Ariel Atom 3 Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Ariel Atom 3 range
Prices: (300bhp) £37,676
Insurance Group: 20
Emissions: n/a
Performance: (300bhp) 0-60 2.9s Max Speed 155mph
Fuel Consumption: (300bhp) 31mpg (combined)
Safety: anti lock brakes, racing harnesses
Dimensions: length/width/height mm 3410/1828/1195

PERFORMANCE WITH A DIFFERECE

Our Rating: No Rating Available

General Details and specification

Although similar to its predecessor in design, there are a couple of tweaks here and there making the Ariel Atom 3 totally driver oriented. All drive and no thrill will make any car a bore, but definitely not the Ariel Atom 3. The Atom 3 has lower seats than the Atom 2 and the expanded chasse provides more elbow room which allows the driver reach the gear lever effortlessly for a faster change to achieve the desired ratio.

The all new Ariel Atom 3 uses a new engine with new vibration dampers giving a faster and smoother drive. The new engine is from good old Honda Civic Type – R 245bhp. The new engine also adds a little weight to the rear of the Atom 3 giving it more stability and those annoying bumps in the road goes almost unnoticed. The gear is smoother also and just slides in to place.

At 8400rpm the 2.0 litre K20A engine from a Honda Civic Type R musters up to 245 bhp and 11 pound-feet of torque—yielding 245 horses and 170 pound-feet in the base car. Super charged variant can churn out a whooping 300 horsepower and 190 pound feet. The combination of the light frame/body of the Ariel Atom 3, the Honda K20A engine and probably the smoothest gear system in the world makes the Atom 3 the most driver oriented car ever.

The new Atom 3 handles much better than its predecessor, right from the moment you start the engine you get the feeling that you are in charge. The rattling experienced in the Atom 2 has been eliminated thanks to the new vibration dampers. With more room in the interior the driver can concentrate on driving.

The price of the Ariel Atom 3 has increased significantly, with a starting price of £31443. The change in price is due to the modifications starting with the new engine fitted with a non-intercooled Jackson Racing supercharger valued at more than giving the engine more than 50% more horse power and as much as 40% in torque. This gives the Ariel Atom 3 300 hp with more than 250 pound feet of torque. The Ariel Atom 3 might be heavier than the Atom 2 but when compared with other race cars it is feather weight. This gives it an advantage over them as it is cheaper and can muster more horse power per ton (600 hp per ton to be precise). So why pay hundreds of thousands for high end models when you can get performance for a fraction.

The Ariel Atom 3 has an improved 10 way suspension system that compliments the engines vibration dampers to give a smooth and pleasant driving experience. The suspension system can be adjusted and tuned depending on the driver’s requirement. To match the increased horsepower the Ariel Atom 3 breaking system has been improved upon. The atom 3 comes with Alcon four – pistons disc brakes.

The phrase newer is always better couldn’t be more true with the Ariel Atom 3. Although the changes might seem minimal, the Atom 2 is nowhere near the Atom 3 in performance and comfort and the change is worth the price.