Thursday 2nd August 2012

Meet the 700hp Ariel Atom

US company DDMWorks somehow manages to make the Atom even madder

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Most people with a normal perspective on life, the universe and everything would probably feel that the 300hp you get from the supercharged version of the Ariel Atom is enough to scare you rigid. The car does weigh a mere 456kg, after all.

If you have truly had your fear gland surgically removed then you could always go for the V8 Atom, so beloved of a certain Mr C Harris.

But if that's not enough for you, then a company in South Carolina called DDMWorks will make you one of these. It's called the Ariel Atom 700 and it is, according to its creators, the most powerful Atom in the world.

In place of the Honda engine, or the Hartley-designed V8, is a 2.0-litre Ecotec General Motors engine. So far, so dull, you might say. But this engine is supercharged to begin with, and DDM adds a Garrett GTX 3076 turbo to help things along a little.

In addition the engine gets custom ceramic-coated Wiseco pistons, H-beam Carrillo conrods, new injectors, a new fuel pump, a rear-mounted air-to air intercooler for the turbo and a custom-built air-to-water heat exchanger to help keep the supercharger cool. The exhaust, intercooler tubing and exhaust manifold are all made in-house by DDM.

The result is 700hp of pure lunacy. Fortunately, the driver can select three power levels from the cockpit, ranging from the full 700hp down to 'just' 450hp.

Perhaps somewhat sensibly, given the monster power-to-weight ratio, DDM strongly suggests that customers take a "specialized driving course for their safety, like the Ariel Atom experience offered at Virginia International Raceway by TMI".

[SpunkyM]

Needs more power.

[Mini1275]

Absolutely crazy.

[8potdave]

Desperately want a car where a specialist driving course is recommended! That looks insane (and dare I say it a tad undrivable)

[ajprice]

What would this do you your face??!?!? Clarkson in the standard Atom was bad enough

[MrWhippy]

Since when has a GT30 been capable of flowing the air for 700BHP??

[DanDC5]

I'd keep the K20 and take a trip to CPL racing instead and ask them an 'upgrade'

[HorneyMX5]

1535bhp per ton, st a brick!

[TonyHetherington]

MrWhippy said:

Since when has a GT30 been capable of flowing the air for 700BHP??

It isn't.

That's why there's a supercharger as well.

[Jasandjules]

Does it come with a G-Suit to be on the safe side?

Surely 700bhp through the wheels will be toooo much (not often I say such things).

[gentlemangreen]

SpunkyM said:

Needs more power.

And will cost way too much

There we go, thats the standard stty two PH responses done with.

[StottyZr]

MrWhippy said:

Since when has a GT30 been capable of flowing the air for 700BHP??

I thought that, I guess its helped by the supercharger.

I could be wrong, but wasn't the Atom 500 detuned for sale? I think the engine could actually run at 550hp (again, I could be completely wrong I'm sure someone will be along to correct me)

[gentlemangreen]

Just to add that I adore such lunacy.

It must be just an unreal driving experience.

[MrWhippy]

TonyHetherington said:

It isn't.

That's why there's a supercharger as well.

I remain sceptical until I can see pics of the inlet tract.

[dele]

Throttle response must be near enough non-existent in this engine?

Shame as id think that would be a major issue to most buyers

[stew-S160]

...gulp...

[DAVEVO9]

456kg?

I don't think so.

[AC43]

Shame it's not a diesel. Cos then it would have more torque. And range.

[Chrisw666]

What's the power output and weight of the current F1 cars?

[CDP]

AC43 said:

Shame it's not a diesel. Cos then it would have more torque. And range.

That's a good point. I can't imagine an Atom has a big fuel tank. I wonder how many laps of a power circuit like Silverstone GP or Spa this could manage before it's empty?

[405dogvan]

DAVEVO9 said:

456kg?

I don't think so.

UK Atoms are around 660kg according to every source I've seen - so unless moving the steering into the wrong place somehow saves a LOT of weight, someone is fibbing here.

Even sans-fluids isn't going to save THAT much weight - are American kilos bigger?