AC Cars announce new Cobra
AC Cars have unveiled a new version of the famous Cobra, with the ‘GT Roadster’ making its global premiere in front of a crowd of VIPs and confirmed buyers inside London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
While it looks like the classic Cobra from most angles, the GT Roadster is an entirely clean sheet design, using a new chassis and body that’s longer, wider and on a longer wheelbase than the current AC Cobra 378 MkVI. The increased dimensions mean the GT Roadster cabin can easily accommodate occupants over six-feet tall, with a range of in-car comforts as standard.
The spaceframe chassis is made from advanced extruded aluminium and the body from carbon fibre, which weighs less than 50kg as part of total vehicle weight of under 1,450kg.
Engineered for both LHD and RHD, the GT Roadster is powered by Ford’s 5.0-litre Coyote V8, which will be offered in naturally aspirated or supercharged form. The NA V8 offers a claimed 338kW and 570Nm (454hp and 420lb/ft), while the supercharged version peaks at 487kW and 70Nm (654hp and 575lb/ft) and can propel the GT Roadster to 100km/h from standstill in 3.5 seconds.
For the transmission, a choice of six-speed manual or ten-speed automatic will be available, the latter with paddle shifters.
The interior combines what’s said to be hand-finished elements with the latest technology and amenities like power windows, air conditioning and a sophisticated sound system. A mix of leather, cloth and metal are used for the seat, door and dash surfaces, while the instrumentation mixes old-school analogue gauges and tactile switchgear with a modern touchscreen.
AC Cars say they expect to build only 250 units of the GT Roadster annually, with the first year’s production already accounted for.
Australian availability has not been confirmed, nor has pricing, but UK reports indicate the Cobra GT Roadster will start at £285,000 (AU$541,000 approx., direct conversion) for the naturally aspirated version, which is more than double the price of the current Cobra 378 Superblower MkVI.
