" Driving the 2012 Iconic AC Roadster "

[Don]

Quote from the article:

" It is into that groundswell of economic recovery among the elite that Iconic Motors is launching a very exclusive AC Roadster in early 2010. Much more than a kit car or mere Cobra knockoff, the AC Roadster, which will start at $475,000, has a start of the art chassis and electronics, as well as exclusivity since only about 100 will be hand-built. "


http://www.luxist.com/2010/10/27/dri...c-ac-roadster/

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by Don

Quote from the article:
"... Much more than a kit car or mere Cobra knockoff, the AC Roadster, which will start at $475,000, has a start of the art chassis...

Additional quote from the article:
"Each buyer will get track-based driving instruction by former Grand Am Daytona Prototype champion Terry Borchellor."

OK, Mr. Kiley, wizard copy writer and marketing guru, let's see... it's got a "start of the art" chassis...you misspell your hero instructor driver's name and you tell us that the 1.88 HP per cubic inch 427 makes 800"+"HP and 750 RWHP-a drive train loss in the vicinity of 6%. On pump gas, may I ask? Oh and the Fischer-Price instrument display is included in the $475K price?? Hmmmmmm...

Stuff like this causes the credibility meter to not move the needle off the peg.

Claudio, Robert and Ernie should be much more concerned about who puts their faces forward on the web and in their brochure or the phones won't ring.

[Z-linkCobra]

Those are Fischer-Price looking gauges arent they. Those are nasty looking gauges.

[patrickt]

The electrical system is quite the thing, a first, according to the company. Supplied by Veedims LLC, it is the first Ethernet-based electrics in an automotive application, with data and electricity carried through the same network--no wiring harness and its own IP address.

That's kind of interesting, but I can't find any car (or anything else) where it's actually been deployed. The Veedims website is a bit spartan http://www.veedims.com/

[Z-linkCobra]

How would you like to try and diagnose that on the side of the road?

[gjkrv8]

Originally Posted by Z-linkCobra

How would you like to try and diagnose that on the side of the road?

Simple - Just re-boot it

If I was spending that type of coin on a Cobra - I'd upgrade to the Billet Kirkham.

Rgds

Gregg

[PANAVIA]

I am horrified.

[mdross1]

To each his own.Not my cup of tea no matter the cost.This is where the old fashion kicks in.My car sitting beside this one would steal all the attention, once the curiosity of it being new wore off.

[Don]

AutoWeek.com update:


" Iconic Motors will begin production of its 2012 AC Roadster in late spring in Detroit, the company said on Tuesday."

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2011...#ixzz1AkwT8Ctq

[Buzz]

The high tech gagetry and modern touches bother me far less than the changes to the body shape. I can understand wanting to distinguish it from being another replica, but keeping it so close and just making it less attractive by flattening out the curve in the top of the front fender line (among other things) makes no sense to me at all. Those folks who try to design a better Cobra shape should take some time to understand what makes the original body so attractive in the first place.

[Wbulk]

Big risk for that price. I'll take a Kirkham before I would buy one of those.

[fordracing65]

for people with cash like that, they dont think like mere mortals, give me a ford gt, a z06 vette and a house, you can have the iconic.

[decooney]

They had their first complete "prototype" car on display up the hill from the Pebble Beach Concours De' Elegance event (2008, 2009) as I recall. It was getting quite a bit of attention and questions, but it was unclear at the time as to whether they were shopping for feedback, buyers, or funding at the time. It looked okay in person for what they were trying to do, but the asking price would probably cause most to buy something else. I'll see if I can find any old photos when we saw it there.

Here are a few pics of it...

[Don]

" ........but the asking price would probably cause most to buy something else."

Some of the less expensive alternatives:
Porsche 911 Turbo S @ $162,000
Lamborghini Superleggera @ $282,000
Mosler Photon @ $393,000

Or, save for a few more weeks/months/years:
Hennessey Venom GT @ $895,000 (Twin Turbo 1200 HP @ 2,685 lbs )

[Jamo]

...or look around for a good deal on an original Cobra?

For a moment, I thought it might be the company that builds/rebuilds old Landcruisers and Jeeps...Icon.

[CobraDan]

[patrickt]

The problem is that it just doesn't look good.

[CobraDan]

The Iconic has been around since I took those pictures in 2008 and there talking about 2012

[pjmoore2003]

I wonder how rough the ride is based on that suspension set up?? Probably worst than my BDR with race springs.

[acmjg]

The headlights look like a goldfish right before it starts floating...