Bristol uprates Fighter
Idiosyncratic carmaker adds power and handling
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Bristol has announced a new variant of the barn-storming two-seat Bristol Fighter, the Fighter S, plus two performance packages, R and C, which can be fitted singly or in any combination to the base vehicle or Fighter S.
Bristol Fighter S
Bristol describes the S as a 628/660bhp car. The company -- idiosyncratic as ever -- uses two bhp figures because "horsepower increases at high speed due to aerodynamic overpressure within the air intake system". The car is unchanged externally, a ploy that Bristol reckoned "will delight those who desire the ultimate in discretion". It goes into production "shortly".
Technical Specifications (S)
- Max power 628/660 bhp at 5900rpm
- Max torque, 580 lb-ft at 3900rpm
- Ported inlet manifold
- Compression ratio increased to 10:1 from 9.4:1
- CNC modified high flow cylinder heads
- Larger stainless steel lightweight intake and exhaust valves
- Lightweight rockers with 1.7:1 ratio, up from 1.6:1
- Lighter extended rpm tappets and valve springs
- High lift asymmetric grind camshaft
- Modified fuel and ignition curves
- Revised exhaust manifolds and high-now catalysts
Vehicle base price £218,000 plus VAT
Bristol Fighter R
This variant is designed, said Bristo, "for those who wish to take advantage of the Fighter’s inbuilt agility and balance", and is optional on standard Fighter and Fighter S.
Immediately recognisable from its new five-spoke alloy wheels, the R uses 285/35 R 19 tyres (front) and 305/35 R 19 (rear) to improve responsiveness, ultimate traction and road holding. Adjustable spring bases lower the ride height by 10 mm, and special lightweight competition type springs are stiffer in rate, firmer anti-roll bars and revalved Bilstein dampers snub excess body movement. Changes to caster and camber sharpen steering feel and front tyre adhesion.
To provide room for wider rear wheels and tyres the dual three-inch exhaust system is rerouted to emerge from the sills ahead of the rear wheels which provides, according to Bristol, additional horsepower and reduced weight.
The even more extreme C (competition) package, lowers the car by 15 mm lower than standard and uses exposed competition-style fuel fillers. Aerodynamic enhancements include fairings ahead of the front wheels and a vertical ‘fence’ at the rear of the car for increased downforce. Bristol reckoned the changes lower the co-efficient of drag to 0.255 -- the lowest of any production car -- improves acceleration and top speed, and enhances handling balance and stability at very high speeds.
Technical specifications (R)
- Bristol 5-spoke wheels with forged centres and spun rims
- 10x19-inch wheels (front) and 11x19-inch wheels (rear)
- Tyres -- P Zero Rosso 285/35x19 (front), 305/35x19 (rear)
- Ride height lowered by 10 mm front and rear
- Lightweight race type springs. Rates increased by 30 per cent to 325 lb-in rate front and rear, up from 250 lb-in
- Uprated roll stiffness front and rear. Front increased by 35 per cent and rear by 32 per cent
- Uprated Bilstein dampers to suit
- Steering caster increased by 42 per cent to 5.1 degrees, up from 3.6 degrees
- Modified camber and bump steer settings at front to maximise grip and stability
- Revised exhaust system with outlets at rear of door sills
Additional price for the above package £16,125 plus VAT
Technical specifications (C)
Optional on standard Fighter and Fighter S
- Twin brushed alloy competition type fuel fillers on rear wings
- Ride height lowered by 15 mm front and rear
- Lightweight race type springs. Rates increased by 40 per cent
- Uprated adjustable anti-roll bars. Rate increased by 60 per cent (front) and 54 per cent (rear)
- Aerodynamic 'fence' incorporated at upper rear of body
- Aerodynamic fairings and under panel ahead of front wheels
Additional price for above package, £16,800 plus VAT
Bristol takes pains to point out that, "we have no intention of entering our cars in any competitive events in the foreseeable future."
The standard 525/550bhp Fighter continues in production unchanged at a base price of £195,000 plus VAT.
Now I know there is a competition verson I might try and pull Zara Phillips at Windsor Horse Trials this weekend - that would get me one.
top brake said:
so much for last press release dissing low profile tyres eh!
Does the increased size of the wheels allow for bigger brake discs and calipers? An argument which Bristol might use is that this is the "true" reason for the development of larger wheels and low profile tyres, as seen in various forms of motorsport
As for participating motorsport I believe the "Bristol brothers" have a disdain for marketing their products!
Drive of the Fighter in this week's Autocar would not be approved!! Anyway it looks quite good, and the world would be a poorer place without their "alternative" view of automotive design
I can only justify such a decision for collection purposes.
Generally, Britain has a lot of independent car manufacturers. More than any other country today, I suppose.
The funny thing is that they get good press only in Britain. Well, elsewhere they don't get any press coverage at all...
All the promotion of such vehicles concentrates on the fact that they are "tailor made" or "idiosyncratic".
Let's be reasonable. With such a small budget you can't develop a proper product. Just to have a comparison, Renault developed a new A/C system and invested $40m.
With the money that companies like Bristol invest, they can only develop cupholders. They surely have all this Aeroplanes heritage, but heritage doesn't build quality cars.
Sorry If I was a bit too strict, but when I read such articles I can't hold myself....
elfboy said:
Who on earth would pay that money for that rubbish!
Look at the wheels!
What's wrong with the wheels? They're round and low profile, what more do you need? You can't see the bloody things from inside the car (where I'd like to be) and nobody will see them when the car is used for its proper purpose.
IMHO Bristol is to be praised for still being brave and individual.
you only have to look at the bleinham (think thats spelt right) somthing like 200k for a car with an american v8 putting out around 350 hp i would guess, again nothing wrong with that but the engine probably costs all of 3k if ur specifiying in gold plate so how can they justify such a cost for it when a bentley is just as well trimmed if not better an has much better dynamics as well as much more advanced engineering an is 70 k less.
sorry i'm all for cars being interesting an unique but if morgan can make a car like the aeromax for under 100k then bristol are having a right laugh with there prices across the board.
If ever a car was made for those with more money than sense then bristols are it
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