Ariel: Atom News

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Old 11-13-2006, 11:33 PM
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Ariel: Atom News

Yow!

http://www.dpcars.net/atom/recent.htm



Old 11-13-2006, 11:41 PM
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woh thats a V8!
Old 11-13-2006, 11:43 PM
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Sick. I've been seeing a lot of these V8 Hayabussa powered cars popping up lately.
Old 11-14-2006, 12:14 AM
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Are these street legal?
Old 11-14-2006, 12:21 AM
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Originally Posted by TL CHROMETIDE
Are these street legal?
The Honda K20 version is street legal here. Their American HQ is in Oregon
Old 11-14-2006, 12:34 AM
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yep blew a load. embarrassing...
Old 11-14-2006, 01:13 AM
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i wish the Arial Atom had more to cover itself up with....

the rawness is a turn off to me

reminds me of my friends Tmaxx RC car and the cleaning process at the end of a fun day....
Old 11-14-2006, 02:00 AM
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Wow that's crazy. I wonder what the performance numbers are on that thing. But don't you think that bug engine might throw off the balance of the car?

I mean you are going from a 4 to 8 cylinder.
Old 11-14-2006, 02:42 AM
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glad they decided to make it fast
Old 11-14-2006, 06:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Donte99TL
But don't you think that bug engine might throw off the balance of the car?

I mean you are going from a 4 to 8 cylinder.


It is considerably lower and 100 lbs lighter than the Ecotec so it will both drop the CG and reduce overall weight.
Old 11-14-2006, 09:45 AM
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that's only a step below driving a balistic missle...insane
Old 11-14-2006, 10:20 AM
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so cool!
Old 11-14-2006, 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by SanJoseRoller
i wish the Arial Atom had more to cover itself up with....

the rawness is a turn off to me

reminds me of my friends Tmaxx RC car and the cleaning process at the end of a fun day....

Ya, but thats the whole point. The thing that gives this thing such incredible performance , is its light weight. Throw back on the weight, and its just another car.
Old 11-14-2006, 10:31 AM
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If they used a K20 in the Atom before, does that mean I can use this V8 in my TSX?

Old 11-14-2006, 10:33 AM
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Give me a turbo K20 Elise over that anyday. I'm sorry, but that thing doesn't even look like a car besides the fact that it has 4 wheels. To me the best there is is the Elise/Exige. Go any lower, and might as well just get a bike.

I know a guy who thinks the Elise is just a brand name go cart.... no resale value. I wonder if he's seen this car yet.
Old 11-14-2006, 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Ken1997TL
The Honda K20 version is street legal here. Their American HQ is in Oregon
wow! Had no idea that the atom was street legal in the states as well!

This is the guy I would buy in a heartbeat for the track provided I had enough $$ and provided it was reasonably safe. Enzo performance for regular people prices.

That V8 setup is tits
Old 11-14-2006, 10:51 AM
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I'd kill myself within 13 seconds of driving that.
Old 11-14-2006, 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
Give me a turbo K20 Elise over that anyday. I'm sorry, but that thing doesn't even look like a car besides the fact that it has 4 wheels. To me the best there is is the Elise/Exige. Go any lower, and might as well just get a bike.

The Atom is in a whole different class than an Elise. An Elise lapped the Top Gear test track in 1:35.6, but a 300HP K20 Atom did it in 1:19.5. In other words, the Atom would lap an Elise in 6 laps.

By comparison, the Enzo did it in 1.19.0. The video is on YouTube if you search.

No bike on the planet would be even remotely close. Sure they're fast in a straight line, but when you're limited to two contact patches, there's no hope they can break as deep or corner as fast.

Last edited by Dan Martin; 11-14-2006 at 11:00 AM.
Old 11-14-2006, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by mantis23
I'd kill myself within 13 seconds of driving that.
Me too, but it that's how I want to go.
Old 11-14-2006, 11:11 AM
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yea this is not much different than strapping a JATO rocket to your back.
Old 11-14-2006, 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Ken1997TL
The Honda K20 version is street legal here. Their American HQ is in Oregon
the US version comes equipped with the Ecotec 2.0L SC

http://www.arielatom.com/index.php?o...=137&Itemid=30

Introduced in 2004 on the Saturn ION Red Line, the Ecotec 2.0L SC (supercharged) also powers the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged coupe. It is compact and lightweight (see specs), and its Eaton M62 supercharger adds 40 percent more power to the Ecotec 2.0L engine compared to a naturally aspirated version. The M62 supercharger utilizes a helical roots compressor and integral pressure control and produces a maximum of 12 psi of boost. The boosted intake flow exits into an all-new matched intake manifold with an integral air-to-liquid heat exchange intake charge cooler system. A compact single-track, six-rib belt supercharger drive system utilizes a linear tensioning device to further strengthen the already impressive system performance and durability. A microprocessor manages the M62 supercharger, fuel, direct spark delivery systems and the engine’s 68-mm electronic throttle control (ETC) system. ETC delivers outstanding throttle response, improved reliability and better integration with cruise control electronics for greater overall performance and driveability.
Old 11-14-2006, 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Ken1997TL
The Honda K20 version is street legal here. Their American HQ is in Oregon

Are you 100% sure it's street legal?
Old 11-14-2006, 11:52 AM
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Ecotec is gay... wtf... why can't they use the K20 here too?
Old 11-14-2006, 11:57 AM
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Doesnt seem street legal to me. Then again, its at least as safe as a bike.
Old 11-14-2006, 11:59 AM
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I see them in Newport Beach, they are street legal...the one I see has the K20 in it.

