AC Cars Exclusive January Edition
AC Cars Exclusive January Edition
AC Cars Exclusive November Edition
Ac Cars Exclusive November Edition
The return of one of the world’s most beautiful cars: The AC Ace and Ace Bristol from AC Cars Heritage Division
AC Cars is reintroducing one of the all-time great sports cars to the road with the announcement of the new AC Ace and AC Ace Bristol from the newly formed AC Cars Heritage division. Originally famed for its lightweight engineering and competition pace, as well as it sublime looks, the AC Ace was hugely respected around the world as a quintessential British roadster. This provided the inspiration for the new AC Ace Classic and AC Ace Bristol Classic, and returns Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer to its engineering roots. Timeless Design Meets Modern Performance Beautifully svelte, the new AC Ace Classics feature unique designs that capture the halcyon days of roadsters, yet use cutting edge construction techniques to deliver benchmark ride and handling. An original-type chassis, carbon-fibre bodywork and a modern powertrain blend seamlessly with the iconic styling to deliver an unmatched driving experience. Offering two distinct personalities of car – the new models reflect the evolution of the original AC Ace over its 10 year production run. Speaking of the announcement David Conza, CEO of AC Cars, said: “The new AC Ace and Ace Bristol Classics prove that a classically styled car can have outstanding performance and handling. Returning to the themes of light and powerful, the work of AC Cars Classics in the engineering of these cars demonstrates our ability to delicately blend grace with modern ability.” AC Cars Classics is the heritage division of AC Cars, established to honour some of the famous marque’s most memorable models. Delivered from AC Cars’ advanced facility on the UK’s south coast, Classics’ vehicles deliver a timeless style of motoring incorporating modern technology where appropriate. Reservations and orders are open now, with prices for the AC Ace and Ace Bristol Classic starting from £175,000 inclusive of VAT. Each car will bear an official chassis number, denoting it as a true AC and a descendent of their respective historic model and deliveries are expected to start in summer 2025. The story of the AC Ace and racing Throughout the company’s 123-year history, no other model from AC Cars’ past has the same significance as the AC Ace. With an innovative chassis for its time, and a lightweight aluminium body it gained the respect of enthusiasts and racers alike for its everyday drivability and competition pace. This is the car that would eventually transform into the AC Cobra of legend. 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the AC Ace’s debut in competition, and the car fought for honours at that most famous of races, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1957 and 1958. Success came in 1959 when an AC Ace Bristol finished first in the 2-litre GT class and seventh overall behind six 3-litre cars. The AC Ace was no stranger to success in the US,and proved highly effective at the SCCA National Championships. Very popularamongst private owners, it dominated the E Production class – winning threeyears running at the Sebring 12-Hour race. The AC Ace was clearly highlyrespected, and influential magazine Sports Car Illustrated declared thecar: “…as close to a racing sports car you can get and still have a ‘streetable’machine.” For the new AC Ace Classics, AC Cars’ heritagedivision have focused on two iterations of the historic sports car. Withidentical engineering, construction and powertrains they offer clientsalternative personalities of roadster. For aficionados of the earlier AC Ace, the AC AceBristol Classic features the distinctive ‘smiling face’ – providing aninstantly recognisable and charming aesthetic. The second AC Ace Classic draws on the lastiteration of the original car, which saw out the model’s production in 1963. Thismore streamlined front was carried over to the first generation of AC Cobrasthat followed. Working with highly detailed data, historic carsand traditional bodywork techniques, the AC team have sculpted the car’sgraceful lines to combine both old and new elements. Both versions featuregraceful rolling flanks and wheel arches, in contrast to the flat-sidedoriginal design. The precision carbon-fibre bodywork to be crafted at thecompany’s UK facility is immensely strong yet light, and incorporates the sametechniques as AC Cars’ flagship model, the AC Cobra GT Roadster. Powering the new AC Ace Classics is a fuel-injected2.3-litre straight-4 EcoBoost engine developing in excess 300 bhp, with asix-speed manual gearbox. Entirely appropriate for the size of and weight ofcar it features a specially tuned exhaust system to produce an appropriatesoundtrack for every drive.
