Old is New Again: AC Cars unveils Cobra MkVI gullwing in Monaco
AC Cobra MkVI - Click above for high-res image gallery
Chevrolet Corvette engine? Porsche brakes? Assembled in Germany? This doesn't sound like the AC Cobra we know, but lo and behold, it is what it is. Amidst the myriad Cobra replicars on the market, the original AC Cars, which touts itself as the UK's oldest automaker, has released details on the latest version of its classic sportscar. The updated retro-minded sports car is slated to make its official debut later this month at the prestigious Top Marques show in Monaco.
An assembly contract with German manufacturer Gullwing GmbH has the latest Cobra assembled in Heyda, Germany, and fitted with a lightweight removable hardtop complete with – you guessed it – gullwing doors. The aluminum body over tubular space-frame chassis weighs just 2,260 lbs and is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 sourced from the Corvette, tuned to produce 437 hp in standard GT trim or a whopping 647 hp in GTS spec, which we'll surmise comes courtesy of a supercharger. Stopping power is provided by Porsche-sourced four-piston calipers and vented discs (332mm front, 298mm rear). Acceleration? Try 0-62 in a scant 3.3 seconds. Now that sounds more like the Cobra we know. Find out more in the press release after the jump and check out the images in the gallery below.
Gallery: AC Cobra MkVI
[Source: AC Cars]
AC to launch new AC MkVI in Monaco
The UK's oldest car marque has announced that it is building its new AC MkVI in Germany
The AC MkVI will be launched at the Top Marques car show in Monaco on April 16. The AC MkVI, a faithful recreation of the ultimate sports car icon - the AC Cobra, is now being produced in Germany for sale in Europe. AC has entered into a long term strategic alliance with Gullwing GmbH in Heyda, Germany. The AC MkVI is being produced in a modern facility and AC is extremely proud of the quality of the finished product which is due to the skills of the craftsmen at the Heyda facility.
AC's Chairman Alan Lubinsky summarised the main specification of the new AC MkVI:
- "The car has fully triangulated, jig welded roundtube spaceframe chassis, with racecar derived suspension, suitably adapted to be road compliant.
- 4-pot Porsche brake calipers with vented discs, 332 mm front-298 mm rear.
- Differential with variable powerlock.
- Corvette V-8 engine, 6.2 Litre, 437 bhp for the GT and 647 bhp for GTS version, both compliant to current emission laws.
- Handmade aluminium-hybrid bodies, handmade to last forever, with increased, air conditioned cabin size for taller drivers.
- Finest German carpets and leather hides, craftsman made to create a luxurious and comfortable interior".
"AC is one of the most admired and respected marques in the world," stated Juergen Mohr, CEO of Gullwing GmbH. "Their sports cars ignited a passion that still burns inside enthusiasts today. For over a century, the company has built cars with superb engineering, old world craftsmanship and classic designs. We feel extremely honoured that we can now be part of the future of the brand." Alan Lubinsky added:
"There are two major new features on the AC MkVI. We are especially excited about the new aluminium-hybrid body construction on the AC MkVI. This provides the AC MkVI with a traditional aluminium finish on the bodyshell, together with a strong composite structure. In addition to this, the AC MkVI will have as standard equipment a light weight gullwing hardtop, with coupled to the standard air conditioning, will provide drivers with total all weather motoring.
The AC MkVI is an open-top sports car based on the design of the Le Mans winning AC Cobra with many of the original car's characteristics while incorporating modern technology. The cars are not imitations - they are new generation of AC Cobra incorporating relevant advanced technology. "Every year approximately 1,500 copies of the cars AC built in the 1960s are sold in America," says Alan Lubinsky. "Why would anyone buy a replica when they can own an authentic AC roadster that is lighter and better and has been engineered and built to such demanding standards?" Weighing only about 1,025 kg, the lightweight AC MkVI GTS sports car can hit 100 kph in approximately 3.3 seconds. "The AC MkVI is wickedly addictive," says Gullwing's Juergen Mohr.
"One drive in this scorchingly fast sports car creates an adrenalin rush that will last a lifetime. The AC MkVI offers heritage, performance and timeless styling that stirs the soul." The AC chassis has been at the heart of some of the most legendary cars in history. Texan Carroll Shelby imported a number of rolling chassis from AC in the 1960s to build the legendary "Cobras" that dominated international sports car racing. The Shelby American team inserted a performance tuned Ford V8 and gearbox into a chassis and body supplied by AC for the North American market. Since then AC has manufactured a car that has been imitated by numerous companies.
AC expects to appoint a distribution network in Europe in the coming months to sell and maintain the AC MkVI
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
geo.stewart 3:37PM (4/13/2009)
like it all except the craptastic top. I'll stick with the snapon canvas roof for inclement weather.
probably something that NYT reporter would like.
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HotRodzNKustoms 5:47PM (4/13/2009)
You have obviously never driven in the rain with a Cobra Canvas top. Here is a full review: It's crap, I'm wet, and my cup of tea is now cold.
For people who do like using their Cobras when it is raining out: drive faster.
