Briggs Automotive Company

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Briggs Automotive Company Ltd
TypePrivate
IndustryAutomotive
Founded4 March 2009 (2009-03-04)
FounderNeill Briggs
Ian Briggs
Headquarters
Liverpool
,
United Kingdom
Number of locations
12 dealerships worldwide
ProductsBAC Mono
BAC Mono R
Number of employees
30 (2021)
Websitewww.bac-mono.com

Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) is the British supercar manufacturer behind the BAC Mono - a single-seater, road-legal sports car. BAC is based in the city of Liverpool, United Kingdom,[1] with 12 dealerships agreements in place across four continents. BAC has exported the Mono to over 40 countries around the world.

Background[]

Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) was founded by brothers Neill (Director of Product Development) and Ian Briggs (Design Director) in 2009. The Briggs brothers worked closely with major brands like Mercedes, Porsche, Bentley and Ford on a number of projects through their design/engineering consultancy business, but always envisaged what the project would be if they were the ones writing the brief.

The result was the BAC Mono, a light-weight, single-seater, open-top, road-legal sports car.

The first BAC Mono was produced in 2011[2] and made its inaugural public appearance at the VIP launch of the Retro Classics show in Stuttgart, Germany.

BAC Mono[]

BAC Mono
BAC Mono (8606487117) b.jpg
Overview
ManufacturerBriggs Automotive Company
Production2011–present
LayoutRMR layout
Powertrain
Engine
Electric motorFuel-cell powered (Mono FCEV)
Transmission6-speed sequential transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,565 mm (101.0 in)
Length3,952 mm (155.6 in)
Width1,800 mm (70.9 in)
Height1,110 mm (43.7 in)
Kerb weight540 kg (1,190 lb) (2011-2015)
580 kg (1,279 lb) (2015-present)

The first iteration of the BAC Mono was originally powered by a Ford Duratec 2.3-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine, heavily modified by Cosworth, to produce 280 bhp (209 kW) at 7,700 rpm.[3][4] It is mounted longitudinally and mated to an electronically-controlled, paddle-shift, six-speed sequential Hewland transmission with limited-slip differential.

Mono weighed 540 kg (1,190 lb), resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 518 bhp per tonne. It delivered performance figures of 0–62 mph (0–100 km/h) in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 170 mph (274 km/h).[5] BAC aimed for an equal weight distribution, 48/52 front/rear, and as low of a centre of gravity as possible when designing the Mono.

The car was constructed in carbon fibre with a tubular steel driver safety cell, complete with FIA-compliant roll over protection system - similar in concept to a DTM race car. The rose-jointed, aero-profiled pushrod suspension featured adjustable dampers that can be altered based on driving on either the road or track. Mono drivers are secured by a full six-point racing harness and there is a secure locker in the front of the car to store a helmet and the detachable steering wheel when parked.

The Mono's design is said to be inspired by a science fiction aesthetic and also Bjork's music video for the song "All Is Full Of Love".

When the first Mono was released, BAC Design Director Ian Briggs said, "Mono is the culmination of a 12-year dream for us – the car we wanted to own but nobody else made..."

In 2015, the Cosworth engine was replaced by a 2.5-litre Mountune Racing unit developing 305 bhp (227 kW) at 8,000 rpm. There were a number of further improvements under the skin to optimise performance, while wider chassis allowed for more room for the driver in the cockpit. The 2015 model year BAC Mono weighed 580kg, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 525bhp per tonne.

Performance achievements[]

  • Second-fastest Top Gear Power Lap of all time (fastest overall on road-legal tyres): 1 minute, 14.3 seconds (July 2013)
  • Production car lap record of 1:54.00 at the Hungaroring: nine seconds faster than a Ferrari 458 Speciale (2015)
  • Fastest rear-wheel-drive car in the world accelerating from 0-60mph in 2018: 2.7 seconds (Autocar)
  • Production car lap record of 36.5 seconds at the Roskilde Ring Race Track (Denmark) - 38.2 seconds
  • Production car lap record at the Anglesey Coastal Circuit by evo magazine: 1:07.70 (2016, fastest car ever tested by the magazine)[6]
  • Production car lap record at Circuit Zolder, Belgium (October 2017, 1:37.10)[7]
  • Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018 Supercar Shootout Champions (July 2018, 49.13 seconds – fastest ever Supercar Shootout time)[8]
  • Production car lap record at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia (December 2018, 2:14.617)[9]
  • Production car lap record at Autodromo Queretaro, Mexico (June 2019)
  • Production car lap record at Autodromo di Modena, Italy (September 2019)
  • Production car lap record at 3.7km Anneau du Rhin circuit, France (August 2020)

Awards[]

  • GQ Track Day Car of the Year 2012[10]
  • Top Gear Stig's Car of the Year 2011[11]
  • Steve Sutcliffe's "Car of the Year"[12]
  • Xcar Best Drive 2012–2013" Editor's Choice[13]
  • Northern Automotive Alliance Innovation Company of the Year 2012
  • Merseyside Innovation Award Overall Winner 2014
  • Sunday Times Fast Track 100 Ones to Watch 2015
  • Northern Automotive Alliance (NAA) Awards 2016: International Trade and Logistics Excellence
  • Department for International Trade Export Champions – North West 2017, 2018
  • TopGear Magazine Best in the World for Selfish Sundays (2017)
  • TopGear Magazine Top 50 Cars of All Time (300th edition, 2017)
  • Northern Automotive Alliance (NAA) Awards 2017 – People & Skills Excellence
  • Northern Automotive Alliance (NAA) Awards 2018 – Marketing Excellence
  • Autocar Magazine review: '5 Stars' – December 2018
  • CAR Magazine review: '5 Stars' – February 2019

