The sequential gearbox is as rapid as anything on the road today, clutchless, shifting up and down the gears with a seamless, addictive smack that affords you vital time to concentrate on the road ahead. And what you wanted to do, apparently, was go fast. The Atom 500 responds with staggering immediacy, like it’s just told you what you wanted to do, ahead of time, quicker than your own nervous system. The tiniest of input, be it steering, throttle or brake, has profound and dramatic effect. When the last thing you drove was a leggy Italian rental, the differences are so extreme as to be comical. It’s difficult to step straight from any normal road car into an Atom. The best way not to stall and endure hearty humiliation here is to keep the courage and revs up in equal measure, so with a firm prod of right foot I leave the gravel lay-by and turn hard and fast onto tarmac. With a gaseous slap, first gear engages, and as the clutch comes up, with barely a tenth of the available rpm in effect, the Atom surges forwards. Unencumbered by the luxury of soundproofing, driver and drivetrain are terribly, brilliantly intimate in any Atom, but a 500bhp V8 bubbling and spitting in this sort of proximity is like nothing this side of single-seat racing. Even at idle, the sound is replete with menace. A few seconds of churning turnover and wallop, the US-built Hartley V8, this maniacal mating of superbikes, punches into life. Strapped in, hands soft on the wheel, fingers feeling for the paddles, quickening breath steaming up the visor, someone reaches forward, flicks a toggle marked ‘ignition’ and plunges the black, rubberised starter button. The digital display scrolls through a myriad of on-board information, but keeps the vital bits – gear indicator and arcing graph of a rev-counter – to the fore. The 500 has small and beautifully crafted carbon paddles on either side of the wheel, and beyond them toggles for things like traction control, launch control and even wet and dry settings. The cockpit is still Ariel’s less-than-no-frills affair, but the demands of power and race readiness have ushered in a dizzying array of switches and buttons behind the Alcantara- trimmed steering wheel. A huge rear wing finishes what is still a remarkably compact creature, glinting gently in the weak morning sun. These are complemented by gold five-spoke alloys, separated by enormous ducts for the intercoolers, sat low and wide on both flanks. Next is the familiar Atom nose, and then a first glimpse of that unique tubular steel, finished this time in a burnished gold. The first thing to appear is a front wing, an F1 style, all-carbon affair that is so low to the ground it threatens not to clear the stony surface it’s heading for. If there is anywhere on earth where a road-going V8 Atom belongs (and we’re not sure there is), this is probably it.Īt an ungodly hour, in a dusty lay-by up a winding road, the Atom is slowly lowered from the back of Ariel’s bright red transporter. ![]() The sunburnt hills here are constantly alive with mid-engine madness, cars being shaken down before delivery to expectant punters the world over, and top-secret prototypes being put through their blistering paces. has reviewed the content to ensure it is relevant.We’ve taken the Atom to Modena, home of the modern supercar, whereabouts the likes of Ferrari, Pagani, Lamborghini and Ducati peddle their wares. In some cases, will work with advertisers to bring you relevant content that has been made possible by advertisers and their partners. ![]() Opinions expressed within editorial material are those of the writer and not necessarily Ltd.įor further information, see our Terms & Conditions. If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away No More to Pay", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges. When purchasing a vehicle, always confirm the single figure price with the seller. Pricing guide current at the time of writing editorial. In most cases, attends new vehicle launches and other events at the invitation and expense of vehicle manufacturers, importers and/or distributors.Įditorial prices shown are a "price guide" only, based on information provided to us by the manufacturer.
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