2017 AC Cobra 378
AC Cars is planning to restart
production of the Cobra from next year. This is made possible partly due to the Low Volume
Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act, which allows small car makers to assemble a
limited number of cars without having to go through the expensive certification
process of mass manufacturers, provided the original is at least 25 years old
and the engine used meets modern-day emission regulations.
In the UK, it will be called the AC Cobra 378, as a
reference to the V8’s capacity in cubic inches (6.2 liters) and will
come in two versions, a naturally aspirated one with 440 HP and a supercharged
with 550 HP.
AC Cars owner Alan Lubinsky said
that the new Cobra will be based on the MKIV model and be priced below
£ 100,000. Moreover, it will benefit from an electronic control unit (ECU), a
modern gearbox, powered steering and brakes and even come with air conditioning
as an option.
The first customer cars are already entering
production and deliveries in the UK are scheduled for early 2017, while the
reborn Cobra will be sold as the Autokraft MKIV Classic in the US, with a
launch date yet to be confirmed.
