Bristol's 1012bhp Fighter (2006): first official pictures

By Phil McNamara

First Official Pictures

08 November 2006 09:37

Bristol today revals a new twin-turbocharged version of its Fighter supercar, claiming this T model will crack 0-60mph in less than 3.5sec and has a top speed limited to 225mph.

The iconoclastic west London luxury car maker developed the T to satisfy customer demands for more performance. Not that the regular Fighter is a slouch: the 525bhp V10 coupe cracks 0-60mph in 4.0sec and surpasses 200mph. Bristol turbocharged and fettled the Chrysler 8.0-litre V10, almost doubling peak power and whipping up 1036lb ft of torque. Yet the prodigious power hike has not necessitated wholesale changes to the coupe.

'From the beginning we thought the Fighter would handle 750bhp fairly comfortably,' Bristol boss Toby Silverton told CAR Online. 'But thanks to electronics [helping to deliver the power smoothly], we've been able to go further.' Exterior changes are minimal. 'We didn't have to add a big wing or cooling holes,' said Silverton.

A revised rear wake diffuser reduces the drag factor to 0.27, helping propel the Fighter T to its higher top speed. The company claims the T could crack 270mph – some 20mph faster than the Bugatti Veyron – but electronics limit top whack to 225mph. Other visual changes include bigger, 19-inch wheels, and a more pronounced front grille.

Side exit exhausts also appear, aiding breathing and helping the engine summon its extra power. Silverton says these were packaged into the Fighter from the very beginning, eliminating any re-engineering headaches. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a beefed-up six-speed manual transmission.

The chassis also requires a makeover, with the structure now 30 percent stiffer in torsion. The springs and anti-roll bar are firmer, the suspension geometry revised and the body dropped 10mm. Bristol says it is delivering 20 Fighters a year. The T model will be available from September 2007, priced £351,913.

By Phil McNamara