AC Cars AC Cobra GT Coupe (2024)

AC Cars, originally incorporated as Auto Carriers Ltd., is a British specialist automobile manufacturer and one of the oldest independent car makers founded in Britain. Official website: AC Cars

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AC Cars reveals groundbreaking AC Cobra GT Coupe!

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- Debut of the new AC Cobra GT Coupe
First production AC Cobra Coupe in company’s 123-year history
- Production and extreme Clubsport Edition announced
- Second new model from Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer
- Inspired by the infamous 1960’s Le Mans racer, the AC A98 coupe
- Production and assembly at company’s advanced UK facility
- Reservations for the AC Cobra GT range via ac.cars

AC Cars, Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer, has released the first images of the formidable new AC Cobra GT Coupe. The first ever official AC Cobra coupe set for production, working from an enhanced version of the existing AC Cobra GT Roadster platform, this road-going model draws on the company’s racing heritage.

Inspired by victories from AC’s formative years, which includes the Monte Carlo Rally and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the new AC Cobra GT Coupe adds motorsport-derived enhancements to produce an AC Cobra unlike any other.

Fusing the unmistakeable AC Cobra aesthetic with a contemporary coupe profile, it provides a brand new model as the company continues to expand its operations. Undeniably a member of the AC Cobra GT family, it retains key touch points from the Roadster but is in part inspired by the infamous AC A98 coupe Le Mans race car from 1964.

With production for the AC Cobra GT Coupe based at AC Cars’ UK facilities, it’s an evolution of the company’s unique vehicle architecture - with an enhanced aluminium chassis and optimised carbon-fibre body.

AC.webp


AC Cars is celebrating the news of the AC Cobra GT Coupe with details of the extreme Clubsport Edition, honed to excel on the track. Limited to just 99 examples, and predominately featuring a 799bhp V8 powertrain, these will be the first cars delivered to clients - from the end of 2025 onwards.

The Clubsport Edition will be followed by the series production coupe, available with either a normally aspirated 450bhp (456 PS) V8 or 720bhp (730 PS) supercharged option. The new AC Cobra GT Coupe starts at £325,000 + taxes, and reservations for both the AC Cobra GT Coupe and Clubsport Edition are open now at ac.cars.

Speaking of the new model, David Conza, Chief Executive Officer of AC Cars, said: “The reveal of the AC Cobra GT Coupe is a proud moment for us, and the story of a road-going AC Cobra coupe is one years in the making. To have been able to combine the timeless AC Cobra design into a car using the latest design and construction techniques breaks new ground for AC Cars. This means the limited Clubsport Edition will provide an incredible, racing car-like experience on either the road or the track.”

A race inspired AC Cobra Coupe for the open road
Despite the AC Cobra’s legendary status, the original car was only ever available from the factory as a roadster, so the new AC Cobra GT Coupe represents a watershed for the marque. As befitting a company with such a storied heritage, AC Cars looked to its past when starting work on the new coupe.

Carrying over the distinctive shoulder line of the modern AC Cobra GT Roaster provided a very obvious connection to the brand’s current styling code, but an historic race car – the one-off AC A98 coupe – provided significant inspiration. This introduced the distinctive Kammtail rear – a design element employed by leading Italian race teams and AC Cars in the 1960s.

Intended to help reduce drag, and boost performance at high speed, the Kammtail design was included on the AC A98 coupe - AC Cars’ factory entry for the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans. Finished in time to take part in Le Mans testing in April that year, it returned to the UK and gained infamy as the car was reported as driving 180mph on the recently completed M1 motorway.

In order to honour this legacy of speed, the new AC Cobra GT Coupe will feature an evolution of the potent powertrain in the GT Roadster - with up to 450bhp (456 PS).

However, for the limited Clubsport Edition power will rise to 799bhp (810 PS) to deliver an extremely agile and ferocious road-legal car. Pared back and honed it is envisaged as unrivalled in its class.

