Spotted: AC 378 GT Zagato

AC Cars is surely best known for the Ace, the car which went on to become the Cobra- one of the most iconic bits of metal and rubber ever produced. The modern relaunched company has a new trick up its sleeve, however…

What you see before you is the 378 GT Zagato- spotted a few months ago at the Pistonheads ‘Sunday Service’ at Mercedes-Benz world at Brooklands. No, that doesn’t mean this car is on the roads yet- it’s not yet in production. AC Cars themselves brought it along, and as you can see it caused quite a stir.

It’s so distinctively an AC design, and yet the Zagato lines are just as clearly defined. Like many of the best sports cars, Italian design and British charm meet in the 378 GT. The grille says everything that needs to be said about the engine- how could anything that Cobra-like not feature a high-capacity V8 under the bonnet?

The AC 378 GT Zagato is powered by a 6.2l V8 which produces 437bhp at 5900 RPM (the redline is 6600), and 473lb/ft of torque at 4600 RPM- plenty of grunt, then. At just 1420kg, the 378 GT follows Shelby’s philosophy to the letter: speed comes through high power and low weight. AC Cars claims that the car will go from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, and carry on until it passes 185mph.

When the car eventually hits the open market, supposedly this year, it will cost £89,990 (€109,990/~$140,000).

The car was originally unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this year- but it’s not often cars like this are seen in a public place, let alone before they are on the market. Enjoy the pictures in the gallery below- click to enlarge.