AC to Get New Life from Smart Roadsters Ashes

Most North Americans only know legendary British car builder AC by its association with Carroll Shelby and his Ford-powered AC Cobra. The boutique automaker is little more than a name now, however, but plans are afoot to bring glory back to the marque.

Project Kimber, a U.K. group, has promised to resurrect the historic brand with production starting in 2007. While this will no doubt be good news for sports car fans the world over, eco-minded lovers of smart cars have reason to rejoice as well. The now defunct smart roadster, never imported to North America although the fortwo city car is available in Canada, will be the technical basis for the new project, while storied names such as Gordon Murray, designer of the McLaren F1 (who recently joined the Caparo sports car company), John Piper, integral in the JCB DieselMax land-speed record-setter, plus Jaguar F-Type concept designer Keith Helfet are involved in the new project.

An ultra-light car, the smart roadster was reportedly an extremely agile vehicle that boasted of quick acceleration despite a diminutive power plant. Project Kimber plans to mount an updated powertrain mid-ship, powering the rear wheels.

A total of 8,000 units are expected per year, with a starting price of approximately £13,000 ($24,360).

Other than a few Brabus-tuned versions of the smart roadster, only DaimlerChryslers Dodge division built anything on the back of the diminutive roadster before, and the Sling Shot concept received a great deal of positive response when it debuted in 2004. Would the Sling Shot design still be available? Probably, but with the top-tier designers already involved in AC there would be no reason to pull Dodge into the ring unless North American distribution of the finished product were needed.

Project Kimber is being quiet about distribution or for that matter where it will source the cars drivetrain, although something from smart is the logical choice if available. Like the engine and transmission, no additional details are available either.

Considering the elite group of executives heading up the project, mind you, the car should be extremely capable and look very enticing, plus if the group manages to hit the market at the target price, it should also be very successful.

Like the smart roadster, however, the new AC is unlikely to reach North American shores, at least at first. A car like the smart roadster based AC would be popular amongst those enamored with Lotus new Elise roadster and, even rarer, the unique Ariel Atom now made in Portland. Hopefully AC has plans to bring it across the pond to the worlds largest car market.