AC_2.webp


Extremely light and with exceptional torsional rigidity, AC Cars’ unique chassis construction is already suitable for competitive use, and with future development from within the motorsport sector the new AC Cobra GT Coupe will provide a responsive drive like no other.

With the same dimensions to the existing roadster, the new coupe has a wheelbase of 2570mm, and is 4225mm long and 1980mm wide. Once again it will feature near perfect 50:50 weight balance front to rear, with a low centre of gravity. The new AC Cobra GT Coupe’s kerb weight will be confirmed ahead of production, but the Clubsport Edition has a set target of under 1450kg.
 
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I wonder if you can get these in the USA?

M
 
Way too retro sadly. Front and rear are really cool though, a bit like a 250 GTO

The roadster looks like a Morgan and is a big NO
 
AC Cars unveils new production AC Cobra GT Coupe

AC Cobra GT Coupe-3.webp

  • Physical unveiling of production AC Cobra GT Coupe
  • Brutal new supercar extends GT range to AC Cars’ global market
  • Keystone of company’s 125th anniversary celebrations
  • Based on the sophisticated AC Cobra GT platform
  • Extruded aluminum chassis and full carbon fibre body
  • Up to 730 PS, 820Nm, and weighing under 1600kg
  • Inspired by the infamous 1960’s AC A98 coupe Le Mans racer
  • Prices start from £234,300 + taxes, with reservations now open at ac.cars
AC Cars, Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer, has revealed the brutal new AC Cobra GT Coupe in production form. Unifying the historic AC Cobra’s iconic aesthetic with a fixed roofline and curvilinear rear, the GT Coupe represents a new era for the company which is celebrating the 125th anniversary of its founding.

Unmistakable in origin, and presenting a more focused and aggressive stance than its GT Roadster stablemate, the physical unveiling of the AC Cobra GT Coupe shows the scale and drama of the supercar for the first time. Drawing on motorsport derived details to sharpen its on-road presence, the new AC Cobra GT Coupe is a thoroughbred example of sophisticated ferocity.

Sharing roughly 75% of its engineering with the GT Roadster, the new model benefits from comprehensive enhancements developed during testing and development.

Available in both left and right-hand drive and powered by a sonorous 5.0-litre V8, delivering up to 730 PS, the car features AC’s own extruded aluminium spaceframe chassis and unique carbon fibre bodywork to deliver a benchmark driving experience.

Speaking at the premiere, David Conza, Chief Executive Officer of AC Cars, said: “The AC Cobra GT Coupe is unique in the history of AC Cars and, with production of the GT Roadster now underway, it shows the road ahead for the company as we build and deliver cars for existing customers. AC Cars continues to invest in its operations, and develop new partnerships. This will provide the catalyst to take AC Cars from around 100 hand-built cars a year currently up to no more than 1000 cars across all models in total. As we celebrate the 125th anniversary of the company, I want to thank the entire team for their dedication as we move from a boutique manufacturer to a global performance brand. However, we will still retain the craftmanship and exclusivity that our clients respect.”

AC Cobra GT Coupe-9_ROTW.webp


Extremely limited in production, with each example built specifically for its client, the new AC Cobra GT Coupe will start at approximately £234,300 + taxes for the naturally aspirated model, while the supercharged model starts from £256,300 + taxes. The first examples will be delivered in 2028 – after initial GT Roadster deliveries are completed.

Consultations for the allocation of the AC Cobra GT Coupe are now available via ac.cars.

The AC Cobra GT Coupe: Redefining the legacy of an iconic supercar brand
Reflecting a legacy approach to competition car design, underpinned by cutting-edge engineering, the new AC Cobra GT Coupe’s curvilinear form echoes the past as well as revealing the future for one of the automotive industry’s most storied marques.

Inspired by the infamous AC A98 coupe race car, the new model is a grand tourer in nature. However, despite its dramatic personality, the GT Coupe is not a stripped-out track car. The culmination of sustained investment and development work carried out over the last seven years, the AC Cobra GT Coupe builds on the foundations laid by the GT Roadster. The first ever production AC Cobra coupe, the new car is intended as a bold model that will expand AC Cars’ appeal to clients globally, including key markets such as Asia and the Middle East.

