Currently reading: SEMA 2014 - 616bhp Ford Mustang King Cobra
Modern version of classic King Cobra Mustang one of several tuned versions of the famous muscle car created for SEMA

A special ‘King Cobra’ version of the Ford Mustang was one of a whole host of customised versions of the muscle car on show in SEMA in Las Vegas.

The King Cobra pays homage to the limited edition Mustang of the same name from 1978. The King Cobra name was used in racing by Shelby before that, and Ford planned to bring the badge to NASCAR in 1970 before a rule change made the car stillborn.

The 2015 King Cobra features a whole host of modifications over a standard V8 Mustang on which it has been based, the tuning work having been done by Ford Racing. 

It gets a supercharger to push power to 616bhp, a special 'Drag Pack' for the chassis, a 'Handling Pack' for the suspension, and upgraded brakes. It also gets its own distinctive livery and some special Recaro seats and a short-throw gearlever inside.

The King Cobra has already clocked a 10.97sec quarter mile run at 128mph. 

Ford invited several tuners to produce Mustangs for SEMA. Other Mustangs included a gold-themed model produced by Galpin Auto Sports, and a light blue Petty’s Garage-tuned model that will be auctioned for charity.

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The Ford Mustang is available in the UK in right-hand drive for the first time, but does the rest of this American muscle car fit the UK car scene?

Mark Tisshaw

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Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

Add a comment…
TS7 6 November 2014

Don't think any of those...

...are as attractive as the 'standard' version. I would expect Shelby to do rather better, however.
289 6 November 2014

Mustang

...there seems to be quite a fever around the new Mustang, the like of which I haven't seen before with this car...odd given the relentless push for us to all drive around in electric shoe boxes!
The demand from France, of all countries, is astonishing for example. A country of beaten up small hatches if there ever was one.
Its partly due to the 50th anniversary of course, but I wonder if it is also due to a dearth of exciting macho cars at a reasonable price - trading more on muscle than technology. A VXR8 is a similar beast of course but it will always be at a disadvantage compared to the Mustang due to the lack of heritage/iconic status the Mustang carries.
As far as the UK is concerned RHD being available is the 'clincher' of course.
Personally, I am delighted to see Fords commitment with this new mode,l and I wish them well with the sales results - albeit we are talking small numbers.
In a sea of lookalike euro boxes bristling with tech we mostly don't need, this is a beacon of old fashioned petrolheaddom...if there can ever be such a terminology!