What's this all about?
It's a single-seat track-day car that's been designed to work on a boat. Or rather, off a boat once it has docked in somewhere suitably opulent, like Puerto Banus, Saint-Tropez or Monaco.
I'm not sure I heard you correctly. I thought for one mad moment you said 'a boat'.
We did. This is the BAC Mono - The Marine Edition (TME), half a million quid's worth of plaything for global superyacht owners.
Half a million quid?!
Yup, four times the £125,000 asking price of a regular Mono, even if it has the same 309hp, 2.5-litre Mountune engine. And still just the one seat.
So, er... what would I get for my money, should I own 74 metres of floating gin palace?
The Mono TME has had its chassis thoroughly coated in an anti-corrosive chemical to protect it from salty spray. It will also be delivered in an Environmental Control Container System, which further cossets it from the harsh marine environment, you'll get a universal superyacht carbon-fibre crane arm with which to hoist it aboard, there are special chassis lifting/mounting points to ensure it's secure in thirty foot of swell and it can be fully customised inside and out.
But... why?!
Briggs Automotive Company's co-founder, Ian Briggs, started his career in yacht design and said: "I have wanted to combine my love of marine and automotive design ever since. The Marine Edition Mono represents purpose and style for a clientele that knows no compromise." This is designed to be a top-line form of transport for the yacht owner to tool around in onshore, looking cool and oh-so-much-richer-than-yaaaoou. So light is the Mono (it weighs just 580kg) that it would be easy enough to take two on board, meaning one for a pal.
How long will it take for me to get hold of a Mono - The Marine Edition?
Stump up your £500,000 and BAC can build four Monos per month at its new Liverpool factory.
Matt Robinson - 22 Sep 2015