New-generation BAC Mono packs a turbo, plus 336 hp in a 1256-pound body

The first BAC Mono was presented in 2011 at the Retro Classics Show in Stuttgart, and Liverpool-based Briggs Automotive Company has added plenty of upgrades to its original design since. Yet through all of those running changes, the core idea remained the same, as it shall for the next decade: a futuristic single-seater body inspired by Björk’s 1999 All Is Full Of Love music video and made of lightweight composites, plenty of power from a peppy and compact four-cylinder engine, and outstanding performance on track without completely giving up on road usability.

BAC waved goodbye to the first-generation Mono One with this trio of special editions, and now, there’s a new kid in town.

While it might look similar to the previous-generation model, and not unlike the still-available Mono R, the newest Mono is different in some key ways. It sits lower to the ground, and it has a smaller frontal area to be more aerodynamic, as well as sleeker looking. It’s lighter, too, weighing 1256 pounds, thanks to BAC’s advances in the field of graphene-enhanced carbon fiber, new manufacturing technologies, and what the company calls “a ground-breaking generative-design wheel project” designed with software partner Autodesk.

With Ford’s 2.3-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder engine, the now-turbocharged, 336-horsepower Gen 2 Mono packs over 295 lb-ft of torque, while complying with the latest EU6D emissions and European drive-by-noise regulations. This development is a first for the brand and will open up plenty of new markets, something that perhaps wouldn’t be possible using a naturally-aspirated powertrain.

Also new is a 0.78-inch drop in height along with a 0.98-inch increase in length. The redesigned body panels reduce drag, and the Mono’s dry-sump lubrication, uprated chassis, and beefier transmission and driveline components will be more than up to the task on track. The car’s center of gravity has also been lowered, thanks to BAC repositioning the fuel tank.

How about those fancy wheels? Well, the new set is 35 percent lighter than before, saving 2.69 pounds of reciprocating, unsprung mass by weighing just 4.85 pounds at the axle. In other areas, over 40 components are 3D-printed. which in total make the car 22 pounds lighter than the first-generation, despite adding a turbocharger.

To complete the package, BAC threw in new LED lights, twin-strut wing mirrors, and a different rear crash box for a narrower tail, incorporating new combination fog and reverse lights. Tick the optional full carbon body, and you’re looking at a 0-60 mph run in 2.7 seconds, along with a top speed of 170 mph.

All BAC will ask in exchange for this lightweight track machine is a sum north of $215,000. Before making up your mind, you should consider that the new Mono remains a lot cheaper than running an old Formula 1 car, not to mention that it’s also capable of a casual drive to your local coffee shop. Just don’t forget to bring your stylish helmet.