The new AC Cobras will be produced at the former Saab facility.

      AC Cars

      The historic Saab factory in Trollhättan, Sweden, has seen little activity since the production of the last 9-3 in 2014. As parts of the assembly line are dismantled, the plant will not remain vacant for long. T-Engineering, which emerged from the remnants of Saab, is set to produce a new AC Cobra in the facility.

      Established in 2011 by a group of ex-Saab engineers and primarily owned by China's Dongfeng, T-Engineering specializes in assisting automotive companies with vehicle development, testing, and manufacturing. While larger car manufacturers typically conduct most of their development and production internally, smaller companies like AC Cars benefit from collaborating with T-Engineering. AC Cars asserts that it is undergoing significant expansion, and upgrading its current production site would require considerable time and financial investment.

      Indeed, AC Cars, the British company, is still operational and producing new variations of the classic Cobra design, along with a smaller, visually similar roadster known as the Ace. Last year, AC celebrated its 123rd anniversary, solidifying its reputation as Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer. While Cobra replicas from American firms like Factory Five and Superformance exist, they differ and are generally more affordable.

      The partnership with T-Engineering also grants AC Cars access to Saab's previous research and development facilities for future model design, as well as the test track adjacent to the factory. This represents an exciting and unforeseen chapter in the plant's history: the location that once developed the 900 Turbo and other models will now aid in modernizing the Cobra. Additionally, this collaboration is expected to create jobs in the local area.

      AC Cars will initially outsource the production of the Cobra GT Roadster and Cobra GT Coupe to T-Engineering. Both models closely resemble the original 1960s Cobra, which is related to the Shelby Cobra, yet they feature new components beneath the composite exterior. Constructed on an aluminum space-frame chassis, they utilize an extended wheelbase for added interior space and are equipped with electric power steering.

      Customers can choose between two Ford-sourced engine options. The first is the well-known naturally aspirated 5.0-liter Coyote V8, delivering 460 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. The second is a supercharged version of the V8, which produces 663 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque. Both engines can be paired with either a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission, with the supercharged version featuring more powerful brakes.

      The impressive horsepower figures come at a supercar-like price point. AC Cars lists the roadster at £195,800 and the coupe at £225,000, excluding taxes. At the current exchange rate, these prices are approximately $248,000 and $285,000, respectively. The supercharger is optional.

      Klas Lundgren, the CEO of T-Engineering, informed The Drive that production of the Cobra in Sweden will commence next week. Meanwhile, the smaller Ace, available with either a Ford Focus ST-derived 2.3-liter turbo-four or an electric drivetrain, will continue to be manufactured in England.

      This collaboration between the Swedish and British automotive sectors is not new. The Saab 99, launched in 1968, featured a 1.7-liter straight-four engine built in England by Triumph, differing from the V4 found in other Saab models. This engine was later reengineered into the B engine, which was introduced in 1972 and powered the 99 Turbo as well as the early iterations of the first-generation 900.

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