Bristol Cars is coming back… again
Bristol Cars – once famous for shoehorning an 8.0-litre Chrysler V10 into its near-antique gullwing-doored Fighter coupé – has revealed a picture of a new car that will (we hope) herald the firm's resurrection after a tumultuous start to the century including administration and liquidation.
The (for want of a better word) 'launch' takes the form of a LinkedIn post from the company chairman, Jason Wharton in which he says: "Bristol Cars™ - Our Vision 8.0. To revive Bristol Cars as a contemporary coachbuilder for connoisseurs of luxury grand touring automobiles and experiences worldwide in time for the 80th anniversary of the marque's founding in 2026."
For now, we only have those words and a picture to go on, but while the portion of information might be small, it has all the flavour needed to get enthusiasts drooling uncontrollably.
We suspect the car we see here is a limited-edition new Fighter set to go on sale next year. While it will likely be called the Fighter to our eyes, the styling takes plenty of cues from the old 411 with the organic curves of a hand-beaten body and combined with the classic's distinctive chiselled jawline. We expect aerodynamics to be a vital part of the design to keep up with Bristol's history in aeronautics.
Powertrains have yet to be confirmed, but BMW has a history with the company that stretches back to before the war, and it was earmarked to supply its N62 V8 to Bristol before it fell into administration. BMW also has the hybrid and electric powertrains Bristol aspires to offer in the future.
What we know for sure is that the new Bristol will be highly luxurious. Expect the company to fully use Britain's expertise in building some of the poshest cabins around with plenty of high-grade wood and leather on show.
The car we see here is the first in a product plan that should keep Bristol busy until the end of 2030, with a Bristol Speedster signposted for 2026 and all-new Buccaneer and Pullman models expected to be ready by 2030 the latest. We'll bring you more news when we get it.
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