BAC Mono R[]

BAC Mono R
BAC Mono R Retro Classics 2020 IMG 0214.jpg
Overview
ManufacturerBriggs Automotive Company
Production2019-present
Powertrain
Engine2.5-litre Mountune normally aspirated Inline-four
Power output343bhp
Transmission6-speed sequential transmission
Dimensions
Curb weight555kg

On 4 July 2019, BAC launched the limited-edition BAC Mono R at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Mono R is a higher-performance, lighter and more advanced new generation of the original BAC Mono. R is 38bhp more powerful and 25kg lighter than the standard Mono, at 343bhp and 555kg ��� equating to a power-to-weight ratio of 617bhp-per-tonne.

Design[]

Although still resembling the Mono, the R has had all surfaces designed from scratch with 44 bespoke carbon parts restyled to give the car a more aggressive, organic and futuristic stance.

The new look of Mono R is defined by the imposing shark nose front. 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.

Mono R's sleeker and tighter appearance has been achieved by reductions in visible mass across the full body; there has also been a 20mm reduction in overall height and a 25mm increase in length over the standard Mono.[14]

Power[]

The Mono R's 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine, co-developed with long-standing engine partner Mountune, has power increased by 38bhp over the Mono to deliver 343bhp.

BAC and Mountune increased the cylinder bore size and reduced new billet crankshaft stroke to optimise power and torque delivery and increased redline from 7,800rpm to 8,800rpm.

The 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 a specific output of 137bhp per litre – a new naturally-aspirated global record for a road-legal model.[15]

Innovation[]

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, increasing toughness and improving thermal properties.[16]

The brand's latest world first came as a result of a successful APC-funded Research & Development project into the production-readiness of graphene. The technology is now now in full series production.

Lightweight Technology[]

BAC is known for being industry front-runners for lightweight technology, and for being pioneers in its research and development work into the use of graphene.

Using revolutionary material graphene within carbon fibre enhances the structural properties of carbon to result in less sheets being needed to meet functional performance targets. With BAC Mono and Mono R panels, the addition of graphene ensured panels required two sheets of carbon fibre, rather than three.

Overall, a panel set that weighed 41kg before the use of graphene went on to measure just 32kg – a 9kg / 22% weight saving.

In 2020, BAC was awarded UK Government funding to undertake its latest nano element R&D project – exploring the use of 'Niobium' in the structure of BAC Mono.

A soft metal, Niobium is a naturally occurring, readily available, sustainable element that is ductile, malleable and highly resistant to corrosion. It effectively enhances the mechanical properties (elongation, yield and tensile strength) of alloy metals and has therefore been used in a wide range of applications in the aerospace, architecture and energy sectors.

For BAC, Niobium will enhance the properties of the alloys used in the chassis and suspension systems of the Mono supercar. Using Niobium-enhanced alloys will mean less material will be needed to meet structural targets – once again resulting in lighter weight.

The project is sponsored by CBMM, the world leader in the production and commercialisation of Niobium products, who are exploring the use of the element in the niche supercar sector for the first time through Mono.[17]

Mono Owners' Club[]

BAC founded the Mono Owners' Club in 2018 to bring like-minded enthusiasts together for unforgettable experiences around the globe. BAC says that 'being a Mono owner makes you part of a tight-knit community – a community that has enjoyed phenomenal experiences at the most stunning locations the world has to offer, such as ice driving on Sweden's frozen lakes to exploring the legendary roads of the Isle of Man'.[18]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "BAC Mono, world's newest supercar, unveiled in Liverpool". Liverpool Echo. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  2. ^ "Brit-designed single-seat racer revealed". Top Gear. BBC Worldwide. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  3. ^ Bovingdon, Jethro (29 October 2013). "BAC Mono review - Price, track test and video". EVO. Dennis Publishing Limited. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016.
  4. ^ "BAC Mono review". Autocar. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Vehicle Specifications". BAC. Archived from the original on 13 October 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  6. ^ BAC Mono | evo LEADERBOARD, retrieved 13 April 2021
  7. ^ "BAC Mono supercar sets the fastest production car lap record at Zolder". Track Car Performance. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  8. ^ "BAC Mono Festival of Speed run: Time For Coffee? | PistonHeads UK". www.pistonheads.com. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  9. ^ Hopwood, Louis (18 December 2018). "BAC Mono is the fastest production car ever at the Sepang Motor Circuit". DriveTribe. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Mono takes GQ Award!". BAC. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  11. ^ "TG Awards 2011: Stig's car of the year". Top Gear. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  12. ^ "Steve Sutcliffe makes Mono his 'Car of the Year'". BAC. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  13. ^ "XCAR Awards 2013: Best Drive, Drew". XCAR. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  14. ^ "Mono R_Design". BAC. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Mono R_Power". BAC. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Carbon Lighter: under the skin of the BAC Mono R".
  17. ^ "Use of Lightweight Material Technology". BAC. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Mono Owners Club". BAC. Retrieved 13 April 2021.

External links[]

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