Ariel Atom 500 V8 Breaks Cover
Ariel is about to rewrite history with its upcoming Atom 500, a V8-powered mini-space shuttle that pulls out figures of over 1,000 bhp per tonne. This from a 2.4-litre V8, which is perhaps paying homage to current Formula One rules. It is supercharged and revs to 10,000 rpm.
The 6-speed sequential gearbox is just the correct package to go with Atom 500, that along with launch control will quickly make toast of the wheels on take-off, probably almost every time. Built with an integrated function steering wheel, carbon fiber panels and aerofoils, Atom 500 is all about lightness, as seen on the bathroom scale when it hits its maximum mass of 500 kilograms.
“For a few customers the Atom 500 will be the ultimate expression of lightweight performance,” says Simon Saunders who is director at Ariel, “and represents the outer limits of what is achievable in a road registered car. We also use this sort of project to explore the possibilities of how we can improve our standard cars.”
Pricing will be confirmed soon and production is strictly limited to a few units. Those lucky, or brave enough to buy one, will probably experience what very few humans on earth have ever experienced.
Yeah but this is lighter and in my opinion looks better. The rear and front wings should create an awesome amount of downforce which will make this thing stick to the road, the caterham had no wings for downforce in a featherweight car with 500hp. I predict this will be much faster and notably cheaper too.
simply insane.... wonders to self if 0-60 time is 2s
These things are just mental. Absolutely bonkers.
holy sh.. Sometimes too much power is just not good! Awesome!
Nice..... Can you say "Slingshot" like acellaration?
god damnnn... that thing looks fast... 1000 bhp/tonne
very light,extremely powerful,great looking,tons of grip...what a "thing"!!!
awesome, can't wait
i've designed cars like this in the hope one day they would be made, and here we are....
I am going to over analyze the amazingness of this car. If the 300hp version could reach 100km/h in 2.8s. I would suspect with its new down force, faster paddle shifting, and say me as a driver (135lbs) would be capable of 0-100km/h in 2s. That is accelerating at about 13.7 m/s^2. or 1.4 times faster then gravity. The magnitude of the force on my 135lb body would be about 232lbs. And for one more number. If I drove down a 31.5 degree slope, with gravity aiding the acceleration. I would feel weightlessness.
Im guessing thats exactly why all the downforce, wouldnt be good if the car felt weightless too :p
This sounds seductive, but then imagine what it'll do to you if you're going uphill. Pampers, anyone? :D
it got the same engine from the caterham? anyway its fine :)