AC Cars Exclusive October Edition
Ac Cars Exclusive October Edition
AC Cars reveals groundbreaking AC Cobra GT Coupe
AC Cars, Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer, has released the first images of the formidable new AC Cobra GT Coupe. The first ever official AC Cobra coupe set for production, working from an enhanced version of the existing AC Cobra GT Roadster platform, this road-going model draws on the company’s racing heritage. Heritage meets innovation Inspired by victories from AC’s formative years, which includes the Monte Carlo Rally and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the new AC Cobra GT Coupe adds motorsport-derived enhancements to produce an AC Cobra unlike any other. Fusing the unmistakeable AC Cobra aesthetic with a contemporary coupe profile, it provides a brand new model as the company continues to expand its operations. Undeniably a member of the AC Cobra GT family, it retains key touch points from the Roadster but is in part inspired by the infamous AC A98 coupe Le Mans race car from 1964. With production for the AC Cobra GT Coupe based at AC Cars’ UK facilities, it’s an evolution of the company’s unique vehicle architecture – with an enhanced aluminium chassis and optimised carbon-fibre body. AC Cars is celebrating the news of the AC Cobra GT Coupe with details of the extreme Clubsport Edition, honed to excel on the track. Limited to just 99 examples, and predominately featuring a 799bhp V8 powertrain, these will be the first cars delivered to clients – from the end of 2025 onwards. The Clubsport Edition will be followed by the series production coupe, available with either a normally aspirated 450bhp (456 PS) V8 or 720bhp (730 PS) supercharged option. The new AC Cobra GT Coupe starts at £325,000 + taxes, and reservations for both the AC Cobra GT Coupe and Clubsport Edition are open now at ac.cars. Speaking of the new model, David Conza, Chief Executive Officer of AC Cars, said: “The reveal of the AC Cobra GT Coupe is a proud moment for us, and the story of a road-going AC Cobra coupe is one years in the making. To have been able to combine the timeless AC Cobra design into a car using the latest design and construction techniques breaks new ground for AC Cars. This means the limited Clubsport Edition will provide an incredible, racing car-like experience on either the road or the track.” https://youtu.be/rDLbQ0fBB-k A race inspired AC Cobra Coupe for the open road Despite the AC Cobra’s legendary status, the original car was only ever available from the factory as a roadster, so the new AC Cobra GT Coupe represents a watershed for the marque. As befitting a company with such a storied heritage, AC Cars looked to its past when starting work on the new coupe. Carrying over the distinctive shoulder line of the modern AC Cobra GT Roaster provided a very obvious connection to the brand’s current styling code, but an historic race car – the one-off AC A98 coupe – provided significant inspiration. This introduced the distinctive Kammtail rear – a design element employed by leading Italian race teams and AC Cars in the 1960s. Intended to help reduce drag, and boost performance at high speed, the Kammtail design was included on the AC A98 coupe – AC Cars’ factory entry for the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans. Finished in time to take part in Le Mans testing in April that year, it returned to the UK and gained infamy as the car was reported as driving 180mph on the recently completed M1 motorway. In order to honour this legacy of speed, the new AC Cobra GT Coupe will feature an evolution of the potent powertrain in the GT Roadster – with up to 450bhp (456 PS). However, for the limited Clubsport Edition power will rise to 799bhp (810 PS) to deliver an extremely agile and ferocious road-legal car. Pared back and honed it is envisaged as unrivalled in its class. Extremely light and with exceptional torsional rigidity, AC Cars’ unique chassis construction is already suitable for competitive use, and with future development from within the motorsport sector the new AC Cobra GT Coupe will provide a responsive drive like no other. With the same dimensions to the existing roadster, the new coupe has a wheelbase of 2570mm, and is 4225mm long and 1980mm wide. Once again it will feature near perfect 50:50 weight balance front to rear, with a low centre of gravity. The new AC Cobra GT Coupe’s kerb weight will be confirmed ahead of production, but the Clubsport Edition has a set target of under 1450kg.
