| Ariel Atom | |
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| Manufacturer |  Ariel Ltd |
| Production | >100 per annum |
| Engine(s) | 245-300bhp supercharged Honda K20Z 2.0L |
| Length | 3.41 m |
| Width | 1.798 m |
| Height | 1.195 m |
| Curb weight | 456 kg (1005 lb) |
| Designer | Nik Smart |
The Ariel Atom is a high performance sports car made by the Ariel Motor Company based in Somerset, England and under license also by Brammo Motorsports in the United States. There have been three Ariel Atom incarnations to date; Ariel Atom, Ariel Atom 2 and Ariel Atom 3. The most current one being the Ariel Atom 3, which is also the most powerful of the three. The Ariel Atom is unusual in the respect that it is exoskeletal (the chassis is the body), and therefore lacks a roof, windows and other features commonly found on road cars. It is available with a range of engines; the top of the range being a supercharged Honda Civic Type-R K20 engine and a Supercharged 2.0 Litre 300hp 250 ft·lbf GM Ecotec engine both of which can reach speeds rivaling those of much more expensive automobiles. Although the top speed of approximately 140-150 mph is relatively tame compared to more exotic sports cars, the high power-to-weight ratio (approximately 500 bhp/ton, or 650 bhp/ton supercharged) affords it incredible acceleration and control through corners because there is no large amount of weight to throw it out of the turn. The Ariel Atom has received great media interest, most recently when it was featured on the Discovery Channel and tested by Jeremy Clarkson on BBC motoring television programme Top Gear, where it lapped their test track faster than, most notably, a Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 and a Porsche Carrera GT, and also creatively re-arranged Clarkson's face because of the open cockpit's lack of wind protection. The car is featured in the video games Project Gotham Racing 3 for the Xbox 360 console and TOCA Racedriver 3 for the PC, Xbox and PS2. Brammo Motorsports of Ashland, Oregon has signed a deal with Ariel Ltd to manufacture the Atom in the USA starting in late 2005. In the USA it is available with the supercharged GM Ecotec engine introduced in 2004 on the Saturn ION Red Line and also used in the Cobalt SS. A limited run of approximately 10 Atoms were built in 2006-2007 powered by imported Honda K20A's. The Ariel Atom was also used (unofficially) by Wrightspeed Inc. as a base vehicle to prototype the electric running gear for an entirely new production vehicle which Wrightspeed Inc. is raising funds to build. The Atom-based prototype, called the X1, also has incredible acceleration, reaching 60 mph in 3 seconds.
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Design Origins
The Atom has its origins as a student project by then Coventry University Transport Design student, Nik Smart. Known then as the LSC (Lightweight Sports Car), it was developed at the university in 1996 with input and funding from various bodies in the automotive industry, including British Steel and TWR. Ariel Motor Company boss, Simon Saunders, was a senior lecturer whose responsibility for the project was primarily as financial manager and design critic for Smart, who he described as "The best all-round design student I've ever seen." The car was first shown publicly at the British International Motor Show at the NEC Birmingham in October 1996.[1]
Specifications
- 0-60 mph : 2.7 seconds (Mfr. claim)
- Top Speed: 140 mph, 225 km/h (155 mph, 249Km/h Supercharged)
- Power: 220 bhp (300 bhp Supercharged)
- Weight: 456 kg (1,005 lb)
- Transmission: Honda 6-Speed with Reverse
- Price: £35,000
- Engine: 300bhp Supercharged Honda Civic Type-R K20 engine (Top Spec)
- Manufacturer: Ariel Ltd
- Length: 3.41m
- Width: 1.798m
- Height: 1.195m
- Designer: Nik Smart
Suspension
The Atom’s suspension is derived from single seat racecars and is fully adjustable, requiring only a wrench. Both front and rear double unequal length wishbones and inboard, pushrod operated dampers contribute to the Atom’s dynamic racecar-like handling characteristics. Adjustable suspension rod ends feature inboard rubber/metal bushes to promote a more comfortable road-going ride. The front and rear Bilstein dampers are also adjustable. Stacked light and heavy coil springs impose a low spring rate for minor deflections with higher rate for large deflections.
Acceleration
In an issue of Track and Race Car magazine, a comprehensive test was performed on a range of cars, from the Porsche 911 Carrera S, Ford GT, BMW M5 to the Caterham CSR 260. The Supercharged Ariel Atom 1 won the 2005 0-100-0 mph test by a clear margin, reaching 100 mph and then stopping in 10.88 seconds, ahead of the Caterham CSR 260 (11.41) and the Ford GT in 4th (13.17). The following year, they won Autocar's 0-100 mph challenge with the new Ariel Atom 2 300 bhp Supercharged edition achieving a time of 6.86 seconds, and then stopping from 100 in 3.8 seconds. Also the Ariel Atom is the fastest indoor road car. During the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham the Atom broke the indoor speed record. The high gloss floor that the cars ran on was only 220 metres long, with an open door at the end of the hall. The driver of the Atom launched in fourth gear and still had wheelspin until the car reached 70mph and started to get traction. The Atom was beaten only by a Class 9 Autograss car powered by a 2.0l Lexus / Toyota touring car engine which set the official indoor speed record beating the previous record held by a Toyota F1 car driven by Top Gear's The Stig. The British newspaper The Sunday Times measured its average acceleration from 0 to 60 at 2.89 seconds, making it the world's 3rd fastest accelerating production car available today after the $1.3 million, 1001 bhp Bugatti Veyron which reaches 0 to 60 in 2.46 seconds,[2] and the Ultima GTR, which reaches 0-60 mph time in 2.6 seconds.[3]
RC Ariel Atom
Near the end of 2007, Top Gear released a 27 MHz remote controlled Ariel Atom toy car. Which was "based on the Ariel Atom but is not an exact replica." It was sold exclusively through Argos.
See also
- Wrightspeed X1 for a technical image gallery of the chassis' components.
References
- ^ Autocar, Haymarket Motoring Publications, 16th October 1996, pp.74-77
- ^ Andrew Frankel (November 17, 2005). European First Drive: 2006 Bugatti Veyron. Edmunds. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
- ^ Ultima Crowned Triple 0-100mph-0 World Record Holders. Ultima Sports Ltd. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
External links
- www.arielmotor.co.uk Ariel Motor Company website
- www.arielatom.com Ariel Atom North America website
- www.atomclub.com Ariel Atom Owner's Club website
- BBC: Top Gear Ariel Atom video & review by Jeremy Clarkson.
- Youtube Ariel Atom Group a global collection of Atom videos
- www.AtomFest.net Official site of AtomFest - International celebration of the Ariel Atom
