2026 Bristol Fighter
By Lorenzo Bianchi September 3, 2026
Bristol Cars has returned by completing a Fighter using an original unused chassis and original drawings.
The 8.0 litre V10 produces 525 bhp as standard or an optional 600 bhp, with a claimed top speed of up to 210 mph.
Four unused Fighter chassis remain and will be individually completed for customers in Britain.
The 2026 Bristol Fighter is an unusual kind of comeback. Bristol Cars has returned to vehicle production, but instead of starting with a newly designed model, it has gone back to unfinished business from before manufacturing stopped in 2011.
The first newly completed Fighter uses an original unused chassis and drawings. It made its public debut at Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace, finished in black over tan. Four additional chassis remain, giving Bristol five final build slots including the completed car.
Fighter Shape Returns With Gull Wing Doors
Originally conceived in the early 2000s, the Fighter remains visually far removed from most modern supercars. Its body is long and low, with a narrow cabin and dramatic gull wing doors. Bristol says the aerodynamic shape was influenced by the company's aviation background as much as its performance requirements.
There is no suggestion in the supplied material of a substantial exterior redesign for 2026. Instead, the project is about completing cars from original components and drawings, preserving the Fighter's established appearance and engineering concept.
Two Seats and a Grand Touring Brief
Inside, the Fighter remains a two seat car. The completed example's black exterior is paired with a tan cabin, though detailed information about its instruments, infotainment or other interior equipment is not provided in the release.
The four remaining cars will be built to individual customer specifications. Bristol describes the Fighter as combining supercar performance with the refinement and long distance capability of a grand tourer.
Both right and left hand drive configurations will be offered, broadening the car's potential reach beyond Britain.
8.0 Litre V10 Offers Up to 600 BHP
The mechanical centerpiece remains an 8.0 litre V10. Standard output is quoted at 525 bhp, while customers can specify a 600 bhp version. Bristol claims a top speed of up to 210 mph.
No acceleration figures, transmission specifications, torque output or chassis revisions for these newly completed cars are given in the supplied material.
Four More Fighters Will Follow
The remaining four cars will each use an original unused Fighter chassis, along with original drawings and parts. Manufacturing will take place in the UK with a British manufacturing partner whose identity has not been disclosed. Pricing is available on application.
That puts the 2026 Fighter in a different position from a conventional new supercar. Bristol says as few as 15 Fighters currently exist worldwide, making these final chassis significant additions to an already small population.
More importantly, the Fighter is only the first stage of Bristol Cars' return. The company describes completion of the programme as a bridge between its previous manufacturing era and future plans, rather than the full extent of the revived marque's ambitions.