Bristol Fighter

Bristol's Project Fighter continues apace and is set to bring the car company into the 21st Century with a bang. First revealed almost a 18 months ago, the company now reports that first deliveries are on schedule for the end of 2001.

Engine

The compact all aluminium 8-litre V-10 (same weight as Bristol’s present 5.9 litre V-8) has been developed to produce a massive 525 bhp and 525 lb ft torque. Bristol’s engineers are said to have made it very refined with a pleasing degree of smoothness and refinement along with excellent fuel economy in normal driving conditions due to high gearing, low weight and very low drag. The car is said to comfortably exceed the original target of 350bhp/tonne.

Aerodynamics

Bristol are making some bold claims for the aerodynamics of the Fighter. They claim that the overall drag is lower than any known rival. The car is reported to be of a similar size to a 911.

Moving floor wind tunnel testing has confirmed the calculations made by Bristol’s aerodynamicists resulting in a shape that eliminates lift at speeds in excess of 200mph. Yaw testing has been successfully carried out and included simulated 50 mph side wind gusts at 200 mph road speed.

Structure

By modifying the relative usage of steel, aluminium and composite materials the company’s engineers have been able to exceed stiffness targets and reduce total vehicle weight to below original specifications. Interestingly the company claim that the current enthusiasm for aluminium and carbon fibre is often misplaced and they've chosen to ignore these fads to produce a 'genuinely lightweight vehicle with predictable strength over an exceptionally long life-span'.

Accommodation

Gullwing doors are a sexy idea, but few manufacturers have successfully engineered solutions to the various problems associated with the installation. Bristol claim to have sorted their design which coupled with low sills allows easy entry to the car.

The driving position adjusts to suit people from 4’11" to 6’7". There's enought luggage space for two people’s touring requirements or the ubiquitous golf clubs. A full size spare wheel is standard equipment.

Interior

It may be a Bristol but don't expect the interior to look like the smoking room in a gentleman's club. Although hand built, the interior won't feature wood trim.

Price

The Fighter will cost Ł175,000 plus tax. It's sure to create immense interest when it sees the light of day, if only because it's such a radical departure for one of the world's most traditional car builders.

For many the Bristol name is more renowned for its war-time aircraft than for its cars. The Bristol Aeroplane Company dated back to 1910 and made the Bristol Fighter, Beaufighter and the Blenheim. The Second World War saw Bristol produce over 14,000 planes.

After the war, the company like many others suddenly found it had a surplus of labour. With an eye on car production they acquired rights to designs of pre-war BMW saloons and engines. The Bristol Type 400 saloon was born and lead the way for some very stylish cars.

In 1960 the car division was separated from the aircraft company and Bristol Cars Ltd was born. Tony Crook, a former Grand Prix Racer acquired the company and is still in the driving seat to this day.

Throughout the 1990's we've seen Bristol producing their quirky four seater coupes and selling in small numbers at big prices. A difficult car to pigeon-hole, they conjure up images of aged aristocracy clinging on to British heritage - no matter how odd looking it may be!

In a surprise announcement last week, Bristol shocked the motoring world with the revelation that they're planning a brand new car. Not another rendition of the old formula, this is new from the ground up.

Project Fighter

Project 'Fighter' is an exciting prospect for a company more associated with tweed jackets and cobwebs. The initial mechanical design has now been frozen and uses an aluminium chassis hosting the Chrysler 8 litre V10 as seen in the Dodge Viper. The initial styling can be seen from the pictures of the scale model, but this is subject to change as the project develops.

Bristol claim that they've gone public on the project at what many would consider a very early stage, to save them the hassles of secret testing and camouflaging their test cars etc.

The styling is bold, yet pleasing. Influences from many cars can be seen yet the packaging works well. The rear of the car has similarities with both the Chevrolet Corvette and Marcos coupes. Visibility through the wrap around screen should be excellent as in the Lotus M250. The bonnet vents are also reminiscent of the M250 and Elise. The front of the car is the almost unique, with recessed lights (similar to the Tuscan). Gull wing doors have been specified to make "entry and exit much easier for the less athletic". [Stannah chairlifts into the cabin could be an option]

Aerodynamic efficiency is playing a large part in the styling of the car. Bristol curiously are moving away from creating a car with high downforces. They claim high downforces are inefficient and susceptible to changes in wind direction creating instability. They are aiming for aerodynamic stability with a high level of grip achieved though good suspension design.

The engine is to be tweaked by Bristol to gain more than the standard 400bhp that the unit produces in the Viper. Target weight is around 1400kg, which when coupled with the 400-500bhp engine should see a 0-60 time of around four seconds. This will be the world's first production vehicle that can reach 200mph with an automatic gearbox apparently. That's a tough target Bristol have set themselves however. Those aerodynamics will need to be good to nudge it past the magic 200.

Progress will be watched with interest. If they can pull it off, this could be a fantastic car. If they don't, this could be Bristol's last gasp.

Links: Bristol Cars, Bristol Owners Club