But as far as this hard top is concerned which is the car's party piece I think it is fantastic if you are concerned about rain or air conditioning this top is amazing, because I can tell you that you would NEVER be able to get into that car with that top if the top did not have those little gull wings, because of the side pipes (Caution: They WILL burn you. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when.)
geo.stewart 6:51PM (4/13/2009)
hotrod,
no not in the pouring rain. the few times I have (in others', alas), i didnt start out intending to and yes, the canvas only minimizes it.
idk how many actually set out driving in the rain enough to want to have to deal with taking on and off that top/ thought I guess you can buy a hoist in your garage for it.
the_MVP_X 3:38PM (4/13/2009)
This think it's sweet.
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zamafir 4:26PM (4/13/2009)
ditto!
Abe 3:42PM (4/13/2009)
The original Cobra 427 is one of the greatest sports cars of all time, and this just carries on that legacy with pride.
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BoxerFanatic 3:54PM (4/13/2009)
The original Cobra 427 was a good mixture of things, a big Ford engine in a little british roadster.
But the lack of originality of re-creating it over and over and over and over, is getting tiresome.
As someone who has some interest in kit, custom, and hand-made cars, it is pretty discouraging and mundane to see much of that genre over-run by people re-creating old stuff, albeit rare and good old stuff.
Imitation may be flattery, but it also isn't all that creative, or innovative.
If they wanted to replicate something, why didn't they just replicate the Mercedes 300SL gullwing on a Cobra chassis, with a Chevy engine and Porsche brakes? The bodywork isn't all that different in general shape... a replica body would probably fit on the same fabricated chassis... There are at least fewer 300SL copies than Cobra copies already out there...
I wish there were more innovation, rather than constant re-hashing of the past, where custom car building has a unique opportunity to break the mold, so to speak...
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Todd 8:32PM (4/13/2009)
I have to agree with you here.
Nothing gets me more pissed off, really, then dropping in a SBC (I include the LSx motors as a SBC) into something that shouldn't have one to begin with. There is a local guy around here with a Cobra replica, and it has Chevy Bow-tie embems everywhere on it.
Nothing says REDNECK than a SBC in a car that had a decent V8 from the start.
BoxerFanatic 12:59AM (4/14/2009)
Todd...
don't even get me started about putting an SBC in everything under the sun, including FORDs. Not that I am a ford fanatic anymore, but honestly...
The Shelby was a Ford powered car. It is bad enough that the Cobra is more copied than peer-shared music files... but a Chevy engine? Does it really need that, over the Ford small or big blocks?
But then they want to put Chevy engines in RX7s, Porsches, and all sorts of other things, and then act like the Chevy engine belongs there, even more than the original engine.
Another reason I like rarer cars, and original designs more than copies. They are less ubiquitous. But then people put SBCs in those, too...
Sorry, but there is a long rant here... I'll save some for another time...
ronzo 3:55PM (4/13/2009)
Sheeeeeeez reeeeeeeeeeel perddy!
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ronzo 3:57PM (4/13/2009)
As perddy as this car is, I have to Boxer on this post...
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Level 4:04PM (4/13/2009)
Like the Chinese cars these are another death trap lol double standards much?
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StickShift 4:20PM (4/13/2009)
Chinese cars aren't kit cars - therefore they have to to follow safety standards. They're also newly designed and engineered, not rehashes of 50 year old platforms that existed long before any vehicle safety standards.
Level 5:36PM (4/13/2009)
Same difference they are still death traps with no crush zones...
HotRodzNKustoms 5:38PM (4/13/2009)
At least you will die with a smile on your face
Mr.Oak 4:05PM (4/13/2009)
It a beaut. with the top down. Top up however, is a very different story. Sort of reminds me of those head-heavy characters (Martians) in the movie "Mars Attacks".
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BoxerFanatic 4:41PM (4/13/2009)
Ack-Ack. Ack!
"They blew up Congress! Ha ha ha ha!" -Grandma Florence Norris
"I want the people to know that they still have two out of three branches of the government working for them, and that ain't bad." -President Dale
geo.stewart 5:24PM (4/13/2009)
oh Boxer,
if that were only true....
i fear we lost most of all three a while ago. judges try to make a name for themselves and congress is interested in lobbying money and the president, ehh, a figurehead for the interest groups that put him there to begin with.
and no, I'm not making any party statements. its true across the board.
BoxerFanatic 5:37PM (4/13/2009)
Geo.Stewart....
I wasn't planning on getting into this here... as I get into it plenty elsewhere... I just thought they were funny quotes. :D
But I know, man. I'm right there with you...
They tell you they work for you, then the work for themselves against you, with your own money, to undermine your freedom and future. And the parties are both doing the same thing, and pitching the people against each other as a distraction.
Anyway, back to the car...
As Cobra replicas go, I would have to say I like the modified style of the Gardner Douglas G350, with faired in headlights, and wrap-around windshield. But I like their T70 Lola much better than any cobra, since T70 has a mid-engined chassis...
I wonder what a gull wing add on coupe roof would be like on the T70 body... The actual T70 coupe body was a bit odd compared to the open roof car.
But I prefer Alfa Romeo's Tipo 33 Stradale and McLaren F1's forward opening doors, often called butterfly doors.
Now there is a car that could be replicated, and still be rare and unique, the Tipo 33 Stradale. Maybe even at 11 or 12/10ths size. (the original looks tiny, and I'm 6'2")
mr.ed 4:41PM (4/13/2009)
These tops rarely work. They don't stay up, leak, and poke folks in the head. Remember the Bricklin? They do let you park close to other vehicles, but who'd want to park this anywhere near anything that could ding the paint?
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