Believe it or not, AC Cars is still alive and kicking – although its storied history means the current manufacturer isn’t related to the original, which was founded in 1901. Building on the motorsport heritage established over many decades, the modern Cobra has set itself out as one of the most unique roadgoing cars of the past few years. The new AC Cobra GT Coupe joins the range, making it the first ever official AC Cobra coupe set for production.
A Race Car for the Roads
This is a cliché term with varying levels of weight behind it, but the AC Cobra GT Coupe looks like a vintage Cobra that was plucked from the 1960s, restyled, and spat back out onto British roads. The design is very close to its Roadster counterpart’s but was also inspired by the AC A98 coupe. The main element that can be seen on the new Cobra is the distinctive Kammtail at the rear.
It’s not just the retro racing design that means the 21st-century Cobra is both a track weapon and a B road bandit. It uses an enhanced version of the aluminium chassis used on the Cobra GT Roadster and a carbon fibre body. These lightweight materials provide fantastic torsional rigidity and agility, helping to keep the Clubsport Edition’s target kerb weight at just 1450kg. Assuming the Coupe follows the formula of the Roadster, there will also be dialled-back safety systems, lightweight wheels and grippy tyres, and a limited-slip differential.
Three Spice Levels to Choose From
On the topic of the Clubsport Edition, it’s the fastest and most extreme Cobra to date. Using a 799bhp V8, it’s a potent package in such a lightweight car. Official performance figures are yet to be released but expect the 0-62mph time to be below 3 seconds. As the Cobra is rear-wheel-drive, the Clubsport Edition may not be suited to British winters but could be one of the most thrilling cars made in the last decade. Want one? Be quick, as only 99 examples will be made.
If the Clubsport is too much, AC Cars has got you covered. The series-production Cobra GT Coupe will have two slightly tamer (but still speedy) options to choose from. Both use the 5.0-litre V8 used in the Clubsport Edition and the GT Roadster, although they have more power than the model that brought AC back into the limelight. The naturally aspirated V8 offers 450bhp, while the supercharged variant ups the power to 720bhp.
More to Come From AC Cars
Keep an eye out for the British brand, as there will most certainly be more developments in the coming months. I mean this in two ways: about the Cobra GT Coupe and about the company itself. The interior, transmission options and other details are still up in the air (although they’re likely to be similar to the Roadster). The final pricing is also yet to be confirmed, although the starting price of £325,000 (plus taxes) has been announced.
In terms of the overall company, AC Cars will continue to expand their facilities in the UK, suggesting there could be more models in the future and possibly models even more bonkers than the Clubsport Edition.
