THE LEGENDARY AC COBRA RELAUNCHES WITH PETROL OR AN ALL-ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN

It's been 58-years since the AC Cobra was born. Now, all these years later, it's making a comeback and will be powered by either an all-electric powertrain or Ford’s 350bhp 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine.

Many things have changed in the automotive industry over the last six decades. This includes the move away from gas-guzzling fossil fuel burners, which means that the relaunched AC Cobra had to shed its Ford Shelby V8. Instead, the new Cobra will be available with two options, either a 350bhp 2.3-litre Ford EcoBoost engine or a new, all-electric powertrain. 

Both options will sit on an all-new ladder-frame chassis that was developed to accommodate all the bits that come with an electric powertrain. It also receives new brakes, steering and suspension components to comply with modern safety regulations.

Let's consider the electric power unit first. Its 54kWh battery allows the motor to pump out 308bhp and 500Nm of torque and will get the AC Cobra up to 150 miles before a recharge is required. It'll also take the sports car 6,7 seconds to hit 62mph from a standstill.

Its internal combustion counterpart uses the turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine from the latest Ford Mustang, with 350bhp and 440Nm of torque on tap, delivered through a manual gearbox to the rear wheels. AC says it'll achieve a 0-62mph time of around six seconds and a top speed of 120mph.

The iconic original Series 1 AC Cobra was the design inspiration, which will make many fans really happy. The bodies are made from composite plastic and feature a set of yesteryear wire-spoke wheels. While the petrol model offers 10 body colours, the electric version is only available in four paint finishes, including blue, black, white or green. 

The new AC Cobra features a host of period-correct details inside too, including narrow-backed bucket seats, white-on-black dials, a leather-trimmed aluminium steering wheel and traditional toggle and organ-stop switchgear.

In honour of the 58 years since the first AC Cobra, production of both the petrol and all-electric models is limited to just 58 units each. The petrol version starts at £85,000, and the electric version will set you back £138,000. Get your orders in soon because the first deliveries are due at the end of the year.

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