Right, well if you haven’t bought your loved ones anything by now, chances are you never will. That being said, there’s still time, and this last gift is so amazing we had to dedicate the last two days to it.
Days 23-24: The Ariel Atom.
Form following function, race bred design and truly uncompromised performance. This is the Atom. Minimal bodywork, moulded to the highest standards possible, consisting of separate composite panels reduces weight, minimises costs and allows easy access for adjustment of most settings. Developed in the wind tunnel to generate front and rear downforce, with special attention paid to underbody air flow, the bodywork provides stability and precise steering at all speeds.
With its wide track the Atom can accomodate 2 large adults in safety, comfortably solving the space problems usually found in vehicles of this class. The composite twin seat unit, deisgned to be set up for the driver, offers high lateral support and a comfortable driving position.
On the dash housed in a minimal console the compact racing instruments feature stepper motor driven needles with clear, white on black, easy to read faces, LCD readouts for secondary information and all legally required warning lights for road use. A remote, keyless immobiliser allows for an ignition on/kill switch and starter button, ergonomically grouped together with other controls around the steering wheel.
The suspension used in the Atom is unique on a road car and has been derived from current single seat race cars. The suspension is by double unequal length wishbones and inboard, pushrod operated dampers, front and rear. The system features outboard rod ends all round for total adjustability and inboard rubber/metal bushes for compliance and comfort. Coil over dampers front and rear extend the adjustability of the car allowing the Atom to be quickly set up for road or track use or to individual preferences.
The Atom has been designed to be used on the road or the track. Race derived features include adjustable front/rear bias brakes with the option of remote operation while driving, twin brake master cylinders, hydraulic clutch, one and a half turn competition steering rack, adjustable allow pedals and ram air system. It is this thought for detail and lack of compromise that makes the Atom so totally unique.
Even in the standard 1.8 form the Atom’s power to weight ratio exceeds that of a 911 Porsche. The Atom power is from the Rover K Series as used in the MGF and Lotus Elise. Proven in road and competition use the engine and gearbox combines reliability and tuning options with economic servicing and practial ownership. With the performance emphasis of the Atom geared towards acceleration and handling, the power to weight ratio even in standard form exceeds that of most sports cars. In tuned form, capable of giving up to up to 500 bhp/tonne, the Atom approaches the levels of pure racing cars.
Available from firebox.com.
And to play us out, for this final time… Merry Christmas everyone.
James
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