New 2023 AC Cobra GT Roadster unleashed

AC Cars has finally unwrapped the all-new 2023 AC Cobra GT Roadster it hopes will win it new fans to the 112-year-old brand.

Developed over the past three years as part of a multi-million-dollar development program, the 2023 AC Cobra GT Roadster has been designed around a bigger new extruded aluminium spaceframe chassis.

Said to have been “meticulously engineered to be exceptional” using more modern “cutting-edge material and manufacturing technologies”, the new Cobra GT was developed in partnership with Icona Design and Cecomp Spa.

The new chassis brings a wheelbase that grows by a sizeable 284mm, helping the Anglo-American roadster accommodate a driver well over 6ft tall for the first time.

Despite its bigger cabin, the length of the Cobra has only grown to 4225mm – just 110mm more than the AC Cobra MkVI it replaces.

Said to now tip the scales at “under 1450kg”, the Cobra GT features an entire body made of carbon-fibre which weighs just 50kg alone.

Combined with the new architecture, the all-carbon body is said to provide it with exceptional torsional rigidity.

Under the bonnet, the fastest versions come with a supercharged Ford Coyote 5.0-litre V8 that produces 488kW of power and 780Nm of torque and can be combined with either a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic.

Factor in its lack of weight and AC says the Cobra GT can launch from 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in just 3.4 seconds.

If that sounds a little too hectic, a non-supercharged version of the same engine produces 339kW and 570Nm of torque.

Performance claims for the less powerful Cobra GT have not yet been released.

Created to be a true grand tourer, the all-new Cobra GT Roadster will provide a “new level of refinement” not normally associated with the hard-core roofless AC, the company says.

A “performance-orientated” ride and handling are both promised too.

Inside the cossetting cabin, AC boldly states that its reborn roadster features details and unique hand-finished elements not seen before in the automotive world – but hasn’t detailed them.

Both the leather and fabrics employed are said to be both resilient and traditional, paying respect to its heritage.

To be built in England, the Cobra GT will come with electric windows and air-conditioning, a “sophisticated” sound system and a removeable hard-top.

It will be offered alongside the standard Cobra, which lives on with both V8 and turbocharged four-cylinder options.

AC Cars has yet to nail down official pricing, but the new AC Cobra GT Roadster is set to be priced from a staggering £285,000 ($A535,000) – a sizeable £130,000 ($A234,000) bump over the AC Cobra 378 Superblower MkIV.

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