Despite our best red-blooded American efforts and every launch method in the book, the Cobra would not run better than 13.36 at 106 mph. Averaging our best two runs (as is our standard) produced a 13.4-second run at 108 mph. This left us puzzled, as we've seen numerous tests of this car with acceleration times at least two-tenths quicker.
So we switched directions, thinking the slight headwind was causing a problem. Nothing. We even moved to a different location hoping of finding better grip off the line. Still nothing. We're not sure if it was the heat, the grip or the car, but on that day, the Cobra just wouldn't go any quicker. The Lotus, however, would. After a few runs to dial in the launch, the Elise put its 192 hp to the ground with only a squeak from the R-compound Yokohamas and stormed its mid-engine chassis through the traps in 12.6-seconds at 110 mph.
The more tests we performed, the more obvious it became which car was faster.
The show continued on the skidpad, through the slalom and in 60 to zero braking. It's clear the engineers at SVT put serious effort into making this Mustang stick. With the proprietary BFGoodrich g-Force KD tires, it stuck to our pad at an impressive .95g. The Lotus pulled 1.02 g.
The braking test again showed the difference in weight. Even the huge Brembos wouldn't allow the Mustang within striking distance of the featherweight Elise. The score in 60 to zero braking: Cobra, 122 ft.; Elise, 119 ft.
And in the slalom, which favors narrow cars, the Elise was almost 3 mph quicker.
On the Street
Neither car in this test will win a prize for ride quality or refinement. If we had to pick a winner in the comfort and livability department, it would be the Cobra. It has a roof. And that simple fact makes it slightly more bearable. Slightly.
OK, so you know the Lotus is the quicker car on a race track-straight or twisty. But what happens on the street? Which one is more fun? Since all 300 Cobras built were supposed to be raced and there are but a handful of Elises on American soil, this really isn't really worth arguing, but here goes.
Truth is, it's a simple matter of taste. Wanna get sideways coming out of the drive thru on a Friday night? Wanna beat everyone you meet at stoplights over the head with American spirit, V8 howl and two black stripes? Then the Cobra is still your car. The fact that you can do the same thing to nearly all comers at the local road course is simply an added bonus.
If you want the beating to be even more severe, use the Elise. It may not leave your victims quite as overwhelmed with pure brute force, but it will make them smaller in your rearview mirror. You decide. You know what we think.