The 'S' is going to offer serious performance, though Bristol makes no specific claims, merely stating that it is the world's fastest front-engined car. Power climbs from 525bhp to 628bhp at 5900rpm (rising to 660bhp at high speed, thanks to the ram-air effect of the specially designed intake system) while torque increases from 525lb ft to 580lb ft at 3900rpm. These outputs are the result of careful tuning of the Chrysler-sourced 8-litre V10 engine's breathing, including ported cylinder heads, larger valves, high-lift cams, revised exhaust manifolds and reprogrammed ECUs.

The cost of the 'S' in standard Fighter trim (without the spoilers and wheels shown below), is a not inconsiderable ΂£256,150, some ΂£27K more than the regular car. However, buyers can spend another ΂£21K on the new 'R' package (for Roadholding) which adds good-looking 19in alloys shod with Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyres, 285/35 up front and 305/35 astern.

There is also a 10mm lower ride-height and a 30 per cent stiffening of spring rates, while the front roll stiffness is increased by 32 per cent and the rear by 35 per cent, together with slight changes to front caster and camber to help sharpen steering feel. The final touches are the new side-exit exhaust outlets at the rear of the door sills.

The 'C' package (for Competition) is the top option and gives you all of the above plus twin brushed- alloy, competition-type fuel fillers on the rear wings (both feeding the same tank), a further 15mm lopped off the ride height, another 10 per cent of stiffness added to the spring rates and uprated, adjustable anti-roll bars. There's also a new aerodynamic 'fence' incorporated at the rear of the car and a lower lip spoiler at the front, both of which help lower the drag coefficient to a claimed Cd 0.255, making this possibly the slipperiest car on sale today. The 'C' package costs a further ΂£20K.

Specify all three - a Fighter SRC - and you'll have a very individual car costing the thick end of ΂£300,000. Whether all this exclusivity is worth the expense we hope to find out soon with a road test of the new Bristol.