Video: Ariel Atom in action
Given that it's Memorial Day weekend here in the States, it's time to observe an 'oldie but a goodie' - Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson caning an Ariel Atom. The eight-minute show opens with some great shots of the minimalist Honda-powered two-seater, followed by Clarkson racing--and beating--a motorcycle around the track. The close-up of Clarkson's neck and cheek getting pulled back by the velocity leaves one gasping at the sheer power of the Atom, and at least one staffer contemplating selling his soul in exchange for ownership.
Related: U.S. version of Ariel Atom using Ecotecs,
Up and Atom
[Source: Top Gear via YouTube]
(Top tip, J!)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Buster Hymen 5:49PM (5/28/2006)
That is TOTALLY WICKED! YOu'd really have to wear a helmet to make sure you don't lose an eyeball to a bug or end up with a mouth full of them.
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Buster Hymen 5:50PM (5/28/2006)
That is Totally Wicked! Would absolutely need to wear a helmet...
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doug 6:23PM (5/28/2006)
My dream car........
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auto usate 7:22PM (5/28/2006)
Faster then a CarreraGT and only $50,000... is it so cheap?
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Chris 7:36PM (5/28/2006)
it is QUICKER than a Carrera GT, but top speed isn't close to the GT's 205mph.
it starts at $37,348.85
you can spec one out at www.arielatom.com
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bigballer 8:01PM (5/28/2006)
Hey Ferrari Enzo. Race this beeyotch.
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gbh 8:58PM (5/28/2006)
Isn't it amazing what can happen when someone actually focuses on the car...
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epp_b 9:52PM (5/28/2006)
["it is QUICKER than a Carrera GT, but top speed isn't close to the GT's 205mph."]
Having the drag coificient of a furnace filter sure doesn't help the top speed, but it is one incredible piece of engineering that's good at everything else. 600HP per ton is just unfathomable!
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braulio 11:08PM (5/28/2006)
safe to say...you haven't lived 'till you've ridden in one of these huh?
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Thameth 12:27AM (5/29/2006)
"The close-up of Clarkson's neck and cheek getting pulled back by the velocity leaves one gasping at the sheer power of the Atom, "
Its not being pulled back by the velocity, its being pushed back by the wind.....
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Jesus 1:11AM (5/29/2006)
Gotta love that supercharged Honda K20A. Would rather see Tiff Needell tearing up a real track in this Atom than Clarkson pretending to drive on an airport runway.
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j-dawg 1:21AM (5/29/2006)
Also safe to say that you haven't died until riding in one of these.
I can't imagine driving one on the street, but it looks like a fun track car.
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UtilityMaximizer 1:38AM (5/29/2006)
This is going to sound like a stupid question, but...what kind of gas mileage does it get? Also, is it really street legal in the U.S.? And what do you do when it rains to keep dry? I guess one could wear a wetsuit, but some sort of cloth cover for the seat area would be light and effective, wouldn't it?
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Jesus 1:47AM (5/29/2006)
34 MPG (remember weight is a key factor in gas consumption).
It's pure performance, who cares about getting a little wet. People who ride motorcycles know this.
It's street legal in the U.S. IF sold as a kit which you build. I don't know if Brammo (U.S. distributor and builder of Ariel Atoms) offers this as a kit to customers. But I'm pretty sure they do since I've seen Atoms with U.S. plates.
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Myspace Layouts 3:13AM (5/29/2006)
"This is going to sound like a stupid question, but...what kind of gas mileage does it get? Also, is it really street legal in the U.S.? And what do you do when it rains to keep dry? I guess one could wear a wetsuit, but some sort of cloth cover for the seat area would be light and effective, wouldn't it?"
it should get around 25mpg with the blower and maybe 30 without. you could get great mileage by driving it like a civic, but that's obviously not what they're intended for.
they are street legal in the US, they are sold here and manufactured in Portland i believe.
when it's raining, you don't drive it. it's as simple as that :)
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Sarah 6:15AM (5/29/2006)
So it beat a 600rr huh, why not race it against a 1000rr or better yet an 06 1000 gixxer.
The result might have been different.
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tim 10:03AM (5/29/2006)
Of course a GSXR1000 would be quicker, as would a Top Fuel dragster. And guess what, an oil tanker would be slower. We could sit around all day comparing power to weight ratios but we'd be missing the point of Ariel's achievement of designing and producing such a brilliant car on a shoestring budget wouldn't you say Sarah?
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Buster Hymen 10:21AM (5/29/2006)
Faster than a motorcycle isn't the whole picture. The Atom wasn't faster off the line which is understandable, but it kicked the bikes but thru every turn. That's what makes the Atom so amazing as it handle curves like no other car (other than 2 or 3 others that top gear tested) can. Who cares how fast the car is in a straight line..that car handled like on rails thru the curve and that just floored me!!!!
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Pastulio 11:32AM (5/29/2006)
" So it beat a 600rr huh, why not race it against a 1000rr or better yet an 06 1000 gixxer."
The bike might be faster on the straights but the Atom will still murder murder it under braking and through corners.
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gbh 1:18PM (5/29/2006)
If you get the chance, you really should drive something like this at least once on your life. If not, at least a 250cc shifter race kart.
I'm not sure why people would be worried about the safety in one of these or a T-Rex for that matter. If you actually think you are safer in a Cobalt than you are in one of those, think again.
Definately not a car for beyond 120MPH on a regular basis ("Cd of a furnace filter at speed" that's a good one!), but they're a blast to drive on the street, like a T-Rex.
Bike v. car is a really simple if you look at all the variables that matter. Power-to-weight, Cd, and contact patch. It is no longer a slam-dunk that the bikes win.
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