This is the AC MkVI an AC Cobra with a difference, says Steve Sutcliffe in Autocar.
If you've always fancied a Cobra a proper AC Cobra, not one of the many replicas available but have always thought they'd be "a bit cruddy to drive", this is "worthy of your attention".
At around £90,000, it's not cheap, "but then no car wearing an AC badge with 432bhp from a 6.2-litre V8 under the bonnet is likely to be affordable".
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What you get with this car is essentially German build integrity it's made under licence for AC Cars by Gullwing GmbH in Heyda, Germany "mated to a very obvious slice of English heritage, with a large side order of 22nd-century performance to round things off".
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The car is basically exactly the same as it always was, from the cramped cabin to the smell of hot exhaust gases, the rumbling V8 engine (taken from a Corvette) and the "crazed performance" (the car is "mind-bogglingly rapid" and easily blew away a Corvette ZR1 up to 100mph). "Were I a rich man, I'd have one of these in the garage like a shot."
But under the surface, it's changed a great deal, says Keith Adams in Evo. It has a lengthened wheelbase and more legroom; there is an "optional and exceptionally pretty" hardtop and gullwing doors; and there are features, such as seat heaters, air-conditioning and a large fuel tank, that a modern car driver will take for granted, but were always missing on the raw Cobras of old.
It means this is now a "car you can enjoy on a long trip to the south of France". It's even a "pussycat to drive in town". Yet the performance is "towering", especially between 40 and 100mph. It even corners, rides and holds well. A fine achievement: "welcome back, AC".
