The first model year of the Ford Mustang SVT Cobra was 1993.
The 1993 Cobra was the first production Mustang created by Ford’s newly established Special Vehicle Team. It was based on the outgoing Fox-body Mustang and served as a high-performance farewell to that third-generation design. Although the car was launched at the 1992 Chicago Auto Show, it was sold as a 1993 model-year vehicle.
SVT upgraded the Cobra beyond the standard GT with a specially prepared 5.0-liter V8, improved induction components, a stronger transmission, revised suspension tuning, rear disc brakes, and distinctive 17-inch wheels. The result was a more focused and capable Mustang than the regular GT.
The 1993 Cobra is often confused with later Cobras because the name continued through the 2004 model year. Ford also introduced Cobra R variants, beginning in 1993, with equipment removed or changed for track use. The standard Cobra and competition-oriented Cobra R are related but distinct versions.