Bristol back with a 'Bullet'

The launch of the new model comes on the eve of the 70 Anniversary of the founding of Bristol Cars Limited, an offshoot of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, in 1947.

The modern Bullet has its roots in 'Project Pinnacle', the code name for the project to build an all-new Bristol that got underway in 2014 after UK-based Indian businessman Kamal Siddiqi bought Bristol, saving it from insolvency, in 2011.

 

While an un-named Italian carrozzeria is believed to have penned the styling, Bristol says the bulk of the design was done 'in-house' at their own facilities. Inspired by a forgotten concept car, there is also clear inspiration from past Bristol models in the Bullet's design, most notably the 404, a two-seater sports coupe that debuted in 1953.

The 404's open grille, bonnet scoop, high sides, stubby rear 'fins' and distinctive bodyside feature line are all in evidence on the Bullet, but given a modern twist.

Headlight treatment is more retro than modern, and works in this instance, but the high body sides, exacerbated by the stubby speedster windscreen, are perhaps a little less convincing.

At the rear, the small tailfins crown the wedge-shaped back end and flank a sculpted bootlid, beyond which sits a classic Bristol script badge and old-school, racing style filler cap.

Interestingly, in an era when every manufacturer seems to be going for uniquely-shaped lights, Bristol uses traditional round ones at each end, albeit augmented with modern lighting technologies.

With no roof (not even a detachable hardtop), the Bullet will be very much a fair weather GT and is strictly a two-seater.

 

While previous Bristols have used lightweight metals for the body, the new Bullet features bespoke carbon fibre composites, atop a chassis of bonded aluminium. In other areas, lightweight metals are used wherever possible, with the steel roll hoops being one of the few exceptions to a 'lightweighting' mantra that has kept the Bullet down to a listed 1,100kg kerb weight.

Powering the Bullet is a 'Hercules' V8, that's actually a 275kW/490Nm 4.8-litre BMW unit. Detailed and finished by Bristol, the V8 is matched to a ZF six-speed transmission in auto or manual. The result is a claimed 3.8-second 0-100km/h time and top speed of almost 250km/h.

Bristol say that future vehicles in the range will run hybrid power plants, developed by Bristol and partner company Frazer Nash.

 

Rolling on a 2553mm wheelbase and with an overall length of 4200mm, the Bullet is comparable to Porsche's new 718 Boxster in size.

Step over the very wide sills and leather is everywhere in the Bullet's cabin, which like the rest of the car, is hand-built. Contoured seats for driver and passenger are adjustable, while the dash features carbon fibre trim and machined metal finishing on elements like the handbrake, switchgear and shifter knob.

VDO instrumentation is in the "old" analogue style, but modern in-car tech includes a touch screen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity, digital radio, Bluetooth and WiFi.

 

Bullet production will be limited to just 70 units (it's more an introductory model for more conventional coupes and convertibles that will follow), with each to be priced around the _250,000 mark (AU$460,000 approx.). Since they started taking expressions of interest on the Bullet, Bristol say the majority of the production run has already been sold to UK and overseas buyers - well before production actually gets underway in Q1, 2017.