Designed and produced in house, the AC Cobra GT Coupe showcases the expertise of AC Cars’ production team. Based on the same unique vehicle architecture as the AC Cobra GT Roadster, the extruded aluminium chassis provides the GT Coupe with an exceptionally light yet strong starting point. With ride and handling tuned to be compliant yet responsive, it suits the nature of this supercar and makes the most of the design’s inherent strengths.

The AC Cobra GT Coupe employs the latest carbon fibre production techniques to create the bodywork and unique fixed head design. This includes a ‘double bubble’ roofline, which accentuates the drama of the rear three quarter view. Lowering the roofline without impacting head room, it smooths airflow and helps lower the drag coefficient, and amplifies the car’s lightweight credentials.

Further enhancing performance, as well as the GT Coupe’s overall racing aesthetic, the new car also incorporates a distinctive Kammtail - a concept employed by leading race teams over the last seven decades. Improving a vehicle’s aerodynamic efficiency without resorting to a longtail solution, it was used to great effect in the design of the 1964 AC A98 coupe Le Mans race car.

In line with the GT Roadster, the new GT Coupe is notably larger than the original AC Cobra, with a wheelbase of 2570mm, an overall length of 4225mm and a width of 1980mm. It features a near perfect 50:50 weight balance front to rear, with a low centre of gravity and a kerb weight of approximately 1600kg. Although slightly heavier, the coupe’s lower drag coefficient means overall performance is expected to be on a par with that of the GT Roadster.

The AC Cobra GT Coupe continues the company’s use of a modern V8 powertrain to devastating effect. Available either supercharged or naturally aspirated, the modular engine delivers 730 PS (720bhp) and 820Nm (605lb ft), or 456 PS (450bhp) and 555Nm (410lb ft) respectively. The supercharged GT Coupe is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in under 3.5sec. The choice of gearboxes includes a 6-speed manual gearbox for traditionalists or an advanced 10-speed automatic gearbox with steering-wheel mounted shift paddles.

Designed as grand tourer the new coupe doesn’t compromise on cabin space, ensuring that driver and passenger relish every mile. Contemporary ergonomics means the cabin accommodates drivers over six-feet tall, while the car utilises modern control technologies.

Bespoke details have become a recent hallmark of AC Cars’ cabin design, where unique hand finished leatherwork and upholstery elements combine with subtle heritage inspired touches. Reflecting AC’s legacy and its modern approach to sports car engineering, analogue instrumentation and digital technology together enhance the driving experience.

From the Driver Information Centre screen mounted behind the steering wheel, past the machined toggle switchgear down to the signature AC pedals – every inch has been considered to present a curated environment. Highly equipped as standard, the new AC Cobra GT Coupe includes electric windows, climate control and a touch screen sat nav/infotainment system, with upgrade options available.

Alongside a range of standard colour configuration options inspired by the brand’s heritage, AC Cars bespoke service works with clients to create unique vehicles. From customer paint colours and leather finishes, to hand crafted, visible carbon fibre sections and bodywork components, the factory team help each owner stamp their personality on their car.

To learn more about the AC Cobra GT Coupe, and to enquire about the allocation of these exclusive supercars, visit ac.cars.
 
This is going to find buyers.
I still see the original quite a bit in places like Monte Carlo. It's even becoming more popular.

Ford Mustang derived powertrain, it seems...

From the GTD?
 
Cobra coupes look bloody awful to me, the roof is so bloated and clumsy.

The whole car looks like a cute caricature of the old version, which was never intended to look cute. It was the opposite for its time, more on the badass side....
 
"Cool"...and yet somehow "off". It leaves me vaguely recalling the 1980's Miami Vice TV series character Sonny Crockett and his faux Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder that was based on a C3 Corvette.
 

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