Thursday 21st May 2009
Electric Ariel Plans Revealed
Ariel hatches bold new scheme for a 'future-tech' sportscar
No skeletal frame for new model
Lightweight sports car manufacturer Ariel has told PistonHeads it is considering building a new lightweight sports car away from the mould of the Atom.
Plans for the new car are still in their infancy, but Ariel boss Simon Saunders told PH that a new and ‘interesting’ model was being discussed that would break new ground in the same way that the Atom first did.
Saunders believes the future of the car industry lies away from the combustion engine, and will therefore be looking to new technologies such as fuel cells and electric powertrains for his company's new project.
Ariel had harboured plans for a new minimalist supercar built around a massive 12-litre engine, producing in the region of 600-800bhp. That project has been shelved even before the number of engine cylinders was decided upon. Instead Ariel's new car will focus on maintaining the company’s key principles of lightweight construction and maximum accelerative performance through the use of innovative new technologies.
V8 Atom will produce 500bhp
The new model will depart from the exposed skeletal structure of the Atom and adopt a more recognisable form, although Saunders insists the new car will not be a conventional mid-engined sports car and will still be made in low numbers to help maintain the firm’s flexibility. 'We don’t want to take on the established manufacturers' he says. 'We will use our knowledge from building the Atom to produce a car for a totally new segment.'
Development of the new Ariel sports car is still several years away, however, and in the meantime the firm is forging ahead with its plan to introduce a new version of the Atom, using a 3.0-litre, 500bhp V8 engine. It is also exploring the possibility of returning to the roots of the Ariel name with the production of a motorcycle.
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MICK E90 M3
Original Poster
165 posts
11 months
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posterboy
1,144 posts
23 months
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2.4-litre, 500bhp V8
Can it get any better??
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GPT
194 posts
10 months
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2.4 litre V8 500hp
Hmmm, two motorbike engines bolted together a la Radical SR8? I would imagine it'll rev well into 5 figures, but will it need forced induction to make 500hp I seem to remember Radical saying they needed to up the capacity of the SR8 from 2.6 to 3.0 litres to get 450hp.
Either way, I want one.
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Ollieb7
71 posts
28 months
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I like the idea of the freindly one - but i do like the idea of the 500hp Evil one! :-)
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jimpritchard
987 posts
21 months
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they are surely not going to call it al electric ariel thought are they?
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PhantomPH
1,003 posts
55 months
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I would still like to see this : http://www.wrightspeed.com/x1.html becoming an official 'Ariel' supplied car. Glad they are doing well enough to be able to expand. Keep up the good work! P~
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The Wookie
5,228 posts
58 months
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jimpritchard said: they are surely not going to call it al electric ariel thought are they? Agreed, someone might try to fill up the interior with Calgon
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Alex_L
53 posts
66 months
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"Saunders believes the future of the car industry lies away from the combustion engine" does that mean we'll be called "ElectroHeads"? Sounds geeky. Its good that small company like this is looking into the far future, though. Sertainly more forward facing than some of bigger manufacturers.
Does anyone know what engines are used in the V8? Is it the Yamaha R1 * 2?
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Mr Gear
2,843 posts
20 months
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The idea of a lightweight, sporty Ariel motorcycle would be awesome.
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V88Dicky
803 posts
13 months
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Didn't the Caparo go down that route with a tiny V8 made up from motorbike engines, and horrendous reliability and maintenance issues?
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V8 GRF
3,228 posts
40 months
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Alex_L said: Does anyone know what engines are used in the V8? It's this one I think http://www.h1v8.com/page/page/1562068.htmI guy in the US has built one for his own use while developing a 4WD lightweight trackcar. It might well be the same guy who's developing the electric elements.
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Milks
145 posts
42 months
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an electric car would have to be called the electron surely
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Mr Gear
2,843 posts
20 months
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V88Dicky said: Didn't the Caparo go down that route with a tiny V8 made up from motorbike engines, and horrendous reliability and maintenance issues? There's nothing wrong with the V8s. I think the Caparo's problems were more fundamental than that.
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Fume troll
3,369 posts
42 months
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As if 330 hp wasn't enough. Brilliant.
Cheers,
FT.
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astrsxi77
164 posts
51 months
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I told you already; look both ways for the electric bandwagon before crossing the road!
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spoonoff
241 posts
28 months
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Suprising that Ariel want to go down this route as heavy batteries seem at odd with their light-weight philosophy.
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SpunkyM
121 posts
74 months
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Batteries won't be using lead plates.
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shalmaneser
1,249 posts
25 months
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spoonoff said: Suprising that Ariel want to go down this route as heavy batteries seem at odd with their light-weight philosophy. Yeah but fuel cells are quite light for their power capacity; this is a 'future tech' atom, remember. I agree that the chances of an ariel atom carting round a pile of Li-Po/Li-Ion batteries seems unlikely.
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Mr Gear
2,843 posts
20 months
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spoonoff said: Suprising that Ariel want to go down this route as heavy batteries seem at odd with their light-weight philosophy. Well if you start with a light car in the first place, you don't need many heavy batteries!
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clonmult
4,011 posts
39 months
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shalmaneser said: spoonoff said: Suprising that Ariel want to go down this route as heavy batteries seem at odd with their light-weight philosophy. Yeah but fuel cells are quite light for their power capacity; this is a 'future tech' atom, remember. I agree that the chances of an ariel atom carting round a pile of Li-Po/Li-Ion batteries seems unlikely. Even though its already been done - the wrightspeed x1, listed somewhere above here.
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