where he was discussing the efforts of others to compete with the Cobra Jet: “Dodge has produced a Challenger to compete with us…We know that General Motors is on track to release a Camaro version.”

If he’s right, then Chevrolet will most likely reveal this car at SEMA in November, just as Ford and Dodge did in previous years. And Kershaw is looking forward to some competition, which will pay off for fans: ”I think that the NHRA fans as well as the racers themselves are very excited to get out there and have this new era of horsepower war.”

[Source: FordRacingTV via Autoblog]

To continue promoting the sport of drag racing, GM Performance Parts will be putting on the LSX Challenge Series restricting entry to GM production-based LS and GM Performance Parts LSX engines and engine components.

The LSX Challenge Series will be a four-race points drag racing series, ending at the 5th annual LSX Shootout which will be held with NMCA’s World Street Finals on October 6-9 in Indianapolis.

The classes of drag racing will be LSX Drag Radial, LSX All Motor, LSX Real Street, LSX Rumble (Index) and 5th Gen Chevy Camaro Challenge (Index) – providing a little bit of everything for GM enthusiasts. Along with the drag racing, the LSX Challenge Series will feature a car show at each event. In order to compete for the championship, each racer much participate in three of the four events.

GMPP’s LSX Challenge Series’s schedule of events:

March 18-20 NMCA Season Opener at Bradenton Motorsports Park, Bradenton, Florida

April 14-17 NMRA / NMCA All-Star Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Georgia

September 9-11 Holley LS Fest at Beech Bend Raceway Park, Bowling Green, Kentucky

October 6-9 NMCA World Street Finals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis

Although we were one of the first outlets to bring you specs on the competition-only 2012 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, official pictures were hard to come by – until today, when Ford released the first shots of their factory backed dragster.

Unveiled at the PRI Show (a trade show for racing gear held in Orlando, Florida), the Cobra Jet. Only 50 will be built, and ordering will be done on a first come first serve basis. Starting at $91,900, the Cobra Jet gets a 5.4L V8 similar to the Shelby GT500, but with a choice of two superchargers, the top unit being a massive Ford Racing Whipple supercharger. A full roll cage and a special automatic transmission are also standard, along with beefed up engine internals and Weld drag racing wheels. Fully loaded, the Cobra Jet will cost $103,980.

[Source: Ford]

Technically, the above headline isn’t true. You can buy a Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, but this pony car isn’t road legal, and is meant strictly for drag racing.

Specs on the 2012 Cobra Jet haven’t been announced yet, but they have been leaked by a Ford dealer in Puerto Rico. Big changes include a standard aluminum block for the 5.4L V8 engine, forged connected rods, beefed up braking components, revised spring rates and new Weld drag racing wheels with Goodyear drag tires. The full details are below for those who like to go fast in a straight line.

[Source: Autoblog]

Hit the jump for the official specs

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Debuting alongside the new 2011 Challenger SRT8 392 at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Dodge unveiled an even more potent version of its Mopar Drag Pak model. While you might expect it to also come with a 392 under the hood, you’d be wrong. In it’s place is something even better: the Viper’s 8.4-liter V10! That’s right, with 512 cubic inches of displacement, the engine makes 600-hp and 560 ft-lbs of torque.

Also included in the package is a 2-speed automatic transmission, fuel cell, light weight polycarbonate door windows, lightweight drag racing front brakes and racing wheels and tires. And of course, it’s a full body-in-white with everything stripped out so you can take it straight to the track.

Just 70 versions of the Mopar Challenger V10 Drag Pak will be built, for the price of $85,512. Like street cars, Dodge will offer option packs, including a $7,950 Competition Package with an eight-point coll cage, six-point safety harnesses and a mesh window net. There’s also a $950 Mopar Body Logo Wrap, or paint for $6,800.

GALLERY: Dodge Challenger V10 Drag Pak at SEMA

GALLERY: Dodge Challenger V10 Drag Pak

With a new 6.4-liter V8 due out for the 2011 Dodge Challenger, you’d expect the 2011 model year version of the special edition Mopar Drag Pak model to also get the more powerful engine… but you’d be wrong. In it’s place is something even better: the Viper’s 8.4-liter V10! That’s right, with 512 cubic inches of displacement, the engine makes 600-hp and 560 ft-lbs of torque.

Also included in the package is a 2-speed automatic transmission, fuel cell, light weight polycarbonate door windows, lightweight drag racing front brakes and racing wheels and tires. And of course, it’s a full body-in-white with everything stripped out so you can take it straight to the track.

Just 70 versions of the Mopar Challenger V10 Drag Pak will be built, for the price of $85,512. Like street cars, Dodge will offer option packs, including a $7,950 Competition Package with an eight-point coll cage, six-point safety harnesses and a mesh window net. There’s also a $950 Mopar Body Logo Wrap, or paint for $6,800.

Dodge will officially reveal the new Mopar Challenger V10 Drag Pack at the SEMA Show in early November.

GALLERY: 2011 Mopar Challenger V10 Drag Pack

Official release after the jump:

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What do you get when you take an AWD Chevrolet Express Van and toss in a 5.3L Vortec V8 motor? Just another heavy gas guzzler. Now what if you tossed in a Z06 cam and a 72mm turbocharger? Now you’re talking about a 7,300 lb tank that probably pushes well over 600-hp and 600 ft-lbs of torque, if not more to all four of its wheels. Now what if you took that van to the track in Las Vegas and lined it up with a Corvette ZR1? Well the safe bet would be on the ZR1 now wouldn’t it?

Unless the owner of these two vehicles knew each other, the Corvette ZR1 driver was probably wondering what in the world this Chevrolet Express van was doing in the other lane. And apparently he slept a little too long at the light trying to figure it out, as the Van not only treed him, but took the win at the other end of the track.

Now it’s a little deceiving given that the Vette had an atrocious .800 reaction time while the van jumped with a .260. But that was enough to make up the difference despite the van running a slower 13.34 @ 99 mph. The ZR1 ultimately took over (once it actually accelerated) tripping the lights with a 13.02 @ 121 mph.

At the end of the day though, the Van would’ve taken the win at any professional drag racing event. We’re wondering if they’re back at the shop trying to fine tune this thing in a 12-second sleeper. Imagine packing 10-15 people in that van with that power!

Check out the video after the break.

[Source: Examiner]

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