AC may be one of Britain’s oldest car manufacturers, but they haven’t made much of a name for themselves in recent years or even decades. This is mainly due to the fact that the brand ran into financial difficulties in the 1980s, and was then sold in parts to Ford and another investor: Autokraft. The latter eventually even bought the whole lot, but never managed to really make anything out of it. However, almost 40 years and a few other owners later, AC Cars is back, and the new Swiss investors now want to crank things up like clockwork… But a lot more powerful.
Toys for… big people?
So get to know the brand new AC Cobra GT Roadster, a car that harks back to the success of the original AC Cobra from 1962. This is of course no surprise to the observant reader, since AC already showed the car in an over-enthusiastic teaser, but now the GT Roadster is also officially launched. We also get to see it from more angles and yes: we also had to look twice to believe that this is not a restomod. For example, the carbon composite panels look just like those of old, while a new aluminum tube chassis is hidden under the skin.
Still not convinced that the AC Cobra GT Roadster is really new? Then take a look at the cockpit because indeed: there you will actually find a touch screen. Well, that display sticks to a rather modest 10.25 inches and the entire clock shop also consists of analog counters. The steering wheel is again a modern one with an airbag, and that is not the only thing AC has done to make the new Cobra livable. For example, the manufacturer does not stick the ‘GT’ label on the car for nothing, because according to AC, its roadster has modern driver assistance and space for occupants who may actually be slightly more than 1.80 meters tall. Indeed: now you are probably not so proud of your height anymore.
AC Cobra or family home?
So what exactly should the older ones among us miss? Well, to start with a nice 663 hp and 780 Nm of torque. The new Cobra gets it from a 5.0-liter V8 engine from Ford, or at least if you order the Supercharged variant. While you’re at it, we’d just do that, as it catapults you to 62mph in an EV-beating 3.4 seconds. In addition, there is also an atmospheric version of the same V8, which kicks it up to a still respectable 460 hp and 570 Nm of torque. In all cases you get an optional ten-speed automatic transmission, but the purist naturally goes for the six-speed manual transmission. We can imagine that the new Cobra can offer quite a bit of driving pleasure with its empty weight of less than 1,450 kilograms.
Have we got you all excited about this brand new classic? Then make an appointment with the credit department of your local bank, because AC does not give the Cobra GT Roadster for free. We don’t know a Belgian price, but in Great Britain they have to pay 328,000 euros for it. Moreover, it can take a while before you get your hands on your new Cobra. For example, AC says it will build 250 annually, and the first year of production is already fully booked.
