Innovation in the UK niche vehicles sector

Niche vehicles is a term that covers a wide variety of road vehicles, from heavy trucks and camper vans down to sports cars. The latter probably dominates the sector in the UK, benefitting from links with the motorsport sector.

It seems to be a very British thing to want to develop sports cars; from the archetypal enthusiast in a shed meticulously restoring some 1960s Jaguar or Lotus to the high-tech prestige world of modern Lotus, Jaguar, Aston Martin and the new marque on the block, McLaren. But apart from these established names, new players crop up on a regular basis, often displaying strikingly innovative approaches to engineering and resulting in equally striking vehicles.

The annual Motorsport Industry Association Niche Vehicles Symposium forms a showcase for these newcomers, and the following examples were among this year’s presenters.

The motorsport influence is particularly strong in the BAC Mono, the first (and so far, only) car from Liverpool-based Briggs Automotive Company. Founders Neill and Ian Briggs are steeped in motorsport; Neill’s first memory is sitting on his father’s shoulders at a rally meeting and both brothers have competed on the track.