BAC Mono R debuts to the world at FOS 2019

The second model to come from the British manufacturer, the Mono R is two years in the making and shares little but the chassis dimensions with its predecessor.

Innovation and blistering performance come hand-in-hand in the single-seater sportscar, with extensive graphene use throughout the carbon fibre panels – the first time this has been seen in the automotive sector. Implementing graphene ‘powder’ into the carbon fibre manufacturing process strengthens the resulting composite, meaning less carbon fibre has to be used to achieve the same strength. As a result, the car is both lighter and cheaper to produce.

Thanks to these graphene-enhanced panels, plus subtle weight losses throughout, the Mono R weighs only 555kg, 25kg less than its predecessor. And combined with the 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine’s 35bhp power hike – taking it to 340bhp – the Mono R boasts a staggering power-to-weight ratio of 612bhp-per-tonne. That’s two-wheeler territory.

This potent engine claims the highest naturally aspirated specific output of all time for a road-legal model, delivering 136bhp per litre. This allows the Mono R’s 2.5-second 0 to 62mph acceleration and top speed of 170mph.

What else do you need to know? The Mono R has a 3D printed steering wheel, which means drivers can have it customised to their hands, carbon fibre wing mirrors, centrally-mounted LED headlights and a specially homologated Pirelli Trofeo R Mono tyre. Its height has been reduced by 20mm, too, while the car’s length has been increased by 25mm.

Such is its performance, that the Liverpool-based team will be taking the Mono R to the Nürburgring Nordschleife in September/October this year and attempting to set a new Fastest Production Car lap record.

BAC refer to the Mono R as ‘The New Reference’, citing it as a DNA that combines design, innovation and engineering, and will continue through its future model range, the next of which will be unveiled at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show.

Just 30 of the ‘R’ models will be built, at a rate of four a month, with first deliveries to begin in the final quarter of 2019. With a price tag of £190,950 (plus VAT), they were offered exclusively to owners of the original Mono, and are all reserved.

Neill Briggs, Co-founder of BAC and Director of Product Development commented: “It’s an absolute privilege to be back here at Goodwood. It’s the perfect time of the year for us, and with visitors from all around the world it’s the perfect platform to launch a new car for its world exclusive reveal.

“We come to the Festival every year, and we’ve won the hillclimb in twice in our respective classes. We just love everything about it – the atmosphere, the people, the fact that everyone’s a petrolhead, and the stand here gives us the opportunity to showcase the car, and let the public get up close and personal with it.

“We’d definitely like to come back and compete in the open class with Mono R next year.”