AC Cars delivers deep insight into production of the sensational new AC Cobra GT Roadster
AC Cars, Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer, is sharing insight into the ongoing production of the new AC Cobra GT Roadster. The first in a series of client consultancy meetings have offered a deeper understanding into the new AC Cobra GT Roadster, and revealed a level of engineering unheard of in any iteration of the AC Cobra. Heritage meets innovation The new AC Cobra GT Roadster represents a quantum leap forward in the story of the legendary sports car. Far from being an evolution, this new model marks a revolution in design and performance. The car’s advanced platform has been meticulously developed by a team of industry experts, focusing on integrating state-of-the-art components while maintain the highest safety standards. Incomparable with rivals, the new AC Cobra GT Roadster not only benefits from cutting-edge materials and construction techniques and but also the comprehensive testing and development process undertaken. Rigorously assessed, using real-world and virtual environments, it more than meets the high expectations of modern supercar enthusiasts. The first client appointments to see production of the new AC Cobra GT Roadster have taken place, including manufacturing and testing previews. Unique in its combination of timeless aesthetics with cutting-edge design and construction techniques, the new car from Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer was conceived as future proof, and holds huge potential for the company going forward. The AC Cobra GT Roadster has the handling and performance, as well as the refinement, that are the hallmarks of an exclusive sports car and it is truly worthy of inheriting the famous AC Cobra name. The results from the benchmarking have demonstrated that the investment made in the development of the supercar have paid off – as the AC Cobra GT Roadster not only meets but surpasses the company’s demands. “Through the development of the new AC Cobra GT Roadster, we are providing an experience on a par to driving the original AC Cobra in its heyday but with an unrivalled level of sophistication.” said CEO David Conza of AC Cars. “Some companies rely on engineering akin to that of the 1960s, but we believe that for the 2020s and beyond you must break new ground. High performance, highly exclusive sports cars must provide new levels of driver engagement and refinement, as well as outstanding safety. We needed to produce a car that’s as rewarding to drive and as fast as it is beautiful.” Edition 63 vehicles – marking the AC Cobra’s class win at The 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1963 – will be the first examples of the new AC Cobra GT Roadster to hit the road. Extremely light and with exceptional torsional rigidity, the AC Cobra GT Roadster’s highly advanced design was intentionally developed for an open-top car. Partnering with leading industry suppliers and drawing on considerable experience within the automotive and motorsport sectors, the novel aluminium design was conceived and its construction executed. An automotive work of art, its completion ensures the new AC Cobra GT Roadster delivers on its promise. The all-aluminium chassis for the new AC Cobra GT Roadster is a world away from the ladder chassis design of the original AC Cobra. Exhibiting the new bespoke chassis that underpins the AC Cobra GT Roadster allows clients to fully appreciate the complexity of engineering and sophistication employed on the new sports car. AC Cars was a partner in the original AC Cobra, and the manufacturer of all original AC Cobra chassis in the 1960s. Through the modification of the existing AC Ace, which had been altered to accommodate the 2.6-litre Ford Zephyr engine in early 1961, the design was later strengthened and included more modern suspension. All period AC Cobra chassis left the company’s factory in Thames Ditton, England. However, despite its sterling service, the traditional ladder chassis concept had reached the end of the road in terms and safety and performance, and the arrival of David Conza, first as an investor and later CEO, provided the impetus to produce a new car fit for the 21st century.
AC Cars celebrates historic racing win with AC Cobra GT Roadster at Le Mans Classic 2023
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the AC Cobra’s class win in 1963, as an official partner of Le Mans Classic 2023 AC Cars gave the sensational new AC Cobra GT Roadster its first public appearance. With original Cobras competing for honours on the track over the weekend, AC Cars wowed the crowd in the Le Mans Classic Village with a pole-position display of the cutting-edge new sports car running day and night. With the AC Cars stand also featuring a pristine example of one of the company’s previous cars, the display of the AC Cobra GT Roadster Edition 63 allowed the manufacturer team to discuss the new car with customers and fans alike, and allow buyers the chance to experience the unique design and construction first-hand. Speaking at the Le Mans Classic 2023, David Conza, Chief Executive Officer of AC Cars, said: “To be here with our new model, and share in the celebrations at the Le Mans Classic has been amazing. The original AC Cobra is a car of legend, and it has been a delight to show its rightful heir to such amazing reception. Once again, the feedback from everyone seeing the car has been overwhelmingly positive and, with the first run of cars now allocated, we will be moving forward with our expansion throughout 2023 as we gear up for the first deliveries next year.”
