► Reborn AC Cobra unveiled in London
► Prices expected to start from £285,000
► First deliveries set to arrive in 2024
The all-new AC Cobra GT Roadster has made its official debut at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The reborn sports car icon is available to order now but, if you’re interested, you’ll need to get your application in quickly as AC is only planning to build around 250 examples every year. It won’t be cheap, either. Prices are yet to be finalised, but they’re expected to start from £285,000.
The GT Roadster might look like a classic Cobra, but your eyes deceive you. This new car shares nothing in common with its grandfather – it’s a complete ground-up rebuild using lightweight materials such as carbon fibre and aluminium, as well as some tasteful modern technology.
Its chassis, for example, is a clean sheet aluminium spaceframe that’s longer, wider and stronger than the previous generation car’s. AC designed the chassis in tandem with the renowned Italian engineering company Cecomp – and the pair say the new platform has dropped the Cobra’s centre of gravity and improved its weight distribution which, in turn, has benefitted its handling.
The chassis draped in an all-new carbon fibre composite body that was carefully designed to blend the classic Cobra’s styling language with modern conveniences. So, it’s profile is much like that of its grandfather’s, but the doors are bigger, there’s more space inside and there are provisions for a detachable roof. It’s even fitted with LED headlights.
And it’s light. AC says the GT Roadster’s carbon fibre body weighs a scant 50kg on its own, while the finished car’s kerb weight is less than 1,450kg. That’s more than 200kg less than a BMW M240i – but the fastest version of the Cobra has almost double the horsepower. So, it’s shaping up to be a very fast car indeed.
What’s the new Cobra GT Roadster powered by?
Rather fittingly considering AC’s historical ties to Ford and Carol Shelby, the GT Roadster is powered by the current Mustang’s 5.0-litre V8 Coyote engine. It’ll be available in two states of tune. The most basic naturally aspirated model produces 454bhp and 420lb/ft of torque, while the range-topping supercharged variant has a far lairier 654bhp and 575lb/ft of torque. The latter option has enough grunt to shove the Cobra from 0–60mph in 3.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 173mph.
Buyers can also choose between two gearboxes. For the Sunday driver, there’s a 10-speed paddle shift automatic and, for the hardcore petrolhead, there’s a six-speed manual. Both options send drive to the rear wheels.
What about the interior?
It’s a mixture of classic styling and modern convenience. There’s a pair of leather-trimmed fixed-back bucket seats, four-point harness and chrome roll-over hoops, all of which wouldn’t look out of place in an original Cobra. However, this new car also gets creature comforts like electric windows, climate control and an infotainment system mounted on top of the transmission tunnel.
Perhaps most importantly, though, AC says the new Cobra will fit owners of all shapes and sizes. The original car is infamously cramped inside so, when it was designing the chassis for the Mk7 variant, AC left enough space in the platform to allow drivers ‘well over six-feet tall’ to fit comfortably.
The Cobra’s instrumentation is a mix of analogue gauges and something AC calls an ‘Advanced Driver Information Centre.’ That’s the screen under the row of toggle switches on the dashboard. AC hasn’t yet explained how the system works, but we reckon it’ll be able to display everything from media and navigation instructions to data such as coolant temperature, boost pressure and oil pressure.
There’s a similar engine data system fitted to the Mustang and, considering the new Cobra is powered by the Mustang’s engine, it makes sense for AC to retain all its sensors and give the driver a means of viewing the information they gather.
Anything else worth mentioning?
AC is now Britain’s oldest operating vehicle manufacturer. It was founded in 1901 in West Norwood, London but it’s been through a lot of owners in the past 120-odd years. As a result of this pass-the-parcel management strategy, the brand’s manufacturing operations have been moved abroad.
However, AC is starting to get back to its roots. The brand has established a new headquarters in Donington, Lincolnshire and, with the launch of the Mk7 Cobra, it has committed to returning the production of its cars to Europe. AC hasn’t yet confirmed where the new Cobra will be built, although it has said that it plans to expand its production and development operations in the UK.
