Breckland Beira: Pontiac Solstice / Opel GT Based British Roadster with LS2 V8

Every time a small carmaker closes in the UK, another one opens. The latest company to join the sportscar club from the UK is Norfolk-based Breckland which is part of Hong Kong-based multi-national, Riche Holdings. Breckland’s main line of work is the development and production of low volume specialist cars and prototypes for an array of international clients, including Mosler.

“Beira carries on from where Marcos and TVR left off in terms of providing maximum performance for money spent, and real individuality”, says Breckland Director, Mike Rawlings. “We wanted to showcase Breckland’s design and engineering capabilities and produce an exciting driver’s car, with excellent handling dynamics, terrific performance and great looks,” he added

The Beira, which will go on sale in the UK from November 2008, is a hand-built, two-seat roadster, based on GM’s Kappa rear-wheel-drive architecture aka, the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and Opel GT. However, instead of using the Ecotec 4-cylinder unit, Breckland equipped the Beira with a GM derived, 400Hp LS2 6.0-litre V8 engine matted to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Interestingly, the Beira’s V8 is designed to run on Liquefied Petroleum Gas as well as petrol. -Continued

Other key changes include the re-engineered suspension by Breckland in association with KW Suspension, with uprated springs, dampers and bushes, plus thicker anti-roll bars front and rear.

Stopping power in the Beira is provided by 325mm ventilated discs on all four corners, the fronts being grasped by six-pot callipers, with four-pot at the rear, both from UK specialists, HiSpec. Steering is via power-assisted rack and pinion, whilst the new 18-inch alloy wheels are 8.5” front and 9.5” rears, shod with Bridgestone ultra-low profile tires. Optionally, customers can upgrade to 19-inch diameter rims and tires.

Breckland says that the Beira, that tips the scale at some 1,400kg or about 3,090 lbs, can achive a sub-five second time for the 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint while its top speed is governed at 250 km/h or 155mph.

In terms of design, the Beira looks like a cross between a Saturn Sky / Opel GT and a Lotus Elise, which isn’t that bad. Despite the inclusion of an additional 70-litre LPG reservoir to go with the existing, 13-gallon petrol tank, the Beira promises to offer a significant increase in usable luggage space with the hood down, thanks to some clever packaging solutions.

Although we don’t have a clear view of the interior, Breckland seems to have retained the basic design of the Sky/GT cabins. The Breira does however feature hand-stitched leather/Alcantara seats and trim while Breckland stresses that the interior can be customized to specific buyer requirements in terms of materials and equipment.

In terms of prices, Breckland states that the Beira on-the-road price will be confirmed shortly but is expected to be in the region of £55,000 ($108,200 or €70,00) in the UK. The Beira will debut in left-hand drive form, and will be available in the UK and internationally via Breckland’s appointed agent network from November 2008.