The all-new AC Cobra GT Roadster will have its official launch in April at an exclusive event that will allow customers to see the car in person. The new Cobra is being manufactured by AC Cars which is Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer, dating back to 1901. AC Cars are setting up their new UK headquarters at the historic Donington Park Circuit, about 190 kms northwest of London. They will be using the latest technology and engineering processes while retaining all of the classic Cobra’s good looks.

As with the original Cobra built in the 1960’s, the new car will have a big rumbling V8 engine under the hood, or bonnet as they say in England. It will be available with engines generating up to 653 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque. Power will be sent to the rear wheels via a 6 speed manual transmission, or a 10 speed automatic. It will take about 3.4 seconds to launch this 3,300 pound Cobra from 0-60 mph.

“Developing and delivering a car worthy of the AC Cobra name has not been an easy task, but I am delighted and immensely proud of what we have achieved,” said David Conza, AC Cars’ CEO. “This is a sports car like no other, and we have employed some of the industry’s leading designers and engineers to craft an outstanding automobile that is extremely beautiful as well as fantastically quick and amazing to drive.”

“We wanted to respect the AC Cobra’s heritage, and while the design has taken influence from the restomod approach it has a more sophisticated feel in keeping with a classic British roadster,” Conza went on to say. “This, along with the race-bred personality of the original AC Cobra, means we have produced an unrivalled vehicle that’s totally modern and relevant to today’s connoisseurs – a true 21st century sports car.”

Original AC Cobras cost around $7,500 USD in the 1960’s. Unfortunately, prices have risen, a lot, for both the classics and this new next gen car. Carroll Shelby's 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra sold for $5.4 million USD in 2021. The new AC Cobra GT Roadster will cost £285,000 including VAT in the UK, or the equivalent of roughly $466,000 CAD or $342,000 USD. Deliveries are set to commence in 2024.

“The design challenge was a delicate one: to bring the AC Cobra back into a century of technology and advanced ergonomics, yet with a natural evolution that would not betray the car’s past,” said Samuel Chuffart, Icona Group Global Design Director. “The finished roadster catches up on more than 50 years of progress, to offer a truly iconic everyday supercar with unmatched power and glamour. On top of integrating important standards such as cabin space, ease of access, safety and usability, the transition of the roadster into an all-weather car required creating an important step forward. We had to allow the driver to enjoy long distance trips with all the excitement or the legendary AC Cobra, but with none of the compromises.”

The wheelbase of the new AC Cobra GT Roadster is 101.1 inches which is 11.1 inches longer than the AC Cobra Mk. VI. The new car’s overall length has grown by 4.3 inches to 166.3 inches. According to AC Cars, the new car's handling has been drastically improved as a result of a wider stance, better weight distribution and lower center of gravity.

Creature comforts on the new Cobra include electric windows, climate control, and an integrated satellite navigation and infotainment system. The new GT Roadster does not share any components with the original Cobra. More details will be available at the car's official launch.