Think you've been in a car that's a tight squeeze? You have no idea. Not until you've tried slipping into a BAC Mono. Designed to be the closest thing to a formula racing car you can drive on the road, the Mono has one single seat, positioned in the center of the vehicle, with no doors: you have to climb over and slink into its open cockpit. Fortunately, potential owners who may have had trouble fitting inside a Mono should now find the cockpit a little more spacious.
By redesigning the car's tubular steel frame, engineers at the Briggs Automotive Company in Liverpool, UK, have managed to expand the cockpit width-wise by an extra couple of inches. An inch is added on either side by moving the frame outwards, with an additional 0.1 inches freed up by new body panels (which can now be ordered in visible carbon). That may not seem like much, but in a space as small as the BAC Mono's, it could make all the difference.
"The changes will widen the appeal of the Mono, particularly as we expand into new markets such as America and the Far East," said company co-founder Ian Briggs. "Every change we make to the Mono is aimed at improving it for our customers... and this change has come as a result of this."
Thankfully, nothing else has changed. The vehicle retains the same exterior dimensions despite the bigger cockpit. The company rolled out a new powertrain for the Mono at Goodwood this past summer, packing a 2.5-liter four optimized by Mountune to deliver 305 horsepower. With less than 1,300 pounds to motivate, it'll rocket to 60 in just 2.8 seconds, and is said to deliver one heck of a thrill – though with only one seat, you'd have to keep that joyride all to yourself.
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By redesigning the car's tubular steel frame, engineers at the Briggs Automotive Company in Liverpool, UK, have managed to expand the cockpit width-wise by an extra couple of inches. An inch is added on either side by moving the frame outwards, with an additional 0.1 inches freed up by new body panels (which can now be ordered in visible carbon). That may not seem like much, but in a space as small as the BAC Mono's, it could make all the difference.
"The changes will widen the appeal of the Mono, particularly as we expand into new markets such as America and the Far East," said company co-founder Ian Briggs. "Every change we make to the Mono is aimed at improving it for our customers... and this change has come as a result of this."
Thankfully, nothing else has changed. The vehicle retains the same exterior dimensions despite the bigger cockpit. The company rolled out a new powertrain for the Mono at Goodwood this past summer, packing a 2.5-liter four optimized by Mountune to deliver 305 horsepower. With less than 1,300 pounds to motivate, it'll rocket to 60 in just 2.8 seconds, and is said to deliver one heck of a thrill – though with only one seat, you'd have to keep that joyride all to yourself.
Related Video:
BAC MONO WITH NEW CHASSIS TO OFFER MORE COCKPIT SPACE
- BAC Mono gets a new wider chassis to offer more space in the cockpit
- Changes bring as much as 56mm in extra interior room
- Exterior dimensions, weight and aerodynamics remain unchanged, as does the Mono's trademark blistering performance and handling
- New carbon fibre interior panels will also be available, bringing a high-tech look to the cockpit of this futuristic looking luxury sports car
BAC has continued its approach of constant improvement and turned up the style in the cockpit of its bespoke Mono supercar, while a new wider chassis has added a generous amount of extra space.
The chassis has been redesigned, to move the sides of the tubular steel safety cell outwards, while new, slimmer side panels make even more of the changes. The changes have come about thanks to BAC's close relationship and ongoing communication with its customers. The re-engineering of the chassis brings 25mm of extra space on either side, while the new panels bring another 3mm on both sides of the driver. Overall, this means there is now a total of 56mm extra width in the Mono's cockpit.
However, the changes are all under the surface of the Mono, meaning that the car's exterior dimensions remain the same. As a result, the Mono's precisely engineered aerodynamics are unchanged, as are the car's phenomenal handling abilities. The breath-taking performance levels are also untouched by the changes, so the Mono retains its 2.8sec 0-60mph time, and top speed of 170mph.
Customers also now have the option of new side panels, which are made from visible carbon fibre, and make the most of the available space. The bespoke attention to detail continues elsewhere in the cockpit, with each buyer getting a custom-fitted driver's seat and steering wheel.
BAC co-founder Ian Briggs said: "Every change we make to the Mono is aimed at improving it for our customers, and this upgrade is intended to make the most of the space for the driver. Thanks to the close relationship we enjoy with our customers, we are in regular dialogue with them and this change has come as a result of this. The changes will widen the appeal of the Mono, particularly as we expand into new markets such as America and the Far East."
The new, wider chassis Mono will be on sale from summer 2016.
- BAC Mono gets a new wider chassis to offer more space in the cockpit
- Changes bring as much as 56mm in extra interior room
- Exterior dimensions, weight and aerodynamics remain unchanged, as does the Mono's trademark blistering performance and handling
- New carbon fibre interior panels will also be available, bringing a high-tech look to the cockpit of this futuristic looking luxury sports car
BAC has continued its approach of constant improvement and turned up the style in the cockpit of its bespoke Mono supercar, while a new wider chassis has added a generous amount of extra space.
The chassis has been redesigned, to move the sides of the tubular steel safety cell outwards, while new, slimmer side panels make even more of the changes. The changes have come about thanks to BAC's close relationship and ongoing communication with its customers. The re-engineering of the chassis brings 25mm of extra space on either side, while the new panels bring another 3mm on both sides of the driver. Overall, this means there is now a total of 56mm extra width in the Mono's cockpit.
However, the changes are all under the surface of the Mono, meaning that the car's exterior dimensions remain the same. As a result, the Mono's precisely engineered aerodynamics are unchanged, as are the car's phenomenal handling abilities. The breath-taking performance levels are also untouched by the changes, so the Mono retains its 2.8sec 0-60mph time, and top speed of 170mph.
Customers also now have the option of new side panels, which are made from visible carbon fibre, and make the most of the available space. The bespoke attention to detail continues elsewhere in the cockpit, with each buyer getting a custom-fitted driver's seat and steering wheel.
BAC co-founder Ian Briggs said: "Every change we make to the Mono is aimed at improving it for our customers, and this upgrade is intended to make the most of the space for the driver. Thanks to the close relationship we enjoy with our customers, we are in regular dialogue with them and this change has come as a result of this. The changes will widen the appeal of the Mono, particularly as we expand into new markets such as America and the Far East."
The new, wider chassis Mono will be on sale from summer 2016.
Featured Gallery 2016 BAC Mono
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