AC Cars is one of the oldest independent car makers in the world. Founded in 1901 in West Norwood, London, it was responsible for all sorts of cars but is most famous for producing the AC Cobra from 1962 to 1967, also known as the Shelby Cobra.
The car was developed from the AC Ace two-seater roadster that debuted in 1953. After Carroll Shelby was given two 221ci 3.6-liter V8 engines by Ford, he had one shipped to AC in England, and this eventually gave us the AC Cobra. Incredibly, the company is still going today, with its headquarters at the Donington Park racetrack in the UK.
Now, the company has launched an all-new machine, and it is a $500,000 monster. Enter the new AC Cobra Coupe, a two-seater sports car with nearly 800hp available thanks to a huge V8 engine. But don’t be fooled into thinking this brute can only go in straight lines.
This monster is built thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber, and with an aluminum chassis, it is as light as possible. The car also shares some of its DNA with the current Cobra Roadster, and it stays true to the ethos that Shelby and AC created all those years ago.
Big V8 Power Is the Highlight of the AC Cobra Coupe
It is under the hood where the real magic lies with the new Cobra. Power comes from a Ford-sourced 5.0-liter V8 engine, and AC Cars is offering it in multiple different states to cater to everyone’s needs. There is a naturally-aspirated version, a supercharged version, and the limited-run Clubsport Edition.
The regular naturally-aspirated version makes 450hp, while the supercharged version produces 720hp. But if you opt for the Clubsport Edition, you get a mind-bending 799hp. AC Cars has said this will be limited to just 99 units. On all versions, power goes to the rear wheels, thanks to a six-speed manual or ten-speed Tremec automatic transmission.
Buyers also have the option of a limited-slip differential or a Torsen differential. Every edition comes with double wishbone suspension to ensure the handling is as sharp as possible. Much of the DNA of the car is shared with the latest Cobra Roadster. In fact, AC Cars says about 75 percent of the components are carried over from the Roadster. Incredibly, this is the first production coupe to come from AC Cars. It is the first time it has given customers a car with a fixed roof over their heads.
The Cobra Coupe Offers Nods to AC Cars’ Past
A closer look at the coupe shows that AC Cars has taken inspiration from the company’s past to create the new Cobra. For example. the double-bubble roof is something similar to what we saw on the 1964 AC A98 coupe that raced at Le Mans. At the back, the car has a sawn-off Kammtail design, again similar to the 1964 coupe. But there is a hint of the modern to the design, thanks to the smoother surfaces and modern LED lights at the front and back.
Inside, the car has the same analogue dials as you can find in the GT Roadster. The coupe also has machined toggle switches, but there is again a modern touch thanks to the infotainment system. Climate control and touchscreen navigation also come as standard. Production will begin when AC Cars has fulfilled all existing orders for the Roadster. At the time of writing, the asking price for the car is $314,000. That will rise to around $500,000 if you want the Clubsport Edition. Deliveries should have begun by early 2028.