During the short time the Bristol Fighter has been on the market owners tend to use them as everyday transport instead of a conventional car. They also love to use them for recreational or track day purposes. In spite of the Fighter and Fighter S’s very high performance, certain customers have asked Bristol Cars for more. Responding to their needs, they have created a very special Fighter variant which, as ever, remains a compact and enjoyable car to drive around town or as an exhilarating track car. Yet it takes two people and their luggage in great luxury and ease for trans continental travel.

The Fighter T (which will be an addition to the range) answers all these requirements without losing one iota of street level credentials. Its twin turbocharged and intercooled 8-liter V10 engine pumps out 1012 bhp (127 bhp per liter) at 5600 rpm and 1036 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm. All this power would be enough for a top speed of more than 270 mph, but Bristol Cars have decided to electronically limit the car to a more than sufficient 225 mph. 0 to 60 mph time is less than 3.5 seconds.

The Bristol Fighter T comes with a 6 speed manual gearbox with increased torque capacity and revised gear ratios.

Functional exterior styling additions and mechanical alterations were made to suit the extra performance. Drag factor has been reduced to 0.27 by a new rear wake diffuser. The structure is 30% stiffer in torsion. The engineers have also installed firmer springs and dampers and a stiffer front anti-roll bar.

The first deliveries of the Fighter T are expected in September 2007.

Move over Bugatti Veyron: this is the new Bristol Fighter T, and it's got 'a potential maximum speed of more than 270mph'.

With 525bhp and 525lb ft, the standard V10-powered Fighter is not exactly what you’d call underpowered. But next to the new Fighter T it is: with two turbochargers bolted to the car's 8.0-litre Chrysler SRT-10-sourced engine, the T produces 1012bhp and 1036lb ft. The Veyron can only muster 987bhp and 922lb ft.

The Fighter T's is, however, unlikely ever to claim the title of world's fastest production car - Bristol has electronically reined-in the top speed to a "more than sufficient" 225mph. At that speed it is pulling only 4500rpm in top gear.

To help it reach 200mph-plus, the Fighter T has a new underbody diffuser that reduces the car's drag coefficient to 0.27. The chassis has been stiffened, the ride height lowered and the anti-roll bars and dampers stiffened.

Inside, there is a new 'lightweight' cabin, but Bristol insist this is still a practical car that can fit two people and luggage, and that can be used every day.

Other modifications include a specially strengthened six-speed gearbox to cope with all the torque. The Fighter T can reach 60mph in "less than 3.5sec", and all while still in first gear.

Prices have not been announced, but expect the Fighter T to cost around £300,000. First deliveries are expected in September 2007.

In the meantime, you can read about the current fastest cars in the world in this week's Autocar. We've driven the Porsche 911 Turbo, Aston Martin Vanquish S, Corvette Z06, Chrysler SRT-10, Ferrari 599 GTB, Lamborghini Murcielago, Ford GT, Mercedes SLR McLaren and, of course, the Bugatti Veyron to their limits. Maybe next year the Fighter T will join them.

Very British thing, tea. Which is a bit strange, given that it comes from thousands of miles away on the subcontinent.

You could say the same thing about the T. The Bristol Fighter T, that is. Despite sourcing its power from an 8-litre V10, usually found traversing the USA in a Dodge Viper, the Fighter T is as British as cucumber sandwiches and botched penalty shootouts.

It's got that understated British look. No brushed aluminium trim or exposed carbon fibre here. That'd be far too ostentatious for a car generally favoured by wealthy yet chronically withdrawn aristocrats.

There's a few visual nods to the awesome power on tap under the hood. Bristol aficionados will spot the twin side-mounted exhausts and subtle rear spoiler, but for the most part the Fighter T looks almost inconspicuous.

But don't be fooled. The Fighter T is quick.

That Yank-sourced all-aluminium block has been fitted with twin turbos allowing it to produce... wait for it... 1012bhp. Yes, that's more than a Bugatti Veyron.

The torque figures are equally frightening. The Fighter T develops over 900lb ft of torque between 3500rpm and 6000rpm, with 1036lb ft available at just 4500rpm.

All of which is enough to propel the Fighter T from 0-60 in less than 3.5 seconds, and on to an electronically limited maximum speed of 225mph. Bristol says that if it removed the limiter, the Fighter would still be accelerating past 270.

Bristol are targeting the Mercedes/McLaren SLR market with the Fighter T, and with those performance figures such a boast doesn't look too silly. But with a high roofline and narrow body, the Fighter looks nothing like any of the wide, wedge-like supercars on the market today. Why not?

The trick, says Bristol, is all in the drag. A rear wake diffuser gives the Fighter T a drag coefficient of just 0.27 compared to the Bugatti Veyron's 0.39. Which means that the Fighter T is as slippery as a greased eel, and doesn't need much in the way of downforce-inducing gubbins.

No, it's not exactly attractive. Then again, neither is the SLR McLaren. And does that have leather-matched varnish? Thought not.

Interestingly, Bristol isn't exactly sure how many Fighter Ts it will make. Production starts soon, with the first deliveries expected late next summer. But with only 20 Fighters produced each year it's unlikely that more than a handful of T-specified cars will be made.

If you can convince Bristol to build you one, the Fighter T will set you back about £335,000. That's less than half the price of a Veyron. Bargain.