AC Cobra GT Roadster makes global premiere
The stunning new AC Cobra GT Roadster has made its global premiere in London, with confirmed buyers and customers invited to the exclusive reveal, as the legendary sports car makes its sensational return. Hosted at the world-famous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, just 25 miles from where the company was first established, the state-of-the- art roadster wowed customers and assembled VIPs as the all-new design was unveiled for the first time. Available in both left and right-hand drive and powered by a thunderous 5.0-litre V8, delivering up to 663PS, the unique car features a novel extruded aluminum spaceframe chassis and carbon-composite bodywork to deliver a remarkable driving experience in a highly limited-production vehicle. Showing everything from the iconic and evocative bodywork through to the bespoke interior, the new AC Cobra GT Roadster’s premiere allowed customers to experience the new car’s styling, revel in the cabin’s design and meet the team responsible for ensuring the new sports car upholds the famous name’s legacy. Speaking at the premiere, David Conza, Chief Executive Officer of AC Cars, said: “Our goal was to surpass the expectations of our esteemed clientele, who have grown accustomed to the finest in automotive luxury. The overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from the attendees confirms that we have well and truly exceeded those expectations. The AC Cobra GT Roadster is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence. We are delighted that customers could join us from around the world, and thank them for placing the upmost faith in us.” The brand new AC Cobra GT Roadster Starting with a clean-sheet design, the AC Cobra GT Roadster is a cutting-edge modern sports car, produced using the latest technology and engineering processes, yet it remains faithful to the spirit of the AC Cobra of the 1960s. The new roadster is the result of a multi-million Euro investment sustained over nearly four years. Intended to be both beautiful and usable as a sports car, it remains in a class of its own. Just 250 examples of the GT Roadster are expected to be built for worldwide markets every year, with the first year of production already allocated. Designed to be fully road legal, available in left and right-hand drive, and incorporate modern safety features, every aspect, from the styling through to ergonomics, has been considered. Significantly larger than the original AC Cobra, the new GT Roadster catches up on 50 years of design evolution. Thoroughly modern ergonomics means the car’s cabin accommodates drivers well over six-feet tall, while the car utilises modern drivetrain and control technologies to validate its grand tourer credentials. The new chassis has a wheelbase of 2570mm, 284 mm longer than the AC Cobra Mk. VI, yet the car’s overall length has grown only 110mm, up to 4225mm. The car’s track has also been optimised to give a wider stance, which, along with the car’s weight distribution and centre of gravity, drastically benefits handling and agility. Extremely light and with exceptional tortional rigidity, the highly advanced extruded aluminium spaceframe chassis was designed for an open-top car yet. Clothed in a flowing carbon-composite body, which itself weighs under 50kg, the new AC Cobra’s kerb weight remains under 1450kg. Once again, the AC Cobra draws on a formidable V8 engine for the firepower needed to deliver the speed and soundtrack respected by fans around the world. Available in two distinct configurations, the new AC Cobra GT Roadster comes with either a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 or a supercharged version using the same modular engine. Developing up to 654bhp (663PS) and 575lb ft (780Nm) – or 454bhp (460PS) and 420lb ft (570Nm) in standard configuration – the supercharged GT Roadster is capable of sprinting from 0-60mph in just 3.4sec. Perfectly complementing the engines, two gearboxes are available: a 6-speed manual gearbox for purists or an advanced 10-speed automatic gearbox with steering-wheel mounted shift paddles. Befitting such an advanced and highly exclusive car, the AC Cobra GT Roadster’s cabin has received as much care and devotion as the rest of the design. Featuring bespoke details and unique hand finished elements unseen in the automotive world before, it underlines AC Cars’ commitment to its vehicles going forward. The design and detailing of the GT Roadster’s leatherwork and upholstery carefully blends advanced and highly resilient fabrics with traditional materials, yet once again respects the car’s heritage. AC Cobra GT Roadster – London exclusive unveil The new AC Cobra GT Roadster is available to order for clients worldwide, and customers can schedule a personal consultation with a member of the team for more information. REGISTER YOUR INTEREST NOW
New pictures show AC Cobra before reveal in April
AC Cars, Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer – having been in business since 1901, will fully unveil its stunning new model, the AC Cobra GT Roadster, this April with the first customers then given the opportunity to see the car for themselves at exclusive spring and summer preview events in Europe. The all-new, and exclusive high-performance roadster is the return of one of motoring’s most famous names. With a clean sheet design, the AC Cobra GT Roadster is a cutting-edge modern sports car, produced using the latest technology and engineering processes, yet it remains faithful to the spirit of the original AC Cobra from the 1960s.A highly accomplished and usable GT sports car, the new model shares no components with the original yet is instantly recognizable. Once again powered by the V8 petrol engine, but this time delivering up to 654bhp (663PS), the new AC Cobra uses a highly advanced extruded aluminium spaceframe chassis developed specifically for the