2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra

It wasn't long ago that Ford's Special Vehicle Team was the only factory-sponsored high-performance group around. Now, General Motors is developing its own Performance Division, DaimlerChrysler is ramping up its Performance Vehicle Operations, and several import companies also are developing performance-parts divisions. The idea is that these high-performance vehicles, available for sale through dealerships all across the country, will feed the growing numbers of enhanced-power-hungry customers. John Coletti, chief engineer for Ford SVT, says, "It's about time they joined the party."

Ford's original idea in 1993 was simple: Create an in-house group that dedicates itself to power and performance. Under Coletti's leadership, SVT has recently finished its 10th year of operation with over 100,000 high-performance vehicles sold, which includes the fastest pickup (the SVT Lightning), one of the quickest sport compacts (the SVT Focus), as well as the fourth-generation Mustang SVT Cobra. And what better way to celebrate an anniversary than with the addition of the strongest and most powerful Mustang to date? This special-edition Cobra offers an excellent bang-for-the-buck ratio with the highest-rated horsepower and torque numbers ever seen on a production Mustang, for a total cost of $34,750 (convertibles list for $38,850).

The '03 SVT Cobra uses the same four-valve aluminum heads as on the Mustang Mach 1 (which uses the cast-iron 4.6-liter V-8 block), but it includes an Eaton Roots-type supercharger that boosts output to 390 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 390 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm. Other additions and modifications include a T-56 six-speed manual transmission, stiffer rear springs to handle the extra power, bigger wheels and tires, and better brakes. Add to this a few brushed- aluminum interior accents, titanium-colored gauges, and heavily bolstered Nudo leather bucket seats, and the entire package screams high-powered passion.

Of all the vehicles in our Top-Speed test, the Mustang Cobra is the most closely related to the musclecars from the past in look, feel, and sound. Classically American, the Cobra doesn't dominate in any single category but uses every bit of its 390 horsepower to make a smoky, tire-roasting impression, and serves a worthy way for this platform to live out its life. Not bad when considering you could buy a half dozen of these for the price of one Italian supercar. That's quite a few bangs for the buck.