AC Cobra GT Roadster

AC Cars, Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer, has started the first dynamic demonstrations and experience drives of the new AC Cobra GT Roadster. This highly anticipated sports car is being showcased to clients and VIP guests, giving them the opportunity to experience its performance firsthand.

A New Chapter at Donington Park

The dynamic demonstrations mark a significant milestone in the production of the AC Cobra GT Roadster. Held at AC Cars’ headquarters and R&D centre at Donington Park, these events allow attendees to see, hear, and feel the capabilities of this new sports car.

Unleashing the Power

The new Cobra is powered by a 663bhp supercharged engine, housed within a sleek carbon-fibre body. The iconic AC Cobra design has been seen driving on the public roads surrounding Donington Park, demonstrating its potential to clients and car enthusiasts alike. This stage of development is crucial as AC Cars continues to fine-tune the vehicle, ensuring it meets the high expectations set for its performance and styling.

An Insider’s Look at Cutting-Edge Design

During these exclusive events, members of the engineering and production teams are available to discuss the car’s design and features. This direct interaction highlights AC Cars’ commitment to keeping its clients informed and engaged as the project progresses. The feedback from these demonstrations has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing confidence that the AC Cobra GT Roadster will deliver on its promise of unmatched style and performance.

A Legacy Reimagined

The new AC Cobra GT Roadster is built on a unique aluminium spaceframe chassis, complemented by a full carbon-fibre body and a powerful 5.0-litre V8 engine. It stands as a worthy successor to the legendary AC Cobra of the 1960s, combining classic aesthetics with modern design and engineering advancements.

Modern Comfort Meets Classic Style

One of the notable improvements in the new GT Roadster is its larger size and modern ergonomics. Unlike its predecessor, the updated cabin comfortably accommodates drivers over six feet tall. Additionally, the vehicle features a modern drivetrain and advanced control technologies, solidifying its status as a grand tourer.

Versatility and Exclusivity

The AC Cobra GT Roadster is available in both left and right-hand drive configurations, with options for an automatic or manual gearbox. This is all part of the plan to create a driving experience tailored to individual preferences, all within a highly limited-production model.

A Unified Production Hub

AC Cars has recently announced a new brand centre at Donington Park. This facility joins their expansive 100,000 sq ft site on the UK’s south coast, which will serve as the assembly centre. Bringing all necessary crafts and disciplines under one roof, the new centre aims to streamline production and maintain the marque’s legacy of excellence.

Future Proof Classic Cars

Last week, Mark Harper, Secretary of State for the Department for Transport, addressed an event hosted by the Historic & Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA) at Bicester Heritage. He called on the classic car industry and its enthusiasts to assist in safeguarding the future of historic vehicles.

During his speech, MP Harper announced an eight-week consultation period, open until July 4th, aimed at finding the best ways to support Britain’s classic car sector, which contributes £18 billion annually to the economy. This comes following criticism from the HCVA and the broader classic vehicle community regarding the DVLA’s handling of classic cars.

The DVLA, responsible for the UK’s vehicle registration system, centralised its operations 10 years ago and closed its 39 local offices, which were often staffed by teams with extensive knowledge of classic cars. This change led to numerous issues for classic car owners who now struggle with registering their restored or modified vehicles due to complicated and unclear forms.

Since 2019, the situation has worsened, with many owners receiving Q-plates for legitimate classic cars and others facing long delays and cumbersome processes to re-register newly restored or upgraded classics.

Now, Transport Minister Mark Harper has reached out to the classic car industry and community for assistance in ensuring the future of classic vehicles.

This appeal for support follows three years of efforts by the HCVA, which has collaborated directly with the DVLA and ministers, as well as through the Historic Vehicle User Group. As Mark Harper emphasised, the success of this initiative relies heavily on the full backing of the classic vehicle community.

The HCVA reiterates the importance of submitting clear and constructive individual responses. The Call for Evidence is complex, featuring 46 specific questions, many of which tend to steer respondents towards agreeing with the existing arrangements and categories.

To assist those interested in crafting a robust response, the HCVA will release its own draft detailed response on Friday, May 24th. They urge all potential respondents to thoroughly review this draft and consider its contents when preparing their individual submissions.

Guy Lachlan, Executive Director of the HCVA said: “The DVLA’s current system treats restoration and rebuilding of historic vehicles as having a negative impact on their historical record and UK registration, a misconception that must be corrected. Maintaining the same registration number is a vital part of the history of the UK’s vehicles and is a viewpoint consistent with those applied to historic buildings, fine art, and other protected heritage industries.”

“Our detailed response to the Call for Evidence will reduce DVLA workload, help to avoid counterproductive legal actions and remove uncertainty around vehicle restoration that currently hinders the UK specialist industry. And it is now vital the classic car industry, and UK enthusiasts come together to do all we can to protect the future of our cherished classic vehicles for future generations.“

HCVA Chairman, Mark Roper said: “We must all act on this hard-fought and welcomed opportunity to respond, as classic vehicle owners and enthusiasts now have a unique opportunity to offer a clear response to Government and the DVLA on the challenges we face. Doing so will enable a bright and confident future for the industry, owners and enthusiasts alike and I ask anyone interested in responding to read our own guidance and draft response first, to ensure the industry and our passionate community delivers effective and concise feedback to Government.“