The Legend Evolves: AC Cars Unveils the Spectacular Cobra GT Coupe
For decades, the AC Cobra has been celebrated as one of the ultimate open-top sports cars in automotive history. While custom shops and aftermarket builders have experimented with different designs over the years, a genuine, factory-built production Cobra with a fixed roof has remained a rare dream. That changes today. AC Cars has officially brought the breathtaking AC Cobra GT Coupe to life, transitioning the vehicle from digital concepts into a physical, high-performance masterpiece.
The GT Coupe is part of an ambitious new era for the British low-volume manufacturer, joining the previously announced GT Roadster. With these new vehicles, AC Cars aims to expand its global reach and upscale its manufacturing capabilities, raising its production output from just 100 vehicles a year to a much more substantial 1,000 units annually.
Design Rooted in Le Mans History
Rather than mimicking the iconic Shelby Daytona Coupe, AC Cars turned to its own historic racing archives for aesthetic inspiration. The GT Coupe takes major design cues from the legendary 1964 AC A98 Le Mans coupe. This influence is clearly visible in the car's flowing, fastback silhouette, sweeping roofline, muscular rear fenders, and a classic Kammtail rear end engineered for aerodynamic stability.
Underneath the stunning carbon-fiber bodywork sits a modern extruded aluminum spaceframe chassis, shared in large part with the GT Roadster. This lightweight architecture ensures that despite its much larger footprint compared to the 1962 original, the GT Coupe weighs in at a nimble 3,530 pounds (1,600 kg).
Supercharged Ford V8 Muscle
At the heart of the new Cobra GT Coupe lies pure, unadulterated American horsepower in the form of a 5.0-liter Ford Coyote V8 engine. Buyers can configure this high-performance powertrain in two distinct states of tune:
- Naturally Aspirated: Producing a healthy 450 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque.
- Supercharged: Unleashing a monumental 720 horsepower and 605 lb-ft of torque.
According to AC Cars, the supercharged version is capable of launching from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a choice of a traditional six-speed manual gearbox for ultimate driver engagement, or a modern 10-speed automatic transmission equipped with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
A Civilized Grand Tourer
While performance is a key focus, AC Cars has not designed the GT Coupe to be a punishing track toy. Instead, it is positioned as a refined grand tourer capable of long-distance road trips. The cabin features generous room for taller occupants, premium materials, modern climate control, a high-tech infotainment system, and endless opportunities for client personalization.
This exclusive blend of vintage aesthetics, modern amenities, and ferocious speed comes at a premium. Pricing starts at £234,300 ($314,200 USD) before taxes for the naturally aspirated model, while the supercharged beast commands £256,300 ($343,700 USD) before tax. First deliveries are currently slated for 2028, following the completion of initial GT Roadster customer orders.
Image Credit & Source: Original Article