Doldisen från Genève i produktion

AC Cars är en av de verkligt traditionella engelska tillverkarna. Företaget grundades redan 1901 och tillverkade då enkla transportfordon på tre hjul: Auto Carriages. På 1950-talet kom den nätta sportvagnen AC Ace och när amerikanen Carroll Shelby sedan lade vantarna på den lilla bilen och tjoffade ned en Ford V8 i den skrevs bilhistoria: Cobra.

Senaste skapelsen ligger tämligen långt därifrån; AC 378 GT Zagato är den serieklara versionen av konceptet ”Perana” som visades 2009 och debuten skedde en smula i skymundan på Genèvesalongen.

Karossen är alltså formad hos italienska Zagato, med de olika kännetecken detta innebär (”double bubbles” på taket inte minst), medan motorn är GM:s 6,2-liters V8 och här god för 434 hk. Siffran 378 står för cylindervolymen i kubiktum, ett sätt för AC att knyta an till märkets mest berömda modell AC Cobra, som ju fanns som 289 och 427 kubiktum i de Fordmotorer som användes när det begav sig.

Prestanda är förstås av den vildare sorten – se hela den engelska pressreleasen nedan – men formerna betydligt mer klassiska än mycket annat i den här divisionen just nu. Att 378 GT Zagato skulle stanna från 100 km/h på bara 20 meter tillåter vi oss dock att förhålla oss en smula skeptiska till.

Inledningsvis tänker man sig England och Tyskland som marknader, men på sikt ska man sälja även i USA. Där kommer AC 378 GT Zagato att kosta ungefär som tre stycken Chevrolet Corvette, drygt 140 000 dollar.

Här följer AC:s kompletta release om bilen:

Press release from AC Cars

AC 378 GT Zagato previews at Geneva: modern supercar joins prestige brand

One of the world’s oldest car brands welcomes a modern addition to its range of Cobra-pedigree supercar classics at the Geneva Motor Show. The AC 378 GT Zagato is a unique combination of Italian design flair, American V8 power and British sports car prowess.

The name of the car tells its story:

• AC Cars is  building on 111 years of heritage with a proven pedigree of developing some of the most desirable combinations of British sports car know-how and American muscle power,
• 378 is the cubic inch capacity of the engine (in line with AC 289, AC 427 etc),
• GTreflects the car’s objective of being a long distance tourer with ultimate performance, and
• Zagato is the name of the renowned Italian styling house which designed the car, re-establishing a link which goes back to the one-off AC Ace Bristol Zagato of 1957 which became an instant classic. AC’s Italian design links were later consolidated in the now much sought after and highly exciting AC 428 Frua model.
•  

The AC 378 GT Zagato started its life as a concept car, first shown at Geneva in 2009. Designed by Zagato (known also for its collaborations with motor industry British giants such as Aston Martin, Bentley, Bristol, Jaguar, MG and Rolls-Royce), the car was announced as the ‘Perana Concept’. As a result of the very positive public response received, the car is in full production.

The AC 378 GT Zagato is now available to order with manual transmission, both in right hand drive form for the UK market and left hand drive for the German market. Launch prices for the AC 378 GT Zagato will be £89,990 in the UK and €109,990 in Germany. 

Zagato’s design philosophy for the car sums up the key attributes of the AC 378 GT Zagato - simple, light and aerodynamic. With a kerb weight of only 1,465 kg and a power output of 434 bhp from its all-American GM 6.2 litre V8 engine – performance is electrifying. With an unrestricted top speed of 185 mph and a 0-60 acceleration time of sub 4 seconds there can be few doubts about the new car’s ability to perform in true AC style.

The new car has been subjected to intensive track testing in South Africa. This process has demonstrated the 378’s superb handling, derived from its 50/50 front/rear weight balance and strong sports car pedigree. As a high speed, long distance tourer with an exclusive and stylish appearance it will have few equals.

“The AC 378 GT Zagato represents a brilliant new chapter in the illustrious story of the AC marque”, says General Sir Jeremy Mackenzie, GCB, OBE, DL Chairman of the Management Board of AC Cars. “This is a car for those seeking outstanding looks and a presence which will be denied to all but the very few and genuine supercar performance at an affordable and competitive price. Its car which sits well alongside the iconic models AC is better known for”, said General Mackenzie, who had a long and distinguished military career – including serving as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. 

Full details of the AC 378 GT Zagato are contained in the enclosed specification sheet.

General Data

Engine

Drive Train

Wheels

Tyres

Chassis

Performance