THE Mustang's all-alloy "Romeo" V8 is part of a modular engine line-up that runs right through to a - slightly less refined - V10. At launch its 240kW output was more than any other Ford car available in Australia and is helped out by a meaty 430Nm of torque. The engine uses twin chain-driven camshafts with hydraulic valve-lash adjusters per cylinder bank, along with four valves per cylinder, and separate ignition coils for each cylinder look after firing of the inlet charge. Compression ratio is 9.85:1. The Australian Cobra's aluminium-alloy block received a number of modifications to improve breathing, performance and noise suppression. If you hadn't already guessed by noting the 6800rpm redline, this is a high-tech V8.