What to expect from the upcoming AC Cobra GT Roadster
What's the story
British automobile specialist AC Cars has revealed the design of the 2023 Cobra GT Roadster, prior to its launch for the global markets. Set to arrive by late 2023, the lightweight sports car promises to deliver high performance along with better build quality and refinement level. What can we expect from the upcoming roadster model? Let's find out.
Context
Why does this story matter?
One of the oldest independent carmakers from Great Britain, AC Cars (incorporated initially as Auto Carriers Ltd.) is known for creating some of the most capable track-focused sports cars, that happen to be completely street-legal. The legendary automaker is now planning to revive the iconic Cobra GT moniker with a neo-retro design philosophy and a new-age 5.0-liter, supercharged V8 engine from Ford.
Exteriors
The car will flaunt circular LED headlamps and designer wheels
The 2023 AC Cobra GT Roadster will retain the overall design from the original Cobra GT model of the 1960s. It will flaunt a long and muscular hood with a functional air scoop, circular LED headlamps with integrated DRLs, an oval-shaped grille, a raked windscreen, ORVMs, doors with frameless windows, and designer alloy wheels. The rear end will get vertically-stacked round taillamp units.
Interiors
The sports car will feature racing-style seats and four-point harnesses
On the inside, the 2023 AC Cobra GT Roadster will have a sporty two-seater cabin. It will feature a minimalist dashboard design with multiple toggle and rotary switches, two racing-style bucket seats finished in premium upholstery, a digital driver's display, and a leather-wrapped multifunctional steering wheel. The safety of the passengers should be ensured by multiple airbags and four-point seat harnesses.
Information
It will be offered with a Ford-sourced V8 engine
The technical details of the 2023 AC Cobra GT Roadster are yet to be finalized. However, we expect it to draw power from a Ford-sourced 5.0-liter, supercharged V8 engine developing 654hp/780Nm. The mill should be mated to a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
Our verdict
How much will it cost?
The production of the 2023 AC Cobra GT Roadster will likely be in a limited run. The price of the upcoming roadster is expected to begin from around £285,000 (approximately Rs. 2.8 crore) in the UK. In our opinion, the retro-inspired sports car will make sense, only if you are planning to add an iconic and rare model to your collection.