AC Cobra GT Coupe Makes its Debut - It’s Not Cheap, but it is Pretty
AC Cars may produce what some would say is a timeless classic, whilst others could criticise its looks as stuck in the past. But, what is clear from this 125 year old British company is that the AC Cobra remains one of the most stunning and beautiful cars that still graces our roads. And we should be grateful for that.
The current incarnation draws its inspiration from the 1964 AC A98 coupe race car, with the new version being very much road focused, including a luxurious interior.
AC claims the Cobra GT Coupe is the culmination of the last seven years of hard graft that has been built from the foundations of the GT Roadster, and is AC’s first ever production AC Cobra coupe.
And the time spent in development has paid dividends as AC has blended the fixed roof of the GT Coupe onto the beautiful curves of the roadster seamlessly, creating a unique, classical masterpiece.
AC sums it up as “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.”
It still shares 75% of its engineering with the AC GT Roadster, and comes with the same 5.0 litre V8 with an almighty 730 PS from its carbon fibre bodywork that’s sat on the extruded aluminium spaceframe chassis.
The new AC Cobra GT Coupe starts at approximately £234,300 + taxes for the naturally aspirated model, and the supercharged model will cost from £256,300 + taxes. Delivery is expected in 2028 from an extremely limited production run and following GT Roadster deliveries.
At the rear is a new Kammtail - a design feature where a teardrop-shaped profile is created to improve aerodynamics - mimics the 1964 AC A98 coupe Le Mans race car.
The new GT Coupe is notably larger than the original AC Cobra, with an overall length of 4225mm and a width of 1980mm, complete with a near perfect 50:50 weight distribution. Centre of gravity is low and kerb weight was kept down to approximately 1600kg, making it slightly heavier than the GT Roadster.
The supercharged engine delivers 730 PS (720bhp) and 820Nm (605lb ft), with a 0-60 mph sprint in just 3.5 seconds via its 6-speed manual gearbox. A 10-speed automatic gearbox with steering-wheel mounted shift paddles is optional.
The normally aspirated engine produces 456 PS (450bhp) and 555Nm (410lb ft).
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.”
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About the Author
Graeme Cobb is a lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for writing about cars, EVs, industry updates and more.
You can find Graeme on 𝕏 at @graeme_cobb .