The return of the classic Cobra

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".

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".