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AC Cars’ Upcoming Cobra GT Is a 654-HP Roadster That Does 0-60 In 3.6 Seconds

Photos: AC Cars

A small car with a large powerful engine tends to be a recipe for success in the automotive world — a fact the AC Cobra has exemplified since its debut in the early ‘60s. And while there’s been absolutely no shortage of thoroughly impressive — and high-performance — AC Cobra variants that have been produced over the last 60 or so years, the company is now poised to soon unveil the next generation of the iconic car with the upcoming AC Cobra GT Roadster.

Photo: AC Cars

Benefitting from state-of-the-art development and manufacturing techniques, the next-gen Cobra was painstakingly engineered over the course of more than three years. Touted by AC Cars as being “the most advanced Cobra ever conceived,” the forthcoming Cobra wears its traditional iconic bodywork that deviates very little from the original 1960s design, however, the body panels are now crafted from carbon fiber and lightweight aluminum. Beneath the bodywork is an extruded aluminum space frame chassis that was engineered from scratch specifically for the new Cobra GT roadster by Italian outfits Icona Design Group and Cecomp Spa. Inside, the cabin sports a neo-retro setup that combines a vintage-inspired appearance with modern technologies and advanced materials such as carbon fiber for the seats. 

Like its predecessors, the next-gen Cobra GT was also designed with performance in mind. Under the hood, the car packs a supercharged 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine that’s mated to either a six-speed manual or a ten-speed automatic transmission and is good for 654hp and 582.7ft-lbs of torque. Coupled with its 3,086-lb curb weight, the Ford-sourced motor allows for a 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of around 175mph. With premium suspension and a 101” wheelbase, the Cobra GT roadster will also no doubt boast razor-sharp handling. Sold with an optional removable hardtop, the limited-production roadster was also designed to lend itself to both touring and daily driving duties, and as such features a host of modern amenities and creature comforts like a cutting-edge in-car entertainment system, electric windows, and air conditioning. Each example can also be custom-configured by the customer, with dozens of bespoke options to choose from. 

Photo: AC Cars

Though pricing, availability, and a full spec sheet all have yet to be revealed, the company has confirmed that the 2024 AC Cars Cobra GT Roadster is slated for a reveal in the Spring of 2023.