AC says Ace RS is likely its last gas-fueled vehicle

Proclaiming “the end of the petrol era,” Britain’s AC Cars plans to offer a special RS version of the AC Ace, the car Carroll Shelby turned into his Cobra back in the 1960s.

In a news release, AC chief executive Alan Lubinsky listed three reasons for the launch of the AC Ace RS:

“The original Ace was the archetypal British sports car – fast, light and nimble and a real classic of its generation which was the inspiration for the global classic, the iconic AC Cobra,” he said as reason one.

“Our new AC Ace RS model has all those virtues and more besides, brought together in an updated package which retains a traditional feel and driver appeal within a low overall weight to just 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds). The AC Ace RS is similar in detail and identical in appearance to the original 1962 AC Ace.”

And the third reason?

“Central to the exceptional performance of the AC Ace RS is our decision to select a new and lightweight 2.3-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine which develops 350 horsepower and 440Nm (324.5 foot pounds) of torque, enough for a sparkling 0 – 62 mph time of only 5.8 seconds.”  

AC Cars added that it is doing the RS “to pay tribute to the end of the petrol era.”

Or as Lubinsky phrased it: 

“There’s another event that we are proud to honor. The new AC Ace RS may well be the last ever new AC model to be powered by a petrol engine. Already, virtually every one of our current model range offers an electric driveline as we at AC lead the sports car industry into greener territory.”

AC Cars said it plans to deliver the RS to customers in the summer of 2022. Orders are being accepted at a price of £89,500 ($121,675).