http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/news/de...?storyId=17680

Ariel has announced the latest version of the Atom – the Ariel Atom 500, powered by a small V8 engine.

With over 500bhp in a 500kilo package the Atom 500 will boast one of the highest power to weight ratios ever for a production car.

The Atom will have over 1000bhp per tonne (compared to a Bugatti Veyron’s 521bhp/tonne) and will be built in limited numbers.

The 500 started life as a one off special project with RS Developments in 2007 and features the Russell Savory designed 2.4 litre V8 engine coupled to a 6 speed sequential Sadev gearbox.

Developing over 500bhp at 10,000rpm the supercharged engine features all alloy construction, 5 valves per cylinder and a dry sump.

The gearbox will have flatshift capability, a paddle gearchange with manual override as well as launch and traction controls.

The new car is recognisable by twin rear intakes for intercoolers and will feature a unique colour scheme for chassis, wheels and bodywork combined with carbon fibre panels and carbon fibre aerofoils.

Other features will include chromemoly aerofoil wishbones, integrated function steering wheel, Alcon 4 pot caliper brakes and Dymag magnesium wheels.

Simon Saunders, Director of Ariel, said: ‘This is an interesting project for us and an experimental departure from what we normally produce.

'For a few customers the Atom 500 will be the ultimate expression of lightweight performance 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.

'The Honda engined production cars already combine all the elements that we want in an Atom and by pushing the envelope to these sorts of extremes we can further improve the breed.’

The Atom 500 will be produced in Somerset at the new Ariel factory with the first car available from Spring this year.

Prices have not yet been finalised and expect performance to be earth shattering…

 

WOW!!!

 

Is it dry or wet weight for the 500kg?
if its dry then adding the engine fluids, petrol and a average driver will lower it by a fair whack.

should handle better then the caparo t1 anyway!

 

That is just bloody stupid!!!!

 

Plain lunacy!

 

Fantastic!!! Love little British companys making bonkers things like this.


Wonder how much....

 

Caterham have brought out something similar.

Looks like they are sharing the engine too.

Both look like proper weapons though!

http://www.rsperformance.co.uk/gallery.htm

 

jesus

 

still will get left by a veyron when speeds reah 150.. 500 bhp is 500bhp at the end of the day.. it will be quick accelerating but no doubt will NOT touch a veyron once past 150mph

 

would love a drive

 

And you really think its been designed with going above 150? Its an Atom, not a slippery supercar!

 

.... and?

What has top speed got to do with it? It's not Top Trumps!

It's a pure circuit car, and probably costs a little bit less too!

 

As stated the response and acceleration will be truly phenominal! Fook over 150 in it when you can get to 100 in the shortest space possible!

 

would you want to go much over 150 in a car like and Atom? lol Its just pure acceleration car.

 

No way, id be filling my pants at anything over a ton in that thing!!

 

What will this one do to Mr Clarksons face !!!

 

here's the pic

 

Wow that looks the TITS

 

let's guess when pops get's it remapped it will have nearly as much torque

 

Gotta have BIG Bollocks to be able to drive that!

Awesome!

 

 

mental

 

:Cry: very true... the ultimate measure of perforamnce... the top gear track

 

On slow speed corners yeh, the caparo t1 would be alot better on the higher speed corners though with its downforce advantage

 

Would you want to do 150+ for a long time in this?

No? Didn't think so....

 

You wouldnt need to do over 150mph as by then anything you race will already be a spec in the mirror.

Gonna sound incredible and be lovely to drive with that engine too

 

that looks very smart! bet it's fucking scary though!

saw the original test on a re-run of top gear the other day and that looked like great fun as well.

anyone ever actually driven an atom? might look into getting one... although that'd no doubt the the final nail in the escort's coffin!

 

The only problem with that car - All those flies that get splatted over the front of your car on a summers day... Will be all over your face instead

 

awesome.

i'd love a spin in one of the 300bhp supercharges versions. this new one will be insane!

 

those wings are superb, and as for a 2.4 V8 all alloy, just what you need and then supercharged?!?!? When you getting one Lee, do it, forget the turbo elise!

 

Insanely cool car.

There really cant be many instances on the road where you could keep your foot in for more than half a dozen seconds at a time in something like that.

Even on a trackday you are going to need to a proper hero to drive that hard, im confident it would scare the crap out of me and I couldnt get near to doing it justice.

madness, absolute madness

 

let's see if it actually makes production - plenty have talked about similar things in the past that have not happened - but let's hope so

 

i drove the N/A one at a track day at brunters a few years ago, was blisteringly quick, everything about it i loved, the rawness, sounds, cornering speeds was immense, now definatley on my list if lotto numbers come up.

 

cool. i fancy the supercharged one. looks like great fun for a toy car.

 

when pops? pops is buying a maserati mate, no turbo on that doubt he is interesting in any tuning anyhow

my re-mapped 335d gives some torque out son, dont you worry!

 

Did you REALLY type that????

Shockingly stoooopid comment!

 

hope this one doesnt set on fire like the first one on 5th gear

 

That was a Caparo....

about 4 times the price as well

 

We'r on a ford forum, i thought it was all about top speed


Awesome little car.

I reckon it'l be more like 400bhp per tonne by the time you've added a driver and some fuel. (not that this deducts from it)