The Ariel Atom 3 is a unique, open-cabin track car that has pioneered a niche market for those seeking race car-like performance on a much more reasonable budget.
The Atom 3 is not a federalized model suitable for road driving in the U.S., so it's quite a pricey "track toy." However, it's a real bargain compared to building and operating a race car.
Overview
While the Atom is built by Ariel itself for European consumption, in the U.S. Ariel has tried a few different partners, and most recently has given exclusive rights to build and sell the track car through a company called TMI AutoTech Inc., based at the Virginia International Raceway, where the cars themselves are assembled.
Power for the Atom comes from a Honda-sourced 2.4-liter four-cylinder unit that pairs with a six-speed close-ratio syncromesh transmission and a limited-slip differential. The four-cylinder produces 230 horsepower.
While that power figure may not wow you by itself, the Atom 3 weighs a scant 1,350 pounds and can rocket from zero to sixty mph in under three seconds, according to Ariel.
Stock brakes come in the form of PBR single piston units, which can be upgraded to Wilwood Dynalite four-piston brakes, or even more pricey Alcon track brakes with four pistons as well.
The suspension comes standard with non-adjustable Bilstein shocks, while adjustable units can be had for a bit more cash. If that doesn't tickle your suspension fancy, customers can also pay to upgrade to chromoly aerofoil wishbones and race-grade rod ends.
One of the most unique design aspects of the Atom 3 is the tubular chassis which not only supports the car, but replaces nearly the entire body that would be used on any other vehicle. This exposes virtually every component to the elements, from the front brakes to the engine, but also drops the car's curb weight to just half a ton - making it far faster and more nimble than most supercars.
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