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New AC Cobras to be Released by AC Cars

AC Cobra

AC Cars have confirmed the news that the first models of the eagerly awaited reborn series of AC Cobra iconic sports cars have arrived in the UK. 

The cars will be delivered to Britain so that their technical partner, Falcon Electric, can install the power units. AC’s Derby-based partner was contracted to design and fit the electric drivetrain, as well as the running gear for the electric model. They will also be installing the petrol engine that they sourced from Ford, into the Charter Edition model. 

The AC Cobra Series 1 is a true, yet improved, recreation of the AC Cobra, being provided with a modern, emissions-free electric powertrain. The other version set for release is the AC Cobra 140 Charter Edition. It is fitted with the high-powered, 2.3-liter engine that is used by Ford in its latest Mustang model. 

The upcoming AC Cobra Series 1 and the AC Cobra 140 Charter Edition will both be limited edition releases with only 58 cars to be sold in the UK. The releases are significant because the AC Cobra model is celebrating 58 years since it was created. 

In a statement released by AC Cars CEO, Alan Lubinsky, he stated, “Bringing cars to market at the right time and to the required quality is difficult enough. Doing so in the teeth of the Covid crisis, not to mention Brexit, is doubly difficult but today we’ve proved we are up to the challenge. I am confident these two innovative recreations of classic Cobras – brought right up to date – will bring us real sales success and re-establish the AC brand in the traditional ‘home market’ for outstanding sports cars.” 

News and details about the sales plans for both the AC Cobra Series 1 and the AC Cobra 140 Charter Edition, will be announced soon. 

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[Source: AC Cars]

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19 Comments

  3. A Cobra without a V8? Even worse a four cylinder? A nice straight six would be acceptable if they called it an AC Ace. I am sure BMW would be delighted to supply the same engine as they sell to Morgan. I have experienced that 2.3 Turbo 4 in a rented Mustang and it’s a rough old lump if reasonably powerful.

  4. I’d rather have the mumps than an electric Cobra. Kinda like going on a hot date with a blow up dummy.
    Yes, I’ve been in Tesla S and seen Ludicrous- a heartless computer facsimile of a performance car.

  6. This isn’t the first time that AC has done there own ‘Cobra’, and it always leaves me wondering. I always understood (perhaps mistakenly) that the ‘Cobra’ was a Shelby American product. Did Shelby not Copyright or Patent their product? Who owns the ‘Intellectual Property’ rights to the ‘Cobra’ name and product concept? Just curious.

  10. It seems a little sad. The beautiful, brutish Cobra, spawned by the great American Carol Shelby from the beautiful British AC Ace, held the crown for the quickest acceleration of any road car for many years, was the epitome of muscle cars and was spectacular to all the senses whilst going about its business.
    Now even some slightly edgy family saloons can match that performance and the relatively recent technology of electric provides way better, albeit sometimes from a rather soulless and undramatic environment.
    AC were makers of beautiful, hand made and innovative cars for discerning customers. They utilised modern technology (such as the strong lightweight Tojeiro designed chassis for the Ace which made it suitable for Shelby to squeeze all that power into a small, lightweight frame), why do they now need to flog a beautiful, but dead, horse? Leave the Cobra as it was, and let those lucky enough to own one enjoy the exclusive, old fashioned but wonderful, visceral sensation of having a car that reformed at the very limits of the technology available at the time.
    And by all means create an interesting electric vehicle, but don’t put it in fancy dress. Move forward and excite us with something new.
    Don’t be The Eagles, regurgitating wonderful old songs on a reunion tour whilst wearing suits, be The Stones and write something new, exciting and energetic, even though you have been around for almost ever and have defied death against all the odds.

  11. Thank you BOSBOSTOCK for your measured and passionate response to this somewhat sterile offering from AC.
    More personally, thank you for mentioning my father’s not insignificant involvement in the creation of this legend, John Tojeiro. Without him, no Ace. No Ace, no Cobra.

  12. I think ac cars have got it all wrong carroll shelby got it right and showed the world how to build a legendary super car popular even today the high resale of shelby cobra s reflect this

  14. Rob Tojeiro – your father was responsible for some very wonderful machinery! My father, Dick Bostock, bought a wonderful silver Bristol engined Ace from Betty Haig and raced it in HSCC events in the seventies and eighties. I loved that car.

  15. Love the history of AC and Shelby. You couldn’t make up better, more complex and exciting history than that. I have an AC Aceca Bristol that is a part of my family and the AC/Shelby history and my eyes glazed over while reading about this new incarnation. Sort of interesting but as someone said on this site – “sterile”. Can’t rewind the clock unfortunately

  18. An electric AC Cobra is the sad result of a Politically Correct way of thinking the car. AC should remind of Brexit an leave the Von Der Layen ecologist policy to the SUV Makers. Shelby Cobra is the car for real man, AC Electric cobra is the proposal for covid terrorized golf cart drivers…