Brutal, Rare And Effective: The New AC Cobra GT Coupé
Do you like your cars to have a legendary history and a certain unique, prestige quality? Then read on: AC Cars, Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer, has revealed the brutal new AC Cobra GT Coupé and it is coming soon in full production form, with the famous marque insisting that this car will be in the vanguard of changing the manufacturer from a niche name to a global performance brand.
Unifying the historic AC Cobra’s aesthetic with a fixed roofline and curvilinear rear, the GT Coupé represents a new era for the company which is celebrating the 125th anniversary of its founding. What a way to celebrate. Extremely limited in production, each example will be built specifically for the fortunate owner. Expect to wait. Patience brings its own rewrad.
It’s unmistakeably a Cobra that presents a more focused and aggressive stance than its existing GT Roadster stablemate that fully develops the scale and drama of this determinedly old-school supercar for the first time. Premium motor sport derived details sharpen the on-road presence making this powerful sports car a true thoroughbred and an example of sophisticated ferocity.
Sharing roughly 75% of its engineering with the GT Roadster, the new model benefits from comprehensive enhancements developed during testing and development. The Coupé is powered by a sonorous 5.0 litre V8, delivering up to 720BHP (730PS), the car features an extruded aluminium space-frame chassis and unique carbon fibre bodywork to deliver a benchmark driving experience that is not for the faint-hearted.
About The AC Cobra GT Coupé
Reflecting a legacy approach to competition car design although by no means historic in technology, the sports tourer is underpinned by cutting-edge engineering. Yes, the new AC Cobra GT Coupé’s curvilinear form echoes the past but also reveals the future for one of the automotive industry’s most iconic marques.
This model is inspired by the ‘infamous’ AC A98 race car (1964), although the new model is a grand tourer by nature. Fortunately, despite its dramatic personality, the GT is not a stripped-down, ‘pedal to the metal’ track car. This result is thanks to a culmination of sustained investment and development work carried out over the last seven years, making the AC Cobra GT Coupé version built on the foundations laid by the GT Roadster. The first ever production AC Cobra coupé, the new car is intended as a bold introduction that will expand AC Cars’ appeal to clients globally, including key markets such as Asia and the Middle East.
In House Design & Drive
Designed and produced in house, the sports car certainly showcases the expertise of AC Cars’ production team. Based on the same unique vehicle architecture as the GT Roadster, the extruded aluminium chassis provides the GT Coupé with an exceptionally light yet strong starting point. With ride and handling tuned to be compliant yet responsive, it suits the nature of this supercar and makes the most of the design’s inherent strength.
This powerful entry to the supercar lexicon employs the latest carbon fibre production techniques to create the bodywork and unique fixed head design. This includes a ‘double bubble’ roofline, which accentuates the drama of the rear three quarter view. Lowering the roofline without impacting head room, it smooths airflow and helps lower the drag coefficient, and amplifies the car’s lightweight credentials. For speed, add lightness.
In House Design & Drive
Further enhancing performance, as well as the car’s overall racing aesthetic, the new car also incorporates a distinctive ‘Kammtail’, a concept employed by leading race teams for over seventy years whereby the rear of the car slopes downwards before being abruptly cut off with a vertical or near-vertical surface. This reduces aerodynamic drag, thus improving efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. Improving a vehicle’s aerodynamic efficiency without resorting to a ‘longtail’ solution, it was used to great effect in the design of the above mentioned 1964 AC A98 which achieved speeds up to 185MPH.
In line with the GT Roadster, the new GT Coupé is notably larger than the original AC Cobra from way back and features a near perfect 50:50 weight balance front to rear, with a low centre of gravity and a kerb (curb) weight of approximately 1600kg. Although slightly heavier than the roadster, the coupé’s lower drag coefficient means overall performance is expected to be on a par.
Power!
This new model continues the company’s use of a modern V8 power-train to, let’s be frank, devastating effect. Really. Available either supercharged or naturally aspirated, the modular engine delivers as mentioned 720BHP and 820Nm of glorious torque in supercharged form, or 450BHP (456PS) and 555Nm naturally aspirated. The supercharged version is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in under 3.5sec. The choice of gearboxes includes a 6-speed manual gearbox for traditionalists or an advanced ten-speed automatic gearbox with steering-wheel mounted shift paddles.
No Compromise
Designed as grand tourer the new version doesn’t compromise on cabin space, ensuring that driver and passenger relish every mile. Contemporary ergonomics means the cabin accommodates tall drivers, while the car utilises modern control technologies. Importantly, bespoke details have become a recent hallmark of AC Cars’ cabin design, where unique hand finished leather work and upholstery elements combine with subtle heritage inspired touches. Reflecting AC’s legacy and its modern approach to sports car engineering, analogue instrumentation and digital technology together enhance the driving experience overall.
From the ‘Driver Information Centre’ screen mounted behind the steering wheel, past the machined toggle switchgear down to the gorgeous signature AC pedals, every inch has been considered to present a prestige environment. Highly equipped as standard, the new AC Cobra GT Coupé includes electric windows, climate control and a touch-screen navigation / infotainment system, with upgrade options available to order.
Alongside a range of standard colour configuration options inspired by the brand’s heritage, AC Cars bespoke premium service works with clients to create unique vehicles. From customer paint colours and leather finishes, to hand crafted, visible carbon fibre sections and bodywork components, the factory team help each owner stamp their personality on their car. Not to put too fine a point on it, this is one breathtaking vehicle.
MHH International
As pointed out in the text, this is a rare beast and customers will be waiting a while although it will certainly be worth the wait. In the meantime MHH International, the premier exporter of premium car manufacturers from the UK to destinations around the globe like New Zealand and Kenya, offer a wide selection of new and used prestige models including powerful sports models from the likes of Audi, Mercedes-Benz-AMG, Porsche and other great marques. Please get in touch to find out about availability of new models and check out our quick search facility for current stocks. Ask too about VAT-free options and other finance queries.
