Ace, Ace, AC – New AC Cobra GT
March 6, 2023
AC, the UK’s longest standing vehicle manufacturer is back with a new machine, and it’s every bit the AC Cobra you’d hope it would be. Mainly because it is indeed an AC Cobra GT. If it ain’t broken, don’t try and fix it, right? And no, the engineers haven’t bowed to modern day pressure and put batteries where the engine should be. Under the hood of this muscular bruiser you’ll find a V8 engine developing up to 654bhp (663PS) and 575lb ft (780Nm), and with the choice of a 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic gearbox in a car weighing under 1500kg, acceleration will be nothing less than spectacular – with a 0-60mph sprint of approximately 3.4sec. As you would expect from such an engine, the new AC Cobra GT Roadster’s soundtrack will be equally breath-taking.
David Conza, Chief Executive Officer of AC Cars, said: “Developing and delivering a car worthy of the AC Cobra name has not been an easy task, but I am delighted and immensely proud of what we have achieved. This is a sports car like no other, and we have employed some of the industry’s leading designers and engineers to craft an outstanding automobile that is extremely beautiful as well as fantastically quick and amazing to drive.”
“We wanted to respect the AC Cobra’s heritage, and while the design has taken influence from the restomod approach it has a more sophisticated feel in keeping with a classic British roadster. This, along with the race-bred personality of the original AC Cobra, means we have produced an unrivalled vehicle that’s totally modern and relevant to today’s connoisseurs – a true 21st century sports car.”
While the new AC Cobra GT looks the part, it actually shares nothing with the original. It’s a completely new machine, with a new chassis and body design. It’s a classic look, but via the medium of cutting edge technology. Extremely strong and light, the new chassis allows for the perfect layout as well as optimized suspension geometry and weight distribution. Incorporating competition derived engineering, the car is a pure-bred sports car with phenomenal handling and performance.
The original.
The vehicle’s cutting edge, extruded aluminium space frame chassis, produced specifically by AC Cars with support from Cecomp s.p.a. in Italy, means the two seater will provide a benchmark in driving and dynamics. Extremely light and stiff, and with exceptional torsional rigidity, the chassis allows for better packaging of the powertrain, steering and suspension. The new chassis has a wheelbase of 2570mm, 284 mm longer than the AC Cobra Mk. VI, yet the car’s overall length has gown only 110mm, up to 4225mm. The car’s track has also been optimised to give it a wider stance, which, along with the car’s weight distribution and centre of gravity, has drastically improved handling and agility.
This new AC Cobra GT isn’t a simple cash-in on an old name. This is a project built with heart, with passion and with absolute faith and respect for the original. It’s just been brought into the future, with better mechanicals, suspension, a more modern interior, weather gear and even air-conditioning. It’s a classic, despite being brand new. Is it cheap? No, of course not, it’s going to be around £285,000. But, can you put a price on something with such rich, exciting heritage? Exactly. For more information, head over to AC Cars.
