Ariel Atom: Uber-Minimalist Sports Car

You've come to the right post if you're the sort who rides motorcycles because cars are slower than turtles. This is the Ariel Atom, no relation to the European laundry soap of the same name. Ariel is Britain's smallest automaker, employing only seven speed-crazed souls.

They market their cars with the slogan "No Doors. No Screen. No Roof." For most car makers this would be the kiss of death: "Hullo, Mrs. Jenkins. Your new Toyota Flowerpot arrived at the dealership today. No, no... we don't offer boring old doors or a windscreen anymore."

Thankfully, the Atom has an amazing trick up it's sleeve: zero to 100mph (161 kph) in a blinding 6.8 seconds. Or -- if you can shift fast enough -- zero to 60mph in a tad under three. The Atom costs about 35,000 euros and thoughtfully includes a passenger seat for a suitably insane friend.

Ariel Atom 2 (Ariel Motor Company Ltd.)

Comments

[ortho]

Saw this on Top Gear on TV and it looks like the funnest car in the world. They beat a crotch-rocket bike around the track in this thing. Yowsa!

Ok, it needs a windshield. What are they thinking?

[Peter]

Take that Lotus (Caterham) 7!
And the retro part of this story is the 'Ariel' name itself.

[james]

Yes, the Ariel name dates back to the 1870s, when the company made bicycles. They started making cars around the turn of the 20th Century. The Ariel name popped up from time to time over the decades. As far as I know, there is absolutely no connection between the modern company and its namesakes.

And it's funny you mention Caterham, Peter. They released a screamingly fast derivitive of the 7 a few months ago -- I'll do my best to run a piece about it next week. At that point, I should be through my British car phase. :)