The notion of creating a vehicle that is essentially nothing more than an engine, a driver, and a seat is not a new concept. Motoring started this way, and for some, it needn't have evolved at all. The attraction of dropping into a lightweight, bare-bones vehicle like the long-running open-top Caterham 7 allows for a reconnection to motoring that has been lost.
These stripped-back, unadulterated machines take away all the distractions that now plague modern motoring. Relieved of creature comforts, excess weight and quite a bit of bodywork, cars like the quirky Morgan 3-Wheeler put the emphasis back on how a car can, and should be driven.
Leading this attack on getting gearheads back to experience the pure thrill of motoring is the Ariel Atom. A sports car that barely can be defined as a car. Carrying nothing that need not serve the ultimate purpose of producing speed and poise is an uncompromising weapon for the road. A curio that draws attention wherever it is, here are 10 reasons why every gearhead should drive the Ariel Atom.
10 This Is Stripped Out
Many cars claim to be a back-to-basics experience. Only Ariel Atom can justify the title of being truly stripped out. With very little discernible bodywork, exposed chassis rails, and no weatherproofing. It is a case of the driver and the car against the world.
That said, Ariel Atom is still a comfortable place to sit. As if cocooned inside a road-going torpedo a driver laps up the exposure. Like climbing into the ultimate in hardcore go-karts, the Ariel Atom is a no-frills way back to the very essence, and thrill, of driving fast.
9 Not A Style Statement
A glance over the Ariel Atoms design would make quite a few people think that it's a wild concept vehicle. Dreamt up as nothing more than an exercise in what if. But they would be very wrong. The Ariel Atom is a purposefully crafted machine, and fully road legal.
The lack of body panels, coverings, and weather protection all adds to the single purpose of saving weight. The Ariel Atom is the least frivolous, yet most impressive piece of automotive engineering that has been released in decades.
8 Unbridled Sensation Of Speed
When you are this low to the ground and exposed to the elements all speeds are exaggerated. Yet when you are punted along by one of Ariel's fine selection of engines, speed is an overwhelming sensation that gets the blood flowing and adrenaline pumping.
Driving an Atom attacked the senses in ways that a gearhead could not imagine. The rush of wind, the howl of the engine mounted behind them, and the low perspective point. They all add up to a wonderful experience that only the fantastically British Ariel Atom can deliver.
7 More Versions Than You Think
Inspired by single-seat racing cars the Atom design harks way back to 1996. The first series of cars was released in 1999 and captured the praise of anyone who drove it. Since then there have been 8 versions of the Atom, each offering a different personality from the last.
Several racing versions also exist. Having been created for the one-make Atom Cup race series these cars have more sophisticated Ohlins race suspension. Based on the 3.5 Atom they were also outfitted with a fire extinguisher for safety purposes.
6 Humble Beginnings
The first iteration of Ariel Atom landed just before the new millennium. Evolving from its prototype stage into a fully-fledged four-wheeled superbike. A breath of fresh air at the time the Atom was a bold new vehicle aimed at those seeking an uncompromised drive.
When optioned with the 120hp 1.8-liter Rover-K Series engine the Atom could hit 60mph in 5.5 seconds. Its low curb weight of less than 1102 lbs proves that a low-powered sportscar could mix it up with the bog boys. This was just the start of more powerful things to come.
5 Turbo Charged Monsters
The Ariel Atom S took the Series 3 model to a whole new dimension. Adding a turbocharger to its Honda KZ Type-R sourced engine allowed for 365hp and 305lb/ft of torque. Burying the throttle will see this Atom rocket to 60mph in as little as 2.5 seconds.
The latest version of the Atom comes as standard with a Honda turbocharged K20C engine. A respected 2.0-liter unit that pumps out 320hp. Despite having less power on tap than the 3S it will still romp to 60 mph in a staggering 2.8 seconds, with ease.
4 A Clever V8 And A Supercharger
Dropping a V8 engine into the Atom was an inevitable outcome. In 2008 the Atom 500 was introduced. It featured a specially designed 3.0-liter V8 engine with 500hp on tap. That equated to a 0-60mph explosion in just 2.1 seconds. The fastest on the planet at the time.
Bolting on a supercharger bestowed the Atom 3.5R with a banshee-like whine and 350hp. Able to hit 60mph in 2.5 seconds the stripped-out superstar would also run on to a top speed of 155mph. The Atom was the fly in many supercars' luxury speed ointment.
3 So Much From So Little
The key to Atom's success is that less is more. With such a small amount of weight to carry it flies. In most cases, even with the bigger engines, Atom won't tip the scales much past 1102 lbs. Which in modern motoring terms is almost next to nothing.
Combine this featherweight approach with a chassis and suspension that delivers sublime handling and the Atom is unstoppable. Razor-sharp in the corners, ferocious in the straights. Driving an Atom is like harnessing an unstoppable force of nature on wheels.
2 Not A Daily Driver
There are several drawbacks to owning and driving an Atom. Popping to the shops is to be avoided. The Atom will get you there, but any purchases will likely not make it home. Unless of course, you buy something small enough to fit in a trouser pocket.
And whilst an Atom was dressed up to be used by British Police, its functionality could also be called into question. So whilst the Atom is an awesome track tool or fast road machine it is not a vehicle that you can use for work or daily life in general.
1 Basic Driving Pleasures
For overly pampered gearheads who are too accustomed to air-con, heated seats, and a windshield the Atom is a wake-up call. It's a shot to the soul, a stark reminder of why we all love driving cars. An Atom is a refresher course on why every gearhead became a gearhead.
Once driven forever smitten. Many may discount the thought of having a go in an Atom. But don't. There is no better way to rekindle a dying gearhead's flame than firing an Atom down a highway. It's a crazy, unhinged car for crazy, unhinged gearheads.