Ford might have moved away from using the Cobra name on its most potent pony cars, but that doesn't mean the name is dead. AC Cars, which gets at least half of the credit for the original Cobra cars has just launched a brand-new one that is also very, very old. The AC Cobra GT Coupe isn't quite a Daytona Coupe, but it is a 700-horse beast with an aluminum chassis and carbon fiber panels, with styling ripped almost directly out of the 1950s. The Classic Cobra, Reimagined AC Cars AC Cars launched the Cobra GT Roadster in 2023. It had the same styling that inspired Carroll Shelby to transform the original AC Ace into the Shelby Cobra in the early 1960s, but it was completely modern underneath.The Cobra GT Coupe takes that same car and fits it with a roof, making it the third different coupe based on the original AC Ace design. There's this one, Shelby's iconic Daytona Coupe, and the AC Aceca that debuted in 1954. The new design might not have the backstory of the Daytona, but it's also more true to the look of the Cobra.AC CarsLike the Cobra GT Roadster, it's much larger than the original AC cars. The wheelbase is a foot longer, the body 14 inches longer, and some 18 inches wider. The changes let adults fit comfortably, but they also double the weight of the car, which comes in at around 3,500 pounds.Purists won't love the extra weight, but AC has made a big bet on buyers appreciating the extra space. The new engines might blow away any worries about weight anyway, with a 5.0-liter V8 from Ford making 450 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque in standard form or 720 hp and 605 lb-ft if you get it with the supercharger. AC will let buyers pick a six-speed manual transmission for a real Cobra feel, but a 10-speed automatic with paddles is also available. More About Luxury And Touring Than Race-Winning Compromise AC Cars The AC Cobra GT Coupe can hit 60 miles per hour in under four seconds, but the modern car is clearly more about presence than about outright speed like the original. It won't shake you to pieces, it won't ruin your back, but it will still move along in a hurry.This $314,000 car also has a level of luxury you would never find in a 1960s model. Hand-finished leather and upholstery, vintage design touches, and machined toggle switches, for example. It even has power windows and a navigation system.Adding power windows might tell you everything you need to know about the Cobra GT Coupe versus the original cars. But this larger, slightly softer version is going to be a lot easier to use on a nice day or a long drive.AC CarsCrucially, it keeps that Cobra style. It's a long way from the pure design of the AC Ace, but there is still nothing else that looks like it. The new wider GT makes sure that it has the same presence as the old car, but doesn't look hilariously small against a sea of modern pickups and SUVs.AC will sell the car in left- and right-hand drive, and it will be easier to get than other modern AC models. The company said it plans to boost its total production from 100 a year to 1,000, with the first GT Coupes arriving in 2028.AC Cobra GT Coupe (5)
