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Quick Spin: Ariel Atom 3 is awesomeness that defies all classification

Before we get into the actual meat and potatoes of this review, please know that the absolute absurdity of the Ariel Atom 3 is not lost on us. It starts out as a sordid collection of mild steel tubing and a somewhat unassuming 2.0-liter K20Z four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual, both pulled from the Honda parts bin. Throw in some fiberglass and a smattering of carbon fiber, four wheels, two lightweight racing seats with four-point harnesses, a steering wheel and some pedals, and that's just about it, save the optional windshield. But the result is greater than the sum of its ... Read More

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    MISC Ariel Atom 3
    Rumormill: Ariel Atom makers to return to motorcycle building?
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    Calling the Ariel Atom a "car" is a bit of a stretch. After all, it comes with no roof, no doors, no windows. So for all intents and purposes, it's basically a motorcycle with four wheels (plus two seats and a steering wheel). You're gonna want to wear a helmet, and we wouldn't recommend riding it in the rain. Which makes sense, because the original ...

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    MISC Ariel Atom 3
    VIDEO: Honda CR-Z Mugen compared with.... Ariel Atom Mugen?!
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    Mugen and Honda go together like vanilla ice cream and apple pie. Sure, the pie can stand on its own, but a nice scoop of ice cream takes it to another level. Mugen rolled out a pair of tuned CR-Z hybrids at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the blokes from Auto Express asked to spend a day with one of them. Their team also wrangled away the keys ...

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    MISC Ariel Atom 3
    Video: Honda CR-Z Mugen compared with.... Ariel Atom Mugen?!
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    Mugen and Honda go together like vanilla ice cream and apple pie. Sure, the pie can stand on its own, but a nice scoop of ice cream takes it to another level. Mugen rolled out a pair of tuned CR-Z hybrids at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the blokes from Auto Express asked to spend a day with one of them. Their team also wrangled away the keys ...

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    MISC Ariel Atom 3
    BAC Mono: Another Ariel Atom-fighting roadster in the UK
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    Sick and tired of getting pushed around by Ariel Atoms at your local track day? Briggs Automotive Company, who prefer the acronym BAC, are getting ready to produce the Mono. It's a carbon-fiber shell wrapped around a single-passenger steel cell. The BAC Mono's 2.3-liter Cosworth four-cylinder engine makes 280-horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, and ...

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    MISC Ariel Atom 3
    Mugen goes molecular with special-edition Ariel Atom
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    Here's a match made in automotive heaven. Mugen has gone about working its magic on the Honda-powered Ariel Atom to celebrate the car's 10th anniversary. While the trick red chassis and white body work is enough to get us licking our chops, the Japanese tuner has also tweaked mighty four-cylinder at the heart of the open-wheel heathen. A fully ...

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    MISC Ariel Atom 3
    Ariel Atom celebrates turning 10 with special Mugen edition
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    It's hard to believe that 10 whole years have passed since the only Brit crazier than Amy Winehouse hit the world stage. We are, of course, referring to the Ariel Atom, but you already knew that, didn't you? And, like any good anniversary celebration, AutoExpress reports that Ariel is celebrating its tenth by releasing a special edition, which sure beats ...

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    MISC Ariel Atom 3
    Ariel Atom one-make series coming to America?
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    A one-make, or spec-series race, is an exciting contest that really proves who's got what it takes behind the wheel. The Ariel Atom is an exciting vehicle that allows a driver to explore the purest expression of driving nirvana. If you are a fan of either, then 2011 should be a very good year for you. Ariel is working with Virgina International Raceway ...

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    MISC Ariel Atom 3
    Ariel Atom 3 gets power influx courtesy of Wimmer RS
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    It doesn't get much more extreme than the Ariel Atom. But Wimmer RS has managed to do exactly that. The German tuning house has taken the Atom 3 and boosted output of the 2.0-liter turbocharged Honda four up from 300 horsepower to 340. The engine mods are carried out by a remapped ECU, rebuilt compressor and new fuel pump and exhaust with Rennkat ...

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    MISC Ariel Atom 3
    Video: Ariel Atom dices it up on the track against... an Epson printer?!
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    If we had to pick a printer company on the merits of its advertising stunts alone, Epson would hands-down be our favorite. Along with cranking out an awesome 1:1 scale paper replica of an NSX racer not too long ago, the company recently decided to pit its newest printer against an Ariel Atom 3. The premise is simple: The printer would begin printing a ...

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    MISC Ariel Atom 3
    Video: Clarkson teases his own take on The Italian Job
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    Jeremy Clarkson has created a new two-disc video titled The Italian Job, where the Top Gear host goes it alone with some of the best supercars money can buy. The video will feature Jezza hooning around Imola and Fiorano in typical shouty, animated fashion – and with good reason. He's got a range of dream cars at his disposal, including a Ferrari ...

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