Ariel Atom-like-looks for fraction of price and performance
Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear seems to think the Ariel Atom is perfect for middle-aged guys with a little extra cash and not enough foolishness for motorcycles. But most of the middle-aged guys we know have all their extra cash tied up not in little cars, but in little kids.
If you, too, are a family man who could never justify spending money on the impractical Ariel Atom, then this could just be the car (kart?) for you. The KG650cc is a 727-pound, two-seat go-kart powered by a 27.6-horsepower 644cc engine. That gives each horse about 26 pounds to carry, compared to the Atom's 3.3 pounds per horse. And at only 9 feet in length and 3-feet wide, even the cramped Atom has this kart beaten in comfort.
But hey, your neighbors don't know an Ariel Atom from a Corbin Sparrow. Just play the famous video of Clarkson making a fool of himself in the Atom, and no one needs to know you only spent about $8,100 on your little race car.
BONUS: Check out video of the Atom-like go kart after the jump.
[Source: Autoblog.nl]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
porschedevotee 4:40PM (2/25/2008)
So who's gonna be the first to stick a Hayabusa engine in it?
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HpNoTiQ 4:55PM (2/25/2008)
me....maybe not a busa but atleast another 600cc from a cbr600rr or gsx-r
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John Johnson 4:52PM (2/25/2008)
See my avatar for the reason why the Atom is worth the price.
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Seoultrain 5:33PM (2/25/2008)
I didn't think 28hp would be able to cut it, but it seems peppy from the video. Still, a 'busa or gixxer mod is the way to go from peppy to insane.
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DHG 6:26PM (2/25/2008)
You know you're dealing with a classy outfit when the contact info is a hotmail address.
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jordan 6:30PM (2/25/2008)
I wonder if they ever thought of using the 500cc rotary motor? 50HP in a smaller package?
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Franz 3:59PM (4/12/2008)
Doesn't seem too interesting...
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speedball3 7:51PM (2/25/2008)
If you're looking for speed for cheap, then carting is definitely the way to go...but not in this look-alike model.
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fm 11:38PM (2/25/2008)
Yes but you can't drive a cart on roads. This has the prereqs for most states to be road legal.
Personaly I'd be fine with a 600cc from a Ninja ZX-6R. Although with the Hayabusa's 180+hp it'd be pretty crazy...erh... fast.
vintage 4:57PM (2/27/2008)
This is a great idea if it had a real engine. Even a cheap, boring 130hp 4 banger from honda or dodge would be great.
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Dave 12:05AM (2/26/2008)
I wish Factory Five Racing would build an Ariel Atom single donor kit.
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Guenther 8:00AM (2/26/2008)
What kind of sorry 650 liquid cooled twin makes under 30hp??? AC thumpers do better than that with piles of torque. An 800 rotax would make this haul.
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CraigD 8:50AM (2/26/2008)
From the specs and the sound it must be a lawnmower engine. Get an injected sport bike engine in there FormulaSAE-style.
Fatman 4:40PM (2/26/2008)
A mere shadow of the real thing.
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johnstoke 6:31AM (2/28/2008)
http://www.superlitecars.com/roadster_images.html
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Dave 7:22PM (3/01/2008)
Interesting.
I'd like to see one that uses more donor parts, though.
Dump the Wilwood calipers and the supplied 17" wheels. Give us a kit that uses all 93-97 Corolla parts, for example. An 1150 lb. car doesnt need 12" discs.
CarbonBlack 7:04AM (3/03/2008)
That is pitiful and nasty looking
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bsteimel 11:42PM (3/17/2008)
Why not a mazda 13b engine? 232 hp, about the same size as the 4 piston motor on the real atom. You can pick up a rebuild for pretty reasonable. That would be awesome, but thats just me.
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