Tuesday 7th July 2015

BAC Mono 2016MY details

Larger engine, more power and a very fast time up the Goodwood hill for the latest BAC Mono [new vid added]

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With Nurburgring lap records probably off for the immediate future, is the Goodwood hill time to become the fast car track test? There were 75 comments on the supercar shootout story, crashes trying to achieve a fast time and now BAC has posted an 'unofficial' record.

How does 533hp per tonne grab you?

Alright, the world's supercar makes aren't likely to descend on Sussex anytime soon. But BAC's claim of a 47.9-second time in the new Mono is still remarkable, over three seconds quicker than the Noble M600 this year and 1.3 seconds faster than last year's fastest time in the GT-R NISMO. The video gives you some idea of what that looks like -fast, in a word - without actually covering start to finish.

So how has it been done? The biggest change for the 2016 BAC is a new engine, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder from Mountune replacing the old 2.3. Power is up from 284hp to 309hp and presumably there's a little more torque too - that figure hasn't yet been released. Power to weight is claimed at 533hp per tonne thanks to a 580kg kerbweight.

New for this model year also are a drive-by-wire throttle and "bespoke driver fitment" including a unique steering wheel and and seat tailor-made for the owner.

See the video for more!

But the the latest Mono is more significant than just a model update, with BAC now operating from a new factory now capable of producing a car a month. This is part of a wider drive to export the Mono and give BAC greater exposure in European and Asian markets. Oh, and it also now has access to Liverpool Airport for shakedown testing...

BAC has also stated that a double-digit amount of orders were taken at Goodwood, which certainly bodes well for the future. There aren't yet any details on price for the new model, but we would expect a slight rise over the £74,950 (plus VAT) previously charged. More details, and hopefully a first drive from Liverpool Airport, to follow as soon as possible!

Watch the video here.

Oli Webb onboard here.

[PorscheGT4]

"£74,950 "

£110k I thought

[RobM77]

Looks good I'm looking forward to seeing the inevitable comparisons with the 3-Eleven when that's released.

Just to comment on the article, I don't think it's at all surprising that a car like this is faster than the supercars listed - even the quickest supercars can't get near reasonably modest (under 200bhp) single seaters on lap times, so the BAC Mono with over 300bhp should be comfortably faster, even on road legal tyres.

[WCZ]

PorscheGT4 said:

"£74,950 "

£110k I thought

+ VAT as stated in the article

not sure how it compares to a Radical?

has anyone here driven a Caparo t1 before? that's 100% the ultimate car of this type imo

[R1nur]

Does the music used in this video mean he has bought one?

[RobM77]

WCZ said:

PorscheGT4 said:

"£74,950 "

£110k I thought

+ VAT as stated in the article

not sure how it compares to a Radical?

has anyone here driven a Caparo t1 before? that's 100% the ultimate car of this type imo

I would guess that the Mono is a softer and more genuinely road useable car, whereas the Radical is more of a harder edged track car.

The trouble with the Caparo, and to be honest any car like this when they get too extreme, is that you can barely scratch the surface of their performance on the road and you end up just cruising (and getting a headache). Track Days soon become the only real time you get them out of the garage to really use their performance, and once you're at that stage you might as well spend less money on a faster single seater.

Having said that, I do find the Mono hugely desirable!

[CooperS]

WCZ said:

PorscheGT4 said:

"£74,950 "

£110k I thought

+ VAT as stated in the article

not sure how it compares to a Radical?

has anyone here driven a Caparo t1 before? that's 100% the ultimate car of this type imo

Why on earth would you put a number in an article exlcuding VAT and on the road costs?

[WCZ]

CooperS said:

Why on earth would you put a number in an article exlcuding VAT and on the road costs?

VAT rates vary from country to country

[PorscheGT4]

WCZ said:

+ VAT as stated in the article

mm they have added + vat since I posted, but that is still only £90k

I am sure they were £110k

[jeffw]

I always thought it disappointing that it was a tubular frame, I was expecting a carbon monocoque for the price. Looks pretty but the Atom is more powerful/faster and has two seats.

[jeffw]

PorscheGT4 said:

WCZ said:

+ VAT as stated in the article

mm they have added + vat since I posted, but that is still only £90k

I am sure they were £110k

The one next to me at the Brighton Speed trials was over 110K, at least that was what the owner told me. Not that quick up Maderia Drive either.

[Macboy]

Evo Magazine has it at £110,328 including VAT and £91,940 without which is a pretty substantial difference to the price quoted here.

[RobM77]

jeffw said:

I always thought it disappointing that it was a tubular frame, I was expecting a carbon monocoque for the price. Looks pretty but the Atom is more powerful/faster and has two seats.

I was browsing their website the other day and was surprised to see the spaceframe chassis in one of their photos. Formula Renault is the cheapest/lowest formula to use carbon tubs I think (FFord is still tubular steel) and they're about 60k euros new. I presume they must have looked at the option of having a carbon tub, but I suspect that cost ruled it out.

Regarding comparisons with the Atom, they have a transverse engine and box mounted over the rear wheels; with the Mono you're paying for a superior layout and the undoubtedly better handling that results in.

[Bakazan]

"...producing a car a month" Wow how do they keep the supply chain going on such small numbers?

[Reavenger]

RobM77 said:

I would guess that the Mono is a softer and more genuinely road useable car, whereas the Radical is more of a harder edged track car.

The trouble with the Caparo, and to be honest any car like this when they get too extreme, is that you can barely scratch the surface of their performance on the road and you end up just cruising (and getting a headache). Track Days soon become the only real time you get them out of the garage to really use their performance, and once you're at that stage you might as well spend less money on a faster single seater.

Having said that, I do find the Mono hugely desirable!

Agree. Plus the Caparo is hugely compromised in terms of reliability, build numbers (they've built 10 in 7 years or something silly) and aerodynamics.

As much as 1 a month doesn't sound much, the company only has 60 employees according to Wiki. They won't be making much of a profit on each I'm guessing or much of a turnover but it's a long road.

[soad]

"In the UK the new car costs £110,000 – but you’ll have to be quick. BAC is holding that (old model) price only for cars ordered during FoS."

https://grrc.goodwood.com/festival-of-speed/latest...

[RobM77]

Reavenger said:

Agree. Plus the Caparo is hugely compromised in terms of reliability, build numbers (they've built 10 in 7 years or something silly) and aerodynamics.

Compromised in aero? I'd not heard that. The only negative that I'm aware of were the early fires they suffered from (famously burning J Plato's neck right in the middle of his BTCC season).

I always assumed that the T1 was simply a promotional exercise for the Basingstoke based company.

[CO2000]

Looks like it's driving up in the wet but I suppose the driver is just having fun

[Reavenger]

RobM77 said:

Compromised in aero? I'd not heard that. The only negative that I'm aware of were the early fires they suffered from (famously burning J Plato's neck right in the middle of his BTCC season).

I always assumed that the T1 was simply a promotional exercise for the Basingstoke based company.

From the videos and reviews, it's like an F1 car in that you can't go 90%. You need to be at 100% to use the aero to keep the T1 going in the right direction. Think Clarkson mentioned it. I'll try and dig out the review.

In comparison to the Mono where the aero is more 'flexible'

[gareth29]

I was fearing for his head for a minute at the start! Then realised he didnt have his lid on

[kambites]

If I could have any "toy" car for sunny days and track use, I think it would be one of these. Fabulous things.

I'm sure the Caparo is (much) faster, but for me that's not particularly relevant on track and at this sort of level is probably a negative on the road.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 7th July 19:46