- AC Cars celebrates its 125th anniversary, as it looks to increase production from 100 cars to 1,000 cars per year.
- The Cobra GT Coupe is a major part of that plan, with up to 720 hp on tap and a Le Mans-inspired design.
- The AC Cobra GT Coupe starts at around $315,000 for the 443-hp version, or $345,000 for the 720-hp model.
AC Cars considers itself the oldest active vehicle manufacturer in Britain. That timeline isn’t exactly a continuous one, but we’re not here to quibble during the automaker’s 125th anniversary. Instead, let’s celebrate its latest creation: the new Cobra GT coupe.
The newest model from the AC Cars factory is a throwback to the AC A98 Le Mans race car. That car once hit 185 mph on a public motorway and remains a one-off model from AC. This new Cobra GT Coupe, however, has far grander plans for production.
AC wants to start cranking out more cars, a lot more, in fact. And this new coupe, along with the recently revealed Cobra GT Roadster, celebrates the brand’s past while looking to the future.
Photo by: AC Cars
Ford V8 Power
AC Cars knows what Cobra customers want: a big stonking V8 and wide hips. This car gives both of those in spades. Up front, AC packs a Ford-sourced 5.0-liter V8, and you can spec that mill to be naturally aspirated or supercharged.
The standard version produces 433 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, while the upgraded version doles out a massive 710 horsepower and 605 pound-feet. Both engines are offered with either a six-speed stick or a ten-speed automatic gearbox.
According to AC Cars, the Cobra GT Coupe features a 50:50 weight balance. The curb weight is around 3,500 pounds. And this pocket rocket should be good for a 0-60 mph dash of just 3.5 seconds.
So how will it help usher in a new era for AC Cars? The automaker recently acquired a new production facility. This should allow the brand to increase its production rate from 100 hand-built cars to 1,000 cars per year.
The plan is to offer the coupe, the roadster, and a classic version as well. As for this new coupe, first deliveries are slated to begin in 2028, with both left- and right-hand-drive models on offer. The starting price is around $315,000 for the standard motor setup or $345,000 for supercharged models.
Motor1’s Take: It’s always great to see a fresh version of the Cobra that doesn’t mess with the formula. AC Cars pairs an extruded aluminum chassis with a carbon-fiber body and a big V8, and that’s basically perfect. That’s what an AC Cobra buyer wants. Here’s hoping that the production increase actually happens, which could also help drive the price down slightly, making the car even more attractive.
