- Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer to launch new EV sports car
- To be unveiled at SEMA 2024, 5th Nov at 13:30PST. at the TREMEC booth (#21455)
- New coachwork design inspired by one of AC’s most iconic cars
- Integrated EV Platform engineered and manufactured by market leader TREMEC Electric GT
- Unique Anglo-American collaboration the first step in new partnership
- Deliveries commencing spring 2025, for a limited number of cars
- Advance registration via AC Cars website – ac.cars
AC Cars, Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer, will unveil its brand-new sports car, the AC Ace Classic electric at the SEMA 2024 show with electrified performance technologies partner TREMEC Electric GT.
A new version of the recently announced AC Ace Classic and AC Ace Bristol Classic, the car was conceived at AC Cars’ advanced facility on the UK’s south coast, before completion in the US, to deliver a timeless style of motoring energised by the latest electric powertrain technology.
TREMEC’s unmatched heritage in Performance Technologies, which includes its Advanced Electrification Capabilities, made it the obvious partner for this new roadster from the British company that can trace its roots back to 1901.
Evocative of the origin story of the famous car that the original AC Ace evolved into, the AC Cobra, the chassis, coachwork and interior of each vehicle will be hand crafted before receiving their electrified performance powertrain.
TREMEC Electric GT’s turnkey eGT413 Modular EV platform is fully integrated into the AC Ace and is designed to elicit a powerful driving experience in this most iconic of sports cars. With 300 eHorse Power (225 kW), a 72 kWh battery package, and a sub 1,134 kg (2,500 lb) curb weight the AC Ace delivers excellent performance. DC Fast Charging combined with a 200+ miles of range per charge provide an extremely functional and reliable roadster. *
Pairing traditional skills pair with advanced carbon-fibre for the bodywork, and the electrified powertrain providing staggering speed, all vehicles will arrive with a hand-finished interior.
Speaking ahead of unveiling David Conza, CEO of AC Cars, said: “We are extremely excited to have TREMEC as our electrified performance technologies partner for the new AC Ace Classic electric. The calibre of its work, and the depth of knowledge has been instrumental in developing a car both companies are incredibly proud of.”
Antonio Herrera, Managing Director of TREMEC added: “To be working with such a historically significant marque as AC Cars, and to be delivering Electrifying Performance to such an iconic design, really demonstrates our approach to revolutionising automotive powertrains.”
Reservations and orders for the new AC Ace electric are now open, with the unique sports car starting at $275,000 before local sales and state taxes. Deliveries will start in 2025 for a limited number of cars. More details and advance registration will be available here.
The Return of the AC Ace
The AC Ace Classic electric and AC Ace Bristol Classic electric are a new chapter for one of the all-time great British sports cars. Capturing the halcyon days of roadsters, it uses cutting edge construction techniques to deliver benchmark ride and handling. An original-type chassis, carbon-fibre bodywork and a modern powertrain blend seamlessly with the iconic styling to deliver an unmatched driving experience.
Throughout the company’s 123-year history, no other model from AC Cars’ past has the same significance as the AC Ace. With an innovative chassis for its time, and a lightweight aluminium body it gained the respect of enthusiasts and racers alike for its everyday drivability and competition pace. This is the car that would eventually transform into AC Cobra of legend.
The AC Ace was no stranger to racing success in the US, and proved highly effective at the SCCA National Championships. Very popular amongst private owners, it dominated the E Production class – winning three years running at the Sebring 12-Hour race. The AC Ace was clearly highly respected, and in 1958 influential magazine Sports Car Illustrated declared the car: “…as close to a racing sports car you can get and still have a ‘streetable’ machine.”
The new electrified AC Ace will be available in two distinct personalities of car – reflecting the evolution of the original AC Ace over its 10-year production run 1953-1963.
For fans of the later cars the AC Ace Classic electric uses the open grille design of the AC Ace before its transformation into the famed AC Cobra, while the AC Ace Bristol Classic electric employs the earlier ‘smiling face’ that graced the model for its launch in 1953. Both models feature graceful rolling flanks and wheel arches, in contrast to the flat-sided original design.
As befitting the return an archetypal name, the AC team have employed traditional techniques to create and refine the car’s graceful lines. However, this will still allow for a precision carbon-fibre bodywork to be crafted at the company’s facility on the UK’s south coast. Immensely strong, yet light, the work employs the same techniques as AC Cars’ flagship model, the AC Cobra GT Roadster.
Cars for US customers will be shipped to TREMEC’s North American Manufacturing Facilities where the electric powertrain will be fitted, and the cars readied for delivery. The new AC Ace electrification project is the beginning of an Electrified Performance partnership between TREMEC and AC Cars.
Unveiled at SEMA 2024 on the TREMEC stand (#21455), the new AC Ace Classic electric and AC Ace Bristol Classic electric will be delivered as brand new, road registered cars. Priced at $275,000 before tax and any personalisation or bespoke options, they will be available as left-and-right-hand drive and intended for US as well as UK clients. Each car will bear an official chassis number, denoting it as a true AC and a descendent of the historic AC Ace.
More details and advance registration will be available here.