car. Extremely strong and light, the new chassis allows for the perfect layout as well as optimized suspension geometry and weight distribution. Incorporating competition derived engineering, the car is a pure-bred sports car with phenomenal handling and performance.Styled by a team of world class designers, the exterior bodywork and interior of the new AC Cobra retains a modern personality but with a timeless aesthetic, and incorporates some of the latest materials and technology. The interior includes hand finished unique elements, unseen in the automotive world before, and the augmentation of analogue instruments with Digital Glass displays – a bespoke combination. Substantially improved ergonomics mean that the cabin suits drivers of all sizes, with the space afforded by the new chassis design providing a high level of comfort and refinement. With orders already taken, following the release of the new AC Cobra’s first details last December 2022, the car’s limited production means customers will need to act quickly to secure one of the first cars due in 2024.David Conza, Chief Executive Officer of AC Cars, said: “Developing and delivering a car worthy of the AC Cobra name has not been an easy task, but I am delighted and immensely proud of what we have achieved. This is a sports car like no other, and we have employed some of the industry’s leading designers and engineers to craft an outstanding automobile that is extremely beautiful as well as fantastically quick and amazing to drive. “We wanted to respect the AC Cobra’s heritage, and while the design has taken influence from the restomod approach it has a more sophisticated feel in keeping with a classic British roadster. This, along with the race-bred personality of the original AC Cobra, means we have produced an unrivalled vehicle that’s totally modern and relevant to today’s connoisseurs – a true 21st century sports car.” Price The new AC Cobra GT Roadster is expected to cost from £285,000 including VAT in the UK, with prices varying according to exchange rates and taxes in the country of delivery. The new AC Cobra GT Roadster Inheriting a profile rightly regarded as legendary, but delivering a revolution in design, the new AC Cobra GT Roadster is the result of more than three years’ intense investment and development. Focused on producing the most advanced Cobra ever, AC Cars is scheduled to unveil its exclusive new sports car in April 2023. The new AC Cobra was conceived as a true grand tourer, combining speed, agility and balance with comfort and practicality. Designed to be fully road legal, meet homologation standards where applicable, and incorporate modern safety features, every aspect, from the styling through to ergonomics, has been considered. With its own facilities in the UK and Germany, AC Cars is working with leading industry suppliers for the AC Cobra’s design and development, and construction of the new car heralds the return of European production for the company’s vehicles. In addition to its new Donington HQ, AC Cars will continue to expand its development and production capabilities in the UK.Instantly recognisable as an AC Cobra, the new model’s styling is a measured development of the historic car’s shape, albeit with some modern attributes, and it artfully preserves the original proportions. With work from the Icona Design Group, the beautiful carbon composite body delivers crisp styling details and an overall aesthetic that is perfectly balanced and highly evocative of the cars that left AC Cars’ Thames Ditton factory in the 1960s. Talking of the new AC Cobra GT Roadster, Samuel Chuffart, Global Design Director Icona Group, said: “The design challenge was a delicate one: to bring the AC Cobra back into a century of technology and advanced ergonomics, yet with a natural evolution that would not betray the car’s past. The finished roadster catches up on more than 50 years of progress, to offer a truly Iconic everyday super car with unmatched power and glamour. “On top of integrating important standards such as cabin space, ease of access, safety and usability, the transition of the roadster into an all-weather car required creating an important step forward. We had to allow the driver to enjoy long distance trips with all the excitement or the legendary AC Cobra, but with none of the compromises.”The vehicle’s cutting edge, extruded aluminium space frame chassis, produced specifically by AC Cars with support from Cecomp s.p.a. in Italy, means the two seater will provide a benchmark in driving and dynamics. Extremely light and stiff, and with exceptional torsional rigidity, the chassis allows for better packaging of the powertrain, steering and suspension. The new chassis has a wheelbase of 2’570mm, 284 mm longer than the AC Cobra Mk. VI, yet the car’s overall length has gown only 110mm, up to 4’225mm. The car’s track has also been optimised to give it a wider stance, which, along with the car’s weight distribution and centre of gravity, has drastically improved handling and agility.In keeping with the original AC Cobra’s competition pedigree, the car’s suspension configuration and geometry has been developed in close collaboration with a professional UK race team, which has consulted
AC Cars’ new Headquarters
Delivering on the promise to bring production of new models back to Europe, AC Cars’ CEO David Conza has signed a deal with the historic Donington Park circuit in order to establish a new headquarters in the UK, as the company looks to expand its facilities. Developed in Europe in under four years, and drawing on the expertise of talented automotive designers and engineers, new AC Cobra GT roadster has been developed from the company’s R&D facility in Germany. The new site a Donington is one part of the overall plan to draw on the best skills and technologies that Europe has to offer, while preserving the essence of AC Car’s uniquely British brand.