BAC Mono: The supercar with a scouse accent

THE makers of a single-seater supercar have decided to relocate to Liverpool after being swamped with orders from speed-seeking buyers.

BAC, who until now have been based in Cheshire, said that following the success of their Mono model they have decided to move to a larger factory on Merseyside, and will set up shop at a site in Speke next year. Joe Anderson, the mayor of Liverpool, said: "This is great news for Liverpool. BAC is an ambitious, visionary company, and its desire to relocate to our city speaks volumes for our business offer. The support we have provided will help create new jobs and apprenticeships and further build our reputation as a city of automotive excellence.

"The Jaguar Land Rover plant in Halewood has been a real success story for our city in creating jobs in commercial car production – I’m confident that this deal with BAC will prove to be another success, in creating opportunities at the specialist end of the market. BAC Mono is a prestigious brand, and it’s fantastic that motoring and racing enthusiasts alike will know that a car which is turning heads wherever it goes – whether on the road or track – is made in Liverpool."

The company’s Mono model is one of the fastest British cars currently in production, and recently posted the second fastest ever lap of the Top Gear track, beaten only by the Pagani Huayra.

Liverpool has a longstanding association with car manufacture, particularly with the former Ford plant at Halewood, which is now used by Jaguar Land Rover to produce the Land Rover Freelander and Range Rover Evoque.

The singleminded single seater crafted in Cheshire

A British sports car designed to give the sensation of a Grand Prix car is available to order now, its makers have said.

New arrivals BAC, based in Cheshire, have revealed details of their Mono sports car, which as the name suggests is a single seater which makes more than a knowing nod to the world of motorsport.

“All cars are built to order on a first-come, first-served basis and our flexible production facility has the capacity to manufacture between 50 and 100 vehicles per year – or more if demand requires,” Neill Briggs, one of the company's founders, said.

“All I can currently say is, the early response has been extremely encouraging.”

Packing a power to weight ratio of 520 bhp per tonne - that's more than a Bugatti Veyron's - it can rocket to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, 100 mph in 6.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 170 mph. Power comes from a mid-mounted 280 bhp, normally-aspirated 2.3-litre Cosworth engine.

The car is more expensive than similar lightweights from Caterham, Radical and Westfield, at £79,950, but undercuts both the similarly speedy Caparo T1 and Ariel Atom 500. For further details, log onto www.bac-mono.com.