RE: Ariel Atom 500 V8 Announced

RE: Ariel Atom 500 V8 Announced

Friday 29th February 2008

Ariel Atom 500 V8 Announced

New Atom has double power to weight of a Veyron


V8 Ariel Atom. Fast.
V8 Ariel Atom. Fast.
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…

Author
Discussion

toohuge

Original Poster:

3,434 posts

216 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Sounds good, but isn't that what a caparo t1 is?

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
ill take one biggrin

general190

252 posts

203 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
And the new RS engined caterham?

Justayellowbadge

37,057 posts

242 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
There will be blood.


Love it.

fido

16,796 posts

255 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
toohuge said:
Sounds good, but isn't that what a caparo t1 is?
The Atom is still a useful road machine, and hopefully it won't set you om fire, i mean literally. Is that 500bhp from a Honda bike engine? Don't think the tuners can get sort of power from a CTR engine!?

Edited by fido on Thursday 28th February 15:39

Oli S

214 posts

199 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
toohuge said:
Sounds good, but isn't that what a caparo t1 is?
Ahh but much cheaper I'm guessing wink

Jackp

720 posts

196 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Oli S said:
toohuge said:
Sounds good, but isn't that what a caparo t1 is?
Ahh but much cheaper I'm guessing wink
And it can go round corners without crashing driving

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

226 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Can't wait to see how this one turns out. I haven't got an Atom but this is currently one of my all time fave cars and a 500bhp version should be mental!! And yes please...i would like one too biggrin

general190

252 posts

203 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
fido said:
toohuge said:
Sounds good, but isn't that what a caparo t1 is?
The Atom is still a useful road machine, and hopefully it won't set you om fire, i mean literally. Is that 500bhp from a Honda bike engine? Don't think the tuners can get sort of power from a CTR engine!?

Edited by fido on Thursday 28th February 15:39
No, its from the RS V8, as seen in the caparo T1 and soon to be found in the latest caterham's

pies

13,116 posts

256 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Will it be able to use all 500 horses or will it just spin the wheels up smile

boolay

1,548 posts

238 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
I find it hard to see how something like that would be enjoyable to drive.

No weight to keep rear wheels pushed down, surely accelerating out of a slower corner would simply result in plumes of smoke?

Hendry

1,945 posts

282 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all

These RS people sound like right tarts. Caterham and Ariel in the same week. I haven't seen such blatant bedhopping since I dated a girl called Mandy from Woking.

hahithestevieboy

845 posts

214 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Superb!

RobPhoboS

3,454 posts

226 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Wish I could put my name down on the list for this !

Lippy

229 posts

210 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
[quote]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.
[/quote]

That's providing you actually see which way it went

SCOOTERMAN

238 posts

225 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
toohuge said:
Sounds good, but isn't that what a caparo t1 is?
No, as it's not as likely to burst into flames.

Kieran XJR

5,983 posts

213 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Awesome! How much though?

Baffled Spoon

5,250 posts

194 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Wow! It looks as mad as a Pike's Peak special. Might be a bit of a handful yes

Fetchez la vache

5,572 posts

214 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
Strewth, if the 300 makes your face go all wobbly, what is this going to do? Rip your ears off?

Can't wait to see the price vs the Caterham V8 from what seems like 10 mins ago... scratchchin

patmahe

5,749 posts

204 months

Thursday 28th February 2008
quotequote all
They'll need some form of traction control for acceleration out of low speed corners, the downforce should help at high speed. Sounds yummy though.