Father's Day - and there's nothing quite like buying a sports car that'll wake up old, post-retirement-pops from his afternoon nap. We at HotCars have decided that of the plethora of sports cars out there, the Ariel Atom 2 is the perfect one for the job. The 2004 Ariel Atom was a bomb on wheels - by that, we don't mean it'll blow up into bits, that's how explosive its performance was. It's a minimalist-looking car, but as they say, looks can be deceptive.
It's a neat sculpture of tubes that have been welded perfectly, making it look like some sort of roll cage on wheels, with a highly potent engine. When it was released in the year 2000, the world went bonkers looking at the car and its specifications. It made aspiring race car drivers want one, and push it to its limits when driving it. It was a car that tickled the funny bone of everyone that drove it - and the same holds today, with the Ariel Atom 4. But that's a car for another story.
An expensive go-kart to look at, yes, but to drive - it's something else. There's nobody we can think of that doesn't like outlandish cars which scare the living daylights out of them - and the very first Ariel Atom model could do that, even today. It weighed in at 1200 pounds, and the options list did not include a roof, a heater, or for that matter, even a windshield. The Caterham Seven has reasons to be ashamed of itself.
History Of Ariel Motors
Some of you are likely to find it hard to digest, knowing Ariel came into being in 1871. It all started with a 'penny-farthing' bicycle that featured a 48-inch front wheel with spokes. It looks hilarious today in the same way the Atom is a bag of laughs to drive. Ariel has always strived for the best when it comes to innovation and design.
A quadricycle followed in 1900. They even made race cars for a few years, after which they switched to motorcycles in 1916. Ariel was back in 2000, and this time, with the Atom. Having been thriving since their pocket rocket was introduced, the Ariel Atom has evolved into a hairstyle-upsetting sports car. Despite having had a very different history, Ariel's focus is clear: to make fast, lightweight sports cars.
UK Got The Ariel Atom 2 With A Honda Engine
Its skeletal appearance and exposed mechanical bits would have you wonder what's lurking behind the car. The British sports car was available in its motherland with a high-revving, naturally aspirated i-VTEC engine from the 2007 Honda Civic Type R hot hatch, and made 145 lb-ft of torque. Ariel claimed it sprinted from 0-62mph in just 4.1 seconds.
The moment you put your foot down, you'd have to put up with ferocious acceleration, with the wind hitting your face hard, if you don't wear a helmet. Power under your right foot, much like the universe, feels endless. The 2.0-liter engine sounds wonderful, and it revs, unlike anything you've driven.
The blinking lights on the rev counter meant the gears kept changing at lightning-quick speeds, and with such a powerful engine and a lightweight frame, all the throttle needed was a gentle dab. Once the driver had the chance to get a hang of it, it would launch like a fighter plane on an aircraft carrier.
The UK-spec Atom 2 loved corners and the communicative brakes and steering meant it was a perfect driver's car. Having said that, it was a car that needed the driver's focus, and ride quality is not something we're getting to here. Anyone owning one of these should take it to a track, and let it loose.
America Got The Arial Atom 2 With A GM Ecotec Engine
The U.S market got to have a taste of the Atom 2 as well, but with a different engine behind it. The car you see in these images is powered by a 2.0-liter, GM Ecotec, inline-four with a GM Performance supercharger and intercooler, to be able to keep up with the Honda engine in Britain.
Power is channeled to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transaxle with a limited-slip differential. The engine makes 304hp and 191 lb-ft of torque, and at 1005 pounds, it was much lighter than the first Ariel Atom. This bad boy had a top speed of 150 mph.
This particular example features black-and-gray body panels, staggered-diameter alloy wheels, a fire-suppression system, a double-bubble windshield, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, and Koni adjustable cantilever suspension, Sparco seats, and Wilwood brakes. It also gets an engine cover, a single roll hoop, and side mirrors.
The Ultimate Father's Day Gift Comes At A Price
Buying a used Atom 2 isn't cheap, with prices ranging from $25,000 to $35,000, if you're looking for excellent examples. But it's a lot more affordable than buying a new Atom 4. It's a fun car and is bound to turn heads as it drives by in a blur. For as long as your dad isn't prone to heart attacks, the Ariel Atom 2 should keep him alive and kicking!
Sources: Ariel, Bring A Trailer