Hmmm... I'll keep my Audi S4
Posted on 04/22/2006 6:38:13 AM PDT by saganite
Supercars -- once exclusively the stuff of high-speed racing circuits and billionaires -- are going mainstream. From Ford to Ferrari, major auto makers are introducing ultra-high-end vehicles that rewrite the rules on cost, speed, and sexy design.
(snip)
Blazing along with the pack is the Ariel Atom 2, the stripped-down soul of a supercar. Unlike its classmates, the Atom doesn't come with an intimidating sticker price or luxury trim.
Heck, it doesn't even come with doors, a windshield, or windows. It's a lean engineering marvel that has stunned speed freaks, racing fans, and the automotive press. (snip)
IMPRESSIVE LIST. The Atom 2 features a Honda Civic Type-R engine at its core. Honda Civic may ring pedestrian to the casual car fan, but the Type-R is seen by many experts as the world's best four-cylinder engine in terms of untuned performance and overall reliability.
In the Atom, its 220 horses will propel you from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. What's more, it's capable of cruising comfortably at 160 miles per hour.
(snip)
UNBEATABLE PRICE. If the Atom is capable of staying with the pack on performance, handling, and even looks, its price tag sets it far apart. Prices range enormously, owing to the Atom's custom-design manufacture.
But the vehicle starts at a mere $35,000 and fully decked out only fetches $75,000. It's a steal compared with other supercars that start in the low six figures and quickly climb into the millions.
(snip)
The first U.S. Atom shipped last month to late-night host and noted car collector Jay Leno. In America, which accounts for about half of the worldwide supercar market, the Atom design has been licensed by Brammo Motorsports, based in Ashland, Ore. The carmaker expects to sell just shy of a hundred models stateside this year.
(Excerpt) Read more at biz.yahoo.com ...
Hmmm... I'll keep my Audi S4
--from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
That's cookin' with gas.
They just keep revising the Lotus Super Seven design...
It's not a matter of getting into it, but more like putting it on.
Uh... no thanks.
I still like my 2005 C6 Vette. :-)
Well, it is a sportscar, not an SUV. Putting it on is the whole point. I guess it's not for everyone but I certainly wouldn't mind having one. Neither does Jay Leno apparently.
If anyone's ever seen this car on the show top gear, you'll agree it's one amazing machine. Search top gear on google video and you can find it if you haven't.
I expect you would! I would love to meet you on the track with one of these things though. It would be a hoot.
It's amazing car (especially with the Honda engine) but good luck get a tag for it and more and more tracks are banning it.
Can't drive it on the street and you can't track it; I wish them luck.
Why are tracks banning it?
Although they picked a good engine, I would recommend that anyone that wanted to go fast, cheap buy an IBM K1200R motorcycle for about $12K.
And I like my 2001 C5 Corvette as well.
LOL! My top end would stomp it (~190), however due to the weight, its 0 to 60 tops my ~4 seconds.
OTOH, I have a windshield heads-up display, 6 way heated seats, dual climate controls, GPS Nav display with touch screen, DVD, CD, iPod, active handling, active traction control, "smart" (active shocks), antilock brakes, 14" crossdrilled and slotted rotors, aluminum/magnesium frame, carbon/kevlar engine parts, HID lights, composite body panels, keyless entry and start, voice controls (it talks back as well), XM satellite radio, Onstar, indexed windows, etc. :-)
Whoohoo! Nice car! :-)
Well, the article did say it CRUISED at 160 and I didn't see any mention of top end. The article also said it bested the Porsche Carrera something or other. I say it would be a race.
Of course, you could listen to your Ipod but you would need to wear your Bose noise cancelling headset!
From the article: The Atom's ratio is roughly equivalent to a Dodge Viper, bests Porsche's top-of-the-line model, and goes toe-to-toe with the fastest Ferraris.
Pretty good bang-for-the-buck, looks cool too.
Looks like a blast.
Would be fun! :-)
BTW, I am going to be tracking the Vette. I added stiffer sway bars and the cross drilled 14" rotors for that very reason. :-)
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