AC Cobra GT coupe launched to celebrate 125th birthday

Although the brand has been through many owners and bankruptcies, the AC name has been around for 125 years. So, to celebrate, the company has unveiled the new Cobra GT coupe.

Based on the Cobra GT roadster launched back in 2023, the two cars share about 75 per cent of their components.

The coupe's styling is inspired by the 1960s A98 race car with its Kammback tail. Under the retro exterior is an extruded aluminium spaceframe and carbon-fibre body panels that help to keep the weight down to 1600kg, which around 100kg more than the roadster.

Despite having a design drawm from a race car, the Cobra GT coupe is being pitched as a grand tourer with a "compliant yet responsive" ride and handling setup.

Under the bonnet is a Ford 5.0-litre V8 in either naturally aspirated or supercharged forms. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual or 10-speed auto.

The 336kW/555Nm naturally aspirated V8 has a top speed of 275km/h, while the 537kW/820Nm supercharged V8 maxes out at 320km/h. It also has a 0-60mph (0-97km/h) time of under 3.5 seconds, which is a bit slower than the supercharged roadster's 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds.

The coupe measures 4225mm long, 1980mm wide, has a 2570mm wheelbase, and is said to have a 50:50 front-to-rear weight balance. It rides on 21-inch alloy wheels with 275/35 Michelin Pilot Sport S tyres up front, and 325/30 rubber at the rear.

AC claims the leather-clad cabin will comfortably house people over six-feet (1.83m) tall. It has a row of analog dials in the middle of dash, but ahead of the driver is a circular digital instrumentation display, while a touchscreen infotainment system is mounted where the centre console meets the dash.

Pricing for the naturally aspirated coupe starts at £234,300 (A$439,000) before taxes in the UK, while the supercharged variant kicks off at £256,300 pre-tax (A$480,500).

It's been slow going for the small British car company, which launched the new Cobra GT roadster in 2023, and began shipping the car to customers in mid-2025. Deliveries of the coupe are expected to commence in 2028 after the first batch of roadsters are completed.

At present the company only has capacity to build around 100 cars a year, but it is hoping to grow this to just under 1000 per annum. With the coupe AC is hoping to attract more buyers from the Middle East and Asia.