- AC unveils first production Cobra coupe, inspired by historic A98 Le Mans racer.
- Carbon fiber body has classic Cobra face but an integrated roof and fastback tail.
- Power comes from Ford Coyote V8 with optional supercharger and up to 720 hp.
The Cobra has worn plenty of different outfits over the decades, from wildly flared metal bodies to carbon fiber skins, and you could even get a removeable hardtop in the 1960s. But a genuine production fixed-roof Cobra with the classic face intact always remained strangely absent from the family tree.
That changes with the new Cobra GT Coupe, which has jumped from a bunch of digital renders in 2024 to the real deal in 2026. It joins the GT Roadster as part of AC’s ambitious effort to modernize one of Britain’s most famous sports car icons, and go from building just 100 cars per year to 1,000.
Related: AC’s Retro Supercar Hits Like A Hypercar And Costs Like A Ferrari
Rather than borrowing inspiration from Shelby’s legendary Daytona Cobra coupe, AC continues to point toward its own lesser-known hero, the A98 Le Mans racer from 1964. That influence is obvious in the flowing roofline, pronounced rear haunches, and Kammtail rear treatment designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency while still retaining most of the styling elements that make it recognizably a Cobra.
Underneath, the coupe shares around three quarters of its engineering with the Roadster. An extruded aluminum spaceframe sits beneath a full carbon fiber body, helping keep weight below 3,530 lbs (1,600 kg) despite the car’s significantly larger dimensions compared to the original Cobra that debuted in 1962.
Power comes from a familiar Ford Coyote 5.0-liter V8 offered in two flavors. Buyers can choose a naturally aspirated version producing 450 hp (456 PS) and 410 lb-ft (555 Nm), or step up to a supercharged model delivering 720 hp (730 PS) and 605 lb-ft (820 Nm) of torque. AC says the blown variant can sprint from 0 to 60 mph (97 kmh) in under 3.5 seconds.
Six Speeds Or Ten?
A six-speed manual remains available for purists, while an automatic caters to those who prefer letting the gearbox do the work. We’d take the manual, but with 10 speeds and shift paddles the automatic is going to be night and day better than the three-speed slusher Cobras you could buy in the 1960s.
Unlike some retro-inspired performance cars, the GT Coupe isn’t intended to be a stripped-out track special. AC describes it as a genuine grand tourer, with enough space for taller occupants, modern infotainment, climate control, and extensive personalization options. Kind of like a Morgan, but a whole lot more expensive.
Price, Production, And A Long Wait
Prices start at £234,300 ($314,200) before taxes for the naturally aspirated model and rise to £256,300 ($343,700) before taxes for the supercharged version. The base coupe alone costs more than two new Porsche 911 Carreras in the UK, where the 911 opens at £103,700 ($139,400) with VAT (sales tax).
Production will be extremely limited, and customers face a bit of a wait, with first deliveries scheduled for 2028 after initial GT Roadster orders have been fulfilled. Are you a fan of AC’s modernized Cobras?