Last edited by FutureBagdA4; 11-14-2006 at 12:02 PM.
Old 11-14-2006, 02:18 PM
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You CAN get the K20, but there is a waiting list... supply issues apparently.

And yes it IS street legal.
Old 11-14-2006, 03:16 PM
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k20-equipped would get my cash
Old 11-14-2006, 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Ken1997TL
You CAN get the K20, but there is a waiting list... supply issues apparently.

And yes it IS street legal.

That's odd. It's not hard to find a motor to throw into an RSX
Old 11-14-2006, 03:48 PM
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I'm actually seriously considering one next summer, I've arranged to take a spin next week.
Old 11-14-2006, 03:53 PM
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Whats the price on one of these things?

Mike
Old 11-14-2006, 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
Give me a turbo K20 Elise over that anyday. I'm sorry, but that thing doesn't even look like a car besides the fact that it has 4 wheels. To me the best there is is the Elise/Exige. Go any lower, and might as well just get a bike.

I know a guy who thinks the Elise is just a brand name go cart.... no resale value. I wonder if he's seen this car yet.
It's more of an experience than a car. You're not going to find anything closer to a road-going F1 car than this or a similarly lightweight and uncomfortable kit car.

If you're worried about resale values, go buy some bonds instead. You don't buy booze because you think its price will appreciate over time; you buy it to get shit-faced and plastered. Same thing here.
Old 11-14-2006, 04:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Ken1997TL
I'm actually seriously considering one next summer, I've arranged to take a spin next week.

Sweet! What's the price tag?

I really love these things.
Old 11-14-2006, 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by mrsteve
That's odd. It's not hard to find a motor to throw into an RSX
You mean, it's not hard to find an RSX to steal a motor from. I kid, I kid ...

Re: street legality, http://auto.howstuffworks.com/ariel-atom.htm
Looks like you have to build it yourself so it counts as a kit car, but if you buy it pre-built it's track only.

And Google says the price is around 36k for a base model; I didn't feel like signing up to find out.

I wonder if I could just buy a base model without the engine, and cannibalize my car for parts ...
Old 11-14-2006, 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan Martin
The Atom is in a whole different class than an Elise. An Elise lapped the Top Gear test track in 1:35.6, but a 300HP K20 Atom did it in 1:19.5. In other words, the Atom would lap an Elise in 6 laps.

By comparison, the Enzo did it in 1.19.0. The video is on YouTube if you search.

No bike on the planet would be even remotely close. Sure they're fast in a straight line, but when you're limited to two contact patches, there's no hope they can break as deep or corner as fast.
Here is the video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CtDsAGd7uj8
Old 11-14-2006, 04:27 PM
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Looks like $35-75,000
Old 11-14-2006, 04:28 PM
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Is the Atom really street-legal?
If the Atom looks like a racecar and runs like a racecar, is it really legal to drive one on U.S. highways? First, let's define "street-legal." Street-legal simply means that a car meets certain government standards for motor vehicle safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) establishes and enforces these standards at the federal level. States may impose additional laws or regulations that further govern what vehicles are allowed on the road.

To be street-legal, an Atom must be built as a kit car. That means everything, including the engine, is shipped to the owner in pieces. An optional road pack, which includes turn signals, a horn, rear tail lights and headlamps, is also available. The owner assembles the car in his own garage, being sure to follow all appropriate, state-mandated vehicle safety guidelines. Otherwise, the Atom is sold as an off-the-road-only vehicle -- not legal on the highway, but perfectly comfortable at the local track.
Old 11-14-2006, 04:59 PM
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Hell, I bet building it is half the fun... Well in this case maybe 40/60

Mike
Old 11-14-2006, 05:06 PM
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If I make bank, this will be my first toy, and I would by the K20 engine with all the goodies. I'll even drop 50 pounds to pull out the most performance I can.
Old 11-14-2006, 05:52 PM
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Couldn't you argue that you are just paying the Brammo Motorsports to put the kit together for you? Brammo doesn't manufacture the parts... they just put it together right? Therefore still street legal.
Old 11-14-2006, 07:23 PM
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Ive been thinking of picking one up myself in a year or so. I would deffinatly have a honda motor in it though. I wont want a ecotec


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