LONDON: The new AC Cobra GT Roadster made its global premiere last week, with confirmed buyers and customers invited to the event as the sports car makes its return.
Held at the world-famous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, just 40km from where the company was first established, the state-of-the- art roadster is available in both left and right-hand drive.
It is powered by a 5.0-litre V8, delivering up to 663PS. The car features a novel extruded aluminum spaceframe chassis and carbon-composite bodywork to deliver an unusual driving experience in a limited-production vehicle.
Showing everything from the evocative bodywork through to the bespoke interior, the new AC Cobra GT Roadster’s premiere allowed customers to experience the new car’s styling, revel in the cabin’s design and meet the team responsible for ensuring the new sports car upholds the famous name’s legacy.
Starting with a clean-sheet design, the AC Cobra GT Roadster is a modern sports car, produced using the latest technology and engineering processes, yet retains styling cues from the AC Cobra of the 1960s.
The new roadster is the result of a multi-million euro investment and was developed over nearly four years.
Just 250 examples of the GT Roadster are expected to be built for worldwide markets every year, with the first year of production already allocated.
Designed to be fully road legal, available in left and right-hand drive, and incorporate modern safety features, every aspect, from the styling through to ergonomics, has been considered.
Significantly larger than the original AC Cobra, the new GT Roadster catches up on 50 years of design evolution.
The modern ergonomics means the car’s cabin accommodates drivers well over six-feet tall, while the car uses modern drivetrain and control technologies to validate its grand tourer credentials.
The new chassis has a wheelbase of 2,570mm, 284 mm longer than the AC Cobra Mk. VI, yet the car’s overall length has grown only 110mm, up to 4,225mm.
The car’s track has also been optimised to give a wider stance, which, along with the car’s weight distribution and centre of gravity, benefits handling and agility.
The highly advanced extruded aluminium spaceframe chassis was designed for an open-top car yet. Clothed in a flowing carbon-composite body, which itself weighs under 50kg, the new AC Cobra’s kerb weight remains under 1,450kg.
Available in two distinct configurations, the new GT Roadster comes with either a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 or a supercharged version using the same modular engine.
Developing up to 654bhp/663PS and 780Nm - or 454bhp/460PS and 570Nm in standard configuration - the supercharged GT Roadster is capable of sprinting from 0-100kph in 3.5s.
Two gearboxes are available: a 6-speed manual gearbox for purists or an advanced 10-speed automatic gearbox with steering-wheel mounted shift paddles.
The cabin features bespoke details and hand-finished elements.
The design and detailing of the GT Roadster’s leatherwork and upholstery blends advanced fabrics with traditional materials.
The car is now available to order for clients worldwide, and customers can schedule a personal consultation with a member of the team, as well as reserve their new AC Cobra GT Roadster, at accars.eu or via email info@accars.eu.
