Ariel's new 1000 lbs 500hp motor

[camaro_guy]

I’ve always had a thing for the Ariel Atoms…scratch that, I’ve always had a thing for all light weight driver oriented cars. The Ariel Atom happens to be towards the front half of that list in terms of quality and fun. Yet somehow fun just is never fun enough for some people. 300hp and 1000lbs would be a formula for a heart attack to begin with, but now Ariel is coming out with a version sporting 200 more hp. Over the top? For sure. They are hard at work building a custom V8 from two Suzuki Hayabusa engine blocks to create enough power needed to permanently reshape your face (no windshield here). This car will be a pain machine. The expensive kind of pain you’d need to spend $160,000 USD for.

Disclaimer: I have a bit of a thing for Hayabusa modded V8 engines…I’ve already come really close to using one in a project car (until reality struck me). Some day I hope I have the extra money to waste to actually make it happen. Via Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/08/v8-powered-ariel-atom-500-could-cost-at-least-160k/)
http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/3205/23/33010011043_large.jpg

[austinj06]

I wonder if they will twin turbo that beotch! Would be cool in a shifter cart!

[VPT]

Turbos suck.

[SgtRauksauff]

only if you use those lame Honda engines... ;)

--sarge

[Ten2doyle102]

That motor just looks mean! :) That's gonna be a crazy fast car!

[abot316]

that was done like two years ago, some English hot rodder swapped in a Hartley V8 in an Ariel. I had pics in my old computer.

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/02/09/hayabusa-v8-engine/

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/09/18/hayabusa-v8-powered-ariel-atom-by-dennis-palatov/

video of a running busa V8
http://jalopnik.com/300848/its-alive-hayabusa+derived-v8-tested-in-ariel-atom

http://www.h1v8.com/page/page/1562068.htm

[Evilatom]

Press releases indicate that the 500 hp will come from the motor naturally aspirated. Cost on this car seems high, especially since a handful owners of the more lowly atom of the 4cyl variety are making between 450 and 500 hp after around $5000 in engine work (for either the Ecotec motor or the Honda). Probably comes with every piece of carbon fiber available, an option which which would have doubled the cost of the car when I ordered mine.

Zero to sixty time over the 300 model is supposed to be .4 seconds better, and zero to 100 time reduction of .8 seconds. The 500 model adds launch control (and I'd assume, some sort of stability/handling control also) since it will be desperately needed. The 300 model is traction limited as it is. I tend to think this car will be bought mainly for prestige because it would take a lot of talent and experience to extract its full potential on the track without wadding it up.

I'm not current on all of the details, but there's quite a discussion taking place on the Atomclub forums about the car (up to 26 pages so far, thread is here (http://forum.atomclub.com/index.php/topic,6862.0.html)).

[ragdoll]

If I could swing it, I wouldn't buy it... no way you could use that power unless you're very very talented. And I am not.

[benben84]

It would be amazing to ride in that's for sure but there's a point when power turns the car into scary and then it's only driven in straight lines fast. I bet it would suck your balls up into your stomach though! Maybe even your throat!

[StephaniEvo]

^^Kinda like what your avitar did.