The mighty Mustang Cobra returneth

The Ford exhibit at the 2001 Melbourne Motor Show had a few surprises to note and a flashy new 'Ignition' advertising campaign.

New models such as a crazy new 300+ kW Ford Falcon coupe (2-door) and a conceptual 4WD recreational vehicle/ute called the R5 helped draw large crowds.

It was also pleasing to note that the big F-series American-style trucks will be coming to Australia, too, in the F-250 and F-350 form.

But one of the biggest drawcards for Ford was the new Mustang. The name alone says it all and now, finally, the car will be officially released Down Under in the coming months.

At the heart of the 2001 Mustang Cobra is a 4.6-litre, all alloy, V8 block.

This 90-degree, bad-boy, eight-cylinder engine has 32-valves and enough power to put a Boeing to shame. The car even revs out to 6800rpm, showcasing how far the revered V8 has come.

Churning out 240kW at the rear wheels, the V8 engine is mated to a manual five-speed, Tremec T45 gearbox, which equates to an astonishing 0-100km/h time of just 5.6 seconds.

Peak power occurs at 6000rpm and maximum torque is 430Nm at 4750rpm.

It even does standing quarter miles in under 14 seconds! Add to this a twin-exhaust system, replete with the rumble of a V8 and you have yourself one impressive piece of kit.

But you can't have such awe-inspiring power without braking specifications to match. The Cobra comes with fade-resistant Brembo brake rotors matched with PBR calipers. ABS is, of course, standard issue.

Sadly, traction control also made the cut, which means petrol heads won't be able lay black straps without a little tweaking of the electics. Bummer...

The look of the new Mustang Cobra is unique, without compromising its heritage. With a long bonnet, complete with reverse air-intake, the front-end is very recognisable. Although it's a coupe, the new Cobra is by no means small with an overall length of 4.6 metres.

From the rear, tri-colour tail lights look nice, combined with chromed twin-pipes, rear spoiler and a large 'Cobra' fascia.

Inside the new Ford, prospective buyers can expect high quality components throughout. For starters, leather upholstery comes as standard. Next up is the high quality audio, courtesy of a MACH 460 stereo, with 6-stack, in-dash CD player.

Dominating the dash are two huge dials - tacho and speedo. At night, the numbers glow blue against a sporty white background. Six-way, power adjusted seats will put even the most picky of drivers at ease, too.

Everything about the new Mustang Cobra is aesthetically pleasing - inside and out. From the amazingly powerful engine to the perfectly trimmed interior, the Mustang Cobra demands attention. Just wait until you hear one hammering along at 6000rpm, only to realise that red V8 bullet still has 800rpm to spare!

With an already strong following in Australia, the import Mustang scene is about to be given a huge boost thanks to the local release of the 2001 Cobra.

The impressive new vehicle is available in both coupe and convertible styles, at $85,000 and $89,000 respectively. With already 80 buyers signed up (even before a price-point was reached) the new Mustang Cobra's future looks bright in Australia.