AC MK VI

The AC MK VI is the newest iteration of AC's classic Ace/Cobra sports car. Note that "Cobra" is a trademark owned by Ford Motor Company, therefore not used on the AC Mk VI in North America, AC being a trademark of Acedes Holding, LLC.

The MK VI was introduced on April 16, 2009 at the Top Marques car show in Monaco. Later prototypes have been shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011 and 2012. In 2012, the AC Mk VI was accompanied by an AC 378 Zagato as well as an AC Mk II with aluminium body (manufactured by Brooklands Motor Company) and a Mk II with composite body (manufactured by Riverside Racers).

The AC Mk VI is the first version of the vehicle to be built in Germany (the MK V has been built in Malta), the first to use a V8 engine manufactured by GM (the AC 212 S/C had a Lotus engine), the first to be available in a coupé version that was not designed specifically for racing and the first version to feature gullwing doors in its coupé form.

The vehicle will be manufactured by former Gullwing GmbH in Heyda in Germany (eventually assembled by Hi-Tech Automotive in South Africa[1]), the company is also responsible for the design of the coupe version's roof structure and gullwing doors (available as from 2014). The vehicle will feature an aluminium-hybrid body mounted onto a fully triangulated, jig welded roundtube spaceframe chassis to maximize strength and minimizing weight while still keeping production costs reasonable. Power will come from a specially tuned, 6.162 litre/376 cui LS3 Corvette engine delivering 437 bhp (326 kW) in "GT" trim and 550 bhp (410 kW) in "GTA" trim, which is said to meet emissions standards across Europe and in North America, which will be the MK VI's primary markets. Also featured are powerful, 6-piston (front) resp. 4-piston (rear) brakes manufactured by GM and a variable, power locking limited slip differential.

Total weight is said to be 1,020 kg in GT trim, and 1,045 kg in GTA trim, AC representatives say that the car can hit 100 km/h in approximately 3.7 seconds (GT trim) resp. 3.5 seconds (GTA trim).

References

  1. ↑ Fresh start for AC Cars, Daily Telegraph, May 28, 2012

External links

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