Ford Cobra Jet 2200 Sets EV Quarter-Mile Record at 6.87s

Ford Racing's Mustang Cobra Jet 2200 set a new record for the quickest electric vehicle on the quarter-mile drag strip, completing the run in 6.87 seconds at 221 miles per hour during the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina, this weekend.

The all-electric drag racer, powered by two motors producing a combined 2,200 horsepower and 1,340 pound-feet of torque, surpassed the previous mark of 7.623 seconds set by its predecessor, the Cobra Jet 1800, in September 2024. Engineers achieved the performance through significant weight reductions, making the new model about 900 pounds lighter than the Cobra Jet 1800, which itself was roughly 1,000 pounds lighter than the original Cobra Jet 1400 from 2021. The vehicle features a tube-frame chassis, carbon-fiber body, and a 900-volt architecture with 32 kilowatt-hours of battery capacity that charges in approximately 20 minutes.

Key to handling the immense power is a reverse-acting centrifugal clutch paired with a multi-speed transmission, typically found in gas-powered drag cars. The system allows controlled launches by slipping during shifts to prevent tire spin, then shifting to direct drive for optimal efficiency. Batteries...