Friday 16th May 2003

Ariel 2

Nope, we're not excited about washing powder, but the new VTEC powered Atom

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It's been talked about for some time and now Ariel Motors has confirmed that it will produce an Atom with the Honda 2.0 i-VTEC engine and six speed gearbox.

The first Atom used a 111bhp K series which although useful in the lightweight chassis wasn't ever going to set the world on fire. Rather than go down the route of tuned K series engines to step up the power, Ariel have taken the more exciting route of doubling the power using the high revving Honda unit - perfect for track work.

Producing 220bhp in standard form, Ariel have successfully installed the unit in their chassis and with the assistance of a new four into one exhaust manifold have increased output to nearly 240bhp - in a car that weighs as much as a wet tea bag. Ariel claim 500bhp per tonne in 'track form', that's without the nonsense required to make the car road legal such as mud guards and the weighty tax disc.

The suspension geometry has been revised too and new Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs have been employed. Various other minor changes have been made to the chassis and a brake upgrade is availbale too.

Prices start at £19,000 for this mad car.

[sagalout]

Wonder how this would fit into the Road Going Classes at Harewood...
Could whop the Caterfields at their own game.....
Cat, have you met these pigeons?

[danmangt40]

absolutely bonkers. I was really thrilled to hear about this, and then I pictured my little sister's toyota landcruiser backing over this flyweight go-kart for the road. ech, not pretty.
dan

[golem]

Well, if your sister keeps her landcruiser away while people drive this now insane little machine to and from the track, all should be well...

[gemini]

mad - but great fun as a track car

[douglasr]

I thought Honda refused to sell their engines to other manufacturers? (hence Lotus going the Toyota route for the rumoured new Elise engine).

[ChrisW.]

Caterham are committed to the Minister upgrades of the old Rover engine.
May consider Duratec but ...
I am not sure there's any more risk on the road than with a Caterham or a motorbike.
I like the look of it and would love a try --- though it hasn't been reported to be the best handling car on the block ...

[Atom290]

>> Edited by atom290 on Saturday 31st January 15:13

[LathamJohnP]

Never seen one in the flesh, but they look gorgeous in pictures.

If it handles properly and is under 500kg in road legal trim, it might be enough to tempt me away from my caterham.

John

[joust]

Can anything be done about the lack of windscreen - or do you have to always wear a full face helmet?

J

[atom290]

>> Edited by atom290 on Saturday 31st January 15:14

[joust]

What about the danger of a stone hitting your face?

[ross.mcw]

You wouldn't catch me driving mine without a helmet for just that reason.

[G Man]

Just to let you know a K20a engine made 274bhp at the wheel hubs last week and 170ftlbs of torque

[stu_allen]

That sounds realistic.....