Ariel Atom on Top Gear 0-60 2.9 seconds
 

I like this car. The Radical just doesn't float me. Performance specs with the Atom are crazy, silly stupid. 0-60 in 2.9 seconds if you can shift fast enough. 2.0L Honda VTEC engine with supercharger = 300 HP. 550 kg weight. Totally open cockpit. Handling is a no-brainer.

Obtaining an equivalent power:weight ratio would require 681HP in a 911SC (1250kg,2750lbs).

http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/04/profile/sideon2.jpg

Ariel Motors

Makes me consider adding lightness instead of HP to my 911. Perhaps adding lightness and HP would be preferred. ;)

Sorry, it needs some sort of body, or it just looks like ass. The open chassis has to have an aero penalty as well.

Their web site compares it to a 911, various Lambos, etc - street cars. Why aren't the comparing it to other specialty-chassis track cars?

On the Speed Channel they recently put that car up against one with a full body/super bike engined racer (SR3). They liked the full body car better...................it had slightly better track times.http://www.ncracing.org/images/johns%20sr3.jpg

I really like it. True, I'd be tempted to put some sort of body on it - if only a thin fg or cf shell for aerodynamics. But the tradition of designing simple, yet strong and ultra lightweight sports cars is a long one and IMO pretty cool. That Atom chassis design is slick. Wouldn't you just love to build one in your garage? I wonder how many other manufacturers there are out there building low production sports cars that stay true to the purist tradition (like Radical, Noble, Diaso, and Ultima)? I ask mainly because I just stumbled on another manufacturer last night...

http://www.moslerauto.com

The allure of this car is the power and handling of a motorbike, as well as the feel of being in the open. I can imagine myself wearing goggles and a wool-lined bomber cap while driving down backroads on a balmy 50 degree day.

Something with a body bridges the gap between motorcycle and automobile and is too much of a compromise.

As far as the Radical vs. Atom, you can't drive the Radical on the street without monster truck tires or jacked suspension. The Atom can, because it lacks the bodywork.

So the Atom is a motorcycle for those with an inner ear problem?

If the power, handling, and openness of a motorcycle is the allure, then why not get a motorcycle, and cut your tyre costs by 75%?

I've never been keen on motorcycles, so maybe it's lost on me anyway.

I like the Radical, and there's another one like it, can't recall the name (or maybe it's also a radical) that has a closed top, looks like a 956.

I'm not thrilled about the idea of being exposed like that on a track with other cars, and I wonder how thrilled various sanctioning bodies are about it either.

I checked the website and some of the used models are going for less than $30k USD. Add a wing to the nose and they look very F1-ish...

<img src="http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/04/latest_01_04/web_two_cars.jpg">

Great toy for the money if you ask me. And the car that looks like a 956 is, I think, the Diaso. Yet another fun little toy for bombing around. Damn, if I only had a garage and a few extra grand lying around...I'd have one of each of these things...

4 wheels and cage feel safer than 2 wheels on the street. Of course, my bicycle odometer reads 3500 miles for year 2004, so you should forego asking me common sense questions.

I don't get the sense that this is a street car, although they seem to be going out of their way to compare it's performance to other street cars. Yet all of the pix I saw of it were on the track. My 911 has better accelleration than an SD40-2T, whohoo! Never mind the fact that the SD40-2T is a diesel locomotive...

Is it a track car? If so, then let's compare it to other track cars, ie various spec racer cars.

Is it a street car? Then let's compare other street car features other than just 0-60. Ok, the Atom is faster than a 911; I sure as hell wouldn't want to drive to work in one! And good luck with any TUV or USA vechicle certification!

So, it looks like it's a quick, fun little car, but only useful for DE's, or if a spec class was created for it. It's like an oversized shifter kart.

Thom:
You're thinking of the Diasio Car Company D962. http://www.diasio.com/
They are built in Indiana at Putnam and are common attendees at DEs and NASA race events here in the Midwest. Many owners claim it was the best $30k they've spent as they are a lot cheaper to race than 911s and M3s, against which they are very competitive.

The Ariel Atom also posted a quicker lap time than the Porsche Carerra GT - if it was not for running wide on a single corner - It would have beat the Enzo's lap time also!!!

The Atom can be used every day, whereas the Radical would never make it over speedbumps. I'd love an Ariel as a daily driver! Would keep you awake on long trips as well. And cops would struggle to get laser lock.

Now that does look like a real race car.:)
http://www.diasio.com/D962R/large/r6.jpg

If I wanted an open wheel "street" car I'd much rather have a Caterham 7, if I wanted a no nonsense track car I'd rather have the Radical.