√Iconic AC Cobra sports car reborn with Ford Mustang V8 power

The AC Cobra is one of the most recognisable – and most copied – sports cars of the 1960s. Now it has returned with the V8 engine from a Mustang, and a $500,000-plus price tag.

The AC Cobra roadster from the 1960s has been reborn – again – with the design of the classic sports car mated to the V8 heart of a Ford Mustang.

British firm AC Cars – the creators of the original AC Cobra – revealed the AC Cobra GT Roadster as the modern tribute to its 1960s sports car, reviving its classic connections to US car giant Ford.

The original AC Cobra was a collaboration between the British sports car-maker and US motorsport identity Carroll Shelby – father of the Ford GT40 – who fitted the AC Ace with a 4.3-litre Ford ‘Windsor’ V8 engine to go racing.

Later examples of the AC Cobra were powered by a massive 7.0-litre Ford V8, which allowed the topless sports car to reach speeds of up to 298km/h.

The AC Cobra has also become a popular ‘kit car’, with enthusiasts and small car companies alike copying its design and fitting their own choice of engines.

The design of AC’s modern Cobra GT is reminiscent of the original roadster, though the new car is longer and wider than its predecessor – measuring 4225mm in length with a 2570mm wheelbase – with 21-inch wheels shod in Michelin tyres.

Carbon fibre body panels and an aluminium chassis have allowed AC to keep the Cobra’s weight down, tipping the scales at less than 1450kg – or about 400kg lighter than a Ford Mustang GT convertible.

Underneath the familiar bodywork is a 5.0-litre V8 engine from the Ford Mustang, which AC Cars claims can produce up to 339kW and 570Nm – though supercharged variants can develop 488kW/780Nm.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission – borrowed from the Ford Mustang – which allows the roadster to accelerate from 0 to 98km/h (60mph) in a claimed time of 3.4 seconds.

The AC Cobra GT Roadster’s interior is a mix of retro design with modern technology, incorporating a touchscreen and the steering wheel from a Mustang to control its systems.

AC Cars says the Cobra GT can be purchased in right- and left-hand-drive configurations, with production of the sports car taking place near the Donington racing circuit.

According to Motor1, the AC Cobra GT Roadster will start from £285,000 – equivalent to $535,000 in Australian currency.

The Cobra GT Roadster joins AC Cars’ range of modern models, which includes a variant of the sports car with the Ford Mustang’s turbocharged 2.3-litre, four-cylinder ‘EcoBoost’ engine.

AC Cars has also previously launched an electric Cobra – powered by a choice of electric motors which range from 227kW to 460kW – with a price tag of more than £170,000 ($AU318,000) in the UK.

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