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AC Cobra Mk IV 4.9 i V8 Superblower (326 Hp)
Overall Rating
AC Cobra:
The AC Cobra, sold in the United States as the Shelby Cobra and Shelby AC Cobra, is a sports car manufactured by British company AC Cars, with a Ford V8 engine. It was produced intermittently in both the United Kingdom and later the United States from 1962 to 1967.
AC Cars had been building small numbers of its AC Ace two-seater roadster since 1953. The Ace had a steel ladder chassis with 3-inch diameter tubular main rails, and a hand-built body of aluminium panels shaped using English wheeling machines. The Ace had used three different straight-six engines over its production life, starting with AC's own Light Six, then Bristol Cars six derived from the pre-war BMW M328, and finally a 2. 6 L Ford Zephyr 6 engine. The Zephyr 6 was low enough that it allowed AC to restyle the nose of the car, lowering the hoodline, adding a smaller air intake, and removing the "moustache" lines below the headlamps on earlier cars....(Read more on Wikipedia)
Mk IV Overview:
AC Cobra (Mk IV). With 522 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 1160 kg, it’s quite light. Rear‑wheel drive offers dynamic handling and sporty feedback. Acceleration is excellent (0–100 km/h in 4.2 s). The top speed reaches 250 km/h. A convertible with a retractable hardtop, offering the benefits of both coupe and cabriolet. Seating for 2 makes it ideal for daily use.
4.9 i V8 Superblower (326 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
Blistering performance with forced induction, offering supercar-level acceleration and a thrilling, visceral driving experience.
Fuel Economy
Very high fuel consumption, especially under boost, but delivers immense power for its thirst.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Iconic design and strong heritage appeal
- • Exhilarating V8 performance and sound
- • Raw, engaging, and visceral driving experience
- • Exclusivity and collector's item potential
- • Timeless classic car aesthetics
Cons:
- • Poor fuel economy across all variants
- • Lack of modern safety features (e.g., airbags, ABS)
- • Minimal comfort and practicality for daily use
- • High maintenance costs and specialized parts
- • Limited weather protection and storage space
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(Mk IV: 1992 - 1997).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | AC |
| Model: | Cobra |
| Generation: | Mk IV |
| Modification (Engine): | 4.9 i V8 Superblower (326 Hp) |
| Start of production: | 1997 |
| End of production: | 1999 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Coupe - Cabriolet |
| Seats: | 2 |
| Doors: | 2 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 326 Hp @ 5700 rpm. |
| Power per litre: | 66 Hp/l |
| Torque: | 522 Nm @ 3750 rpm. |
| Engine displacement: | 4942 |
| Number of cylinders: | 8 |
| Engine configuration: | V-engine |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel injection system: | Multi-port manifold injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Supercharger |
| Engine layout: | Front, Longitudinal |
| Cylinder Bore: | 101.6 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 76.2 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 9:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - urban: | 15.7 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban: | 10.9 l/100 km |
| Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h: | 4.2 sec |
| Acceleration 0 - 62 mph: | 4.2 sec |
| Maximum speed: | 250 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 3.6 kg/Hp, 281 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 2.2 kg/Nm, 450 Nm/tonne |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 4 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1160 |
| Max. weight: | 1360 |
| Max load: | 200 |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 70 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4200 mm mm [45mm more] |
| Width: | 1745 mm mm [Same width.] |
| Height: | 1200 mm mm [30mm less] |
| Wheelbase: | 2285 mm mm [Same wheelbase.] |
| Front track: | 1410 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1485 mm |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the rear wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Rear wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 5 |
| Transmission type | Manual |
| Front brakes | Ventilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.] |
| Rear brakes | Ventilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.] |
| Assisting systems | ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Power steering | Hydraulic Steering |
| Tires size | 225/50 VR16; 255/50 VR16 |
| Front suspension | Coil spring |
| Rear suspension | Coil spring |
What’s the best feature of the AC Cobra? Tell us in the comments!