The Shelby Cobra has huge historic value, but people mainly buy it for two reasons. First, it’s a totally raw driving experience to the point of being dangerous. And second, it sounds amazing, especially if you’re talking about an AC Cobra with a modern Roush 427ci V8. This modded Cobra flips the script, receiving the heart of a Tesla, but this hasn’t turned it into a digital experience. Far from it, in fact.
This year’s SEMA Show has been all about electric conversions. This has been happening for some time, what with the Bisimoto Porsche 935. However, Ford even went as far as offering a crate EV motor. The Mach-E has some potent components, but they’re no match for a full-blown Tesla P100D, a monarch of the drag racing world.
The numbers on this beast are a little difficult to comprehend unless you’re an EV buff. The car is a prototype; it has the motor from a P100D mounted basically in the trunk. Florida’s Gotech Performance originally tested it at about 2,500 pound-feet of torque (about 3,400 Nm), but it was impossible to drive. The number has since been dialed down to about 1,500 pound-feet (2,000 Nm), but it still handles like a dangerous bucking bronco.
Upsetting? No, time for the new.
As for the power, it’s not precisely measured, but we presume this produces somewhere around 650 horsepower. That’s not completely “Ludicrous” but it’s actually a huge leap from your average 7.0-liter Ford-badged setup. The main downside is that you can’t do a dual- or tri-motor setup here; there’s just no room for it.
And while Teslas are seen as fast despite their weight. The video below is a premiere, the prototype walkaround shot by AutotopiaLA at Superformance. And they say it’s actually about 100 lbs (45 kg) lighter than when a 427 lived under the hood.
Handling is pretty scary. The rear tires are huge (not to mention beautiful). But once the rubber is loose, the electric motor just wants to rev to 15,000rpm. Range? Well, the prototype only has about 90 miles of range, but the production model they plan to sell will have 150+ miles, and that’s plenty for a weekend toy.
