Automotive history is littered with examples of carmakers claiming to offer a single-seater experience on the road, but very few have that all-important central driving position.
Those that have – the McLaren F1, the Light Car Company Rocket – have been revered for that optimal layout, the view forward and their balance. The BAC Mono is the most recent car to put its driver front and centre and came within a whisker of claiming evo’s Track Car of the Year title in 2013.
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For 2015, the Mono has been updated with a larger dry-sumped power unit and an equivalent boost in power. Now up to 2488cc, from 2261cc, the Mono develops 305bhp and 308Nm of torque, an improvement on the previous 280bhp and 206lb ft.
Dry weight is up a little from 540kg to 580kg, and the power to weight ratio has dropped marginally as a result – 525bhp/ton rather than 527 – but this is still a hugely fast car, with a 2.8sec 0-60mph sprint and 170mph top speed.
The engine breathes through a carbon inlet and airbox, a gas-flowed cylinder head and BAC-developed 4-2-1 stainless steel exhaust manifold. Gears are shuffled like a true racer with a Hewland FTR six-speed sequential transmission, acting as a fully stressed member, controlled by electric/pneumatic paddles behind the steering wheel.
A vast range of options is available, from showy metallic paint and visible carbonfibre on the lower body, to made-to-measure seats and steering wheels, a carbon helmet with Bluetooth connectivity and even a bespoke Mono race suit.
Various options also make the Mono suitable for racing, including cockpit adjustable brake bias, racing brake pads, different gear sets to suit different tracks, and stickier tyres.
The revised Mono made its public debut at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, with racing driver and BAC test driver Oliver Webb at the wheel. You can watch the video of his run below.
