• HOME
• 
• AUTO LISTINGS
• 
• FINANCE
• 
• NEWS
• 
• DIRECTORY
• 
• REVIEWS
• 
• FORUM
• 
• BLOG
• 

2006 Ariel Atom 2 Road & Track Test

Like No Other Car

Looking at an Ariel Atom 2, one thing becomes abundantly clear. If you enjoy the climate controlled confines of a Porsche, Aston Martin or Lamborghini, the Atom isnt the car for you. The Atom 2 is a beautiful piece of engineering art that hides a beast that seems to be invisible under the see-through tubular framed exo-skeleton. In a word, the Atom is a devastatingly fast car, with every attribute designed for pure performance. None the less, the most powerful part of the car is the experience of driving one.

Be warned, if you meet someone who owns an Atom, best to keep at a distance and not be lured into action, where your car will likely be

Better than a sport bike? (Photo: Keanan Stanley, American Auto Press)

embarrassed. As a racer, each time I test a new performance car I think to myself, "This car would be so much better if the electronics, power gadgets, luxury items and safety equipment were stripped out." It was due time that a maker like Ariel, executed the very concept.

The biggest variable that determines a cars performance is its power to weight ratio, with

The Atoms birdcage-like framework makes it ultra-rigid and extremely light. (Photo: Keanan Stanley, American Auto Press)

everything else added to create a great sports car. Today, even the smallest of low production car manufacturers are trying to please a mass market, building cars that go beyond performance. Sports cars are built heavier for prestige and comfort, requiring larger engines and therefore a trade off; a lack of pure driving pleasure.

Unlike the performance cars in

Its a work of art from any angle. (Photo: Ariel)

its price range, the Ariel Atoms appearance is more like an unfinished work of art than a car. It is simplistic in every way, bringing transportation back down to the basics... performance basics that is. Its a race car confined by no rule book, yet follows the minimal requirements to make it street legal, depending on the local transportation regulations.

The one rule with the Atom 2 is; if it doesnt make it go faster it doesnt need to be part of the car, and what you

Handling is absolutely outrageous! (Photo: Keanan Stanley, American Auto Press)

get is a car thats single most purpose is to go faster than anything else. Nothing comes close to the cars performance, engineering and fun to drive characteristic; it can quickly become an addiction. The more you drive it, the harder it is to get out.

When riding in an Atom 2, be prepared for a face to face battle against the elements. Without goggles, sight is impossible beyond 55 mph. Eye protection is also necessary to protect against small debris, rain and bugs, as without a

Theres not much between the road and the Atoms passengers. (Photo: Keanan Stanley, American Auto Press)

windshield everything approaches at a dangerous velocity. Owners need be indifferent to swallowing a few bugs. An element more commonly associated with motorbikes, Atom drivers will experience the open air more so than sport convertibles. I would even go as far to say it could be better than a bike, simply because its faster on a twisty track and without a helmet you really do get the wind in your hair.
While rounding a tight corner lined with trees, it suddenly dawned on me that the only thing between me and the

Acceleration is otherworldly. (Photo: Keanan Stanley, American Auto Press)

scenery were two steel tubes with reinforcement connections. A sudden feeling of vulnerability overcame me, my mind focusing on what might happen if I were to slide off the road. However, the size of the two side tubes, as well as the reinforcement in the chassis quickly eased any ill thoughts. I realized that for the passionate driver the feeling of exposure would only increase the adrenalin rush, making for a more exciting experience.

Studying video reviews of the U.K. version couldnt prepare me enough for the strain of force this car puts on the human body. From a standing start,

At high speed the Atom is extremely stable. (Photo: Keanan Stanley, American Auto Press)

accelerating from first to fourth gear I was thrust back into my seat, actually feeling as if my face was pushed into the back of my skull. My chest compressed, head snapped back, eyes pulled open, and mouth flapping about like a bloodhounds hanging out the window of a Lear Jet; one glance in the rearview was a sorry sight.

With the supercharger at full screw, a violent low pressure area is created in front of the F1-style air intake located between the seats. The wind blasted me from the front, the engine sucked air from the side and the musical whine of the supercharger created a surreal environment inside

No wonder its so light. (Photo: Keanan Stanley, American Auto Press)

the car. Trying to hear a passenger talk is nearly impossible with this kind of buffeting, and if they insist on rambling a quick snap of the throttle ends all recognizable speech.

The handling ability of the car is well adjusted to the extremely powerful acceleration, rewriting the physics of grip. Just when I thought I had the car on the edge of adhesion, Id hit the throttle and it would leap out of the corner with no complaint. Even if traction were to get a little squirrelly, some creative throttle, a little steering input and the L.S.D. would have had me leaving the corner looking like a hero.

The chassis is what makes this car what it is. Unmatched rigidity, light

Clean, simple open-wheel racer design makes for superb road holding. (Photo: Keanan Stanley, American Auto Press)

weight, and an overall work of art, it gives all the feedback anyone could ever ask for; not to mention keeping the car absolutely flat in the corners, as well as giving a driver the confidence to do things not normally attempted in anything else.

The two side tubes, which make a three dimensional curve unseen in the automotive world, giving the car its unique look with no body panels to obstruct the view of the driver, makes it possible to actually see the tires. This means there is no guessing of where the car is in relation to the road. I could actually see that the inside tire was hanging 4 inches off the tarmac in the apex of a tight corner. With seemingly quarter-of-an-inch-accurate

Drive it hard and the Atom will reward you. (Photo: Keanan Stanley, American Auto Press)

cornering at any speed, its as though the Atom 2 will do anything you want it to. This only gave me more confidence, and exploring the limits of its capabilities became an adventure in itself.

Page:  1  2

AUTOMOBILE REVIEWS BY MAKE

Acura  Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo