Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) has officially launched the all-new Mono R – a higher-performance, lighter and more advanced new generation of the iconic Mono. R is 35bhp more powerful and 25kg lighter than the standard Mono, at 340bhp and 555kg – equating to a truly remarkable power-to-weight ratio of 612bhp-per-tonne. BAC Mono R serves as The New Reference – the very pinnacle of design, innovation and engineering. It sports a stunning new generation of Mono DNA, features revolutionary new materials and technology and offers world-beating performance on the road and track. BAC Mono R is one of the most exclusive supercars ever made, with a total of just 30 models being produced and sold to existing Mono customers around the globe. Ahead of its launch at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the full production run of Mono R has sold out worldwide.
BAC and Mountune left no stone unturned when it came to meeting power targets: increasing the cylinder bore size and reducing new billet crankshaft stroke to optimise power and torque delivery and increase rpm from 7,800rpm to 8,800rpm. Having set The New Reference for design, BAC’s talented engineers have ensured Mono R breaks new ground with its engine, too. Co-developed with long-standing engine partner Mountune, the Mono’s 2.5-litre, four-cylinder unit has increased in power by 35bhp to deliver an astonishing 340bhp. The striking new Formula-inspired ram-air inlet system provides pressurised air into an all-new throttle body and cylinder head system to further increase power, plus a higher-spec, drive-by-wire motor allows for a quicker throttle response. As a result, the bespoke Mountune engine now offers 136bhp per litre – a new naturally aspirated global record for a road-legal model.
BAC Mono R is the first production car in the world fully incorporating the use of graphene-enhanced carbon fibre in every body panel. Using the revolutionary material enhances the structural properties of the fibre to make panels stronger and lighter with improved mechanical and thermal performance. The brand’s latest world first comes as a result of a successful APC-funded Research & Development project into the production-readiness of graphene. Working alongside Haydale and Pentaxia through the Niche Vehicle Network (NVN), BAC is now launching the advantages into series production. BAC has also teamed up with global science corporation DSM to use additive manufacturing for the first time on Mono R. By 3D printing parts using high-performance polymers, BAC has been able to reduce the design-to-manufacture timeframes of complex geometrical components as well as save further weight. Add all of this to a new titanium exhaust system, lighter AP Racing brake calipers and an all-new carbon floor, and Mono R weighs in at a significant 25kg less than the standard Mono, at just 555kg.
The striking new look of Mono R is defined by the imposing shark nose front, which epitomises true efficiency of form courtesy of a sleek and homogeneous redesign. Main beam LED headlights centrally mounted on the nose are a distinguishing feature that reduce the frontal area and contribute to a more minimalist appearance. Although still undeniably Mono, the R sports a stunning new generation of the single-seater’s design DNA. A brand new approach to body engineering has seen all surfaces designed from scratch and 44 bespoke carbon parts restyled to give the car a more aggressive, organic and futuristic stance. The new nose coupled with the Formula-inspired ram-air inlet system issue a hint at the R’s phenomenal performance potential, while the upper body design is more slender and organic to enhance aerodynamics. Lower down on the R, all technical surfaces are thinner and more blade-like to effectively sculpt and divert airflow.
BAC Mono R’s sleeker and tighter appearance has been achieved by reductions in visible mass across the full body; plus there’s been a 20mm reduction in overall height and a 25mm increase in length over the standard Mono. New LED lights, twin-strut wing mirrors, rear crash box and a narrower tail incorporating new LED combination fog and reverse lights complete the exquisite look. The R has been the subject of numerous aerodynamic enhancements, with more efficient front arches and wider sidepods as well as a larger and more aerodynamically efficient rear spoiler extending over the rear arches. Inside, the Mono R remains a perfect canvas for customer personalisation, plus there’s a new-look, race-inspired, even lighter steering wheel and optional carbon interior side panels.
BAC Mono R achieves the ultimate driving experience not only with its remarkable power and innovation, but also through various subtle vehicle dynamic enhancements. The fuel tank has increased in volume and been lowered and the battery has been repositioned to the centre of the car underneath the driver for optimum balance – thus lowering the centre of gravity and improving weight distribution to near-perfect proportions. Suspension geometry has been optimised to reduce pitch under braking, with increased anti-dive at the front and anti-squat at the rear maximising traction, while two-way adjustable dampers from renowned Swedish experts Öhlins feature for the first time. The vehicle dynamic improvements combine to reduce braking distances and weight transfer, helping to deliver sharper turn-in, provide better rotation at the apex and better traction out of corners – aided by specially homologated Pirelli Trofeo R tyres being fitted as standard on all Mono R models.
