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"             Ariel Atom      Price     est $35,000-$75,000       Engine     2.0-liter 4-valve/cyl I-4       Horsepower     210 bhp       Transmission     6-speed manual       Weight     est 1200 lb.       Words can&amp;#039;t do it justice. Designer Simon Saunders&amp;#039; intent is visually obvious. His rampant disregard for practicality and his favoritism toward minimalism are clear. Even the name &amp;quot;Atom&amp;quot; alludes to the basic and pure nature of this automobile. For a performance junkie, the Atom is everything a car needs to be and nothing it doesn&amp;#039;t.   The facts: 1200 pounds, 210 horsepower from a Honda Civic 2.0-liter Type-R engine mounted amidships, rear-wheel drive, pushrod double A-arm suspension, mild-steel tube exoskeleton chassis, sticky rubber, Alcon brakes, no power assist anywhere, Tilton pedal cluster, quick disconnect steering wheel with integrated shift lights, a siamesed dual-bucket seat \u2014 and the lack of a body, roof or doors. That&amp;#039;s it. Anything else would be frivolous.   The car in our photos is European-spec. It has the power-to-weight ratio equal to that of a Dodge Viper. No other automobile is quite like it, for it is akin to riding a motorcycle. The sensation of being in the elements is initially intimidating, but once you&amp;#039;ve overcome this and realized that the handling is superb, the Atom induces driving nirvana.   Repeatedly taking a marked 35-mph corner for our photo shoot had the Atom quickly up to three times the legal limit. At one point trail braking induced a locked inside tire. The result was a fluffy cloud of smoke that wafted through the chassis and across my lap-possibly too much front brake bias? Oh well, the brakes and suspension are easily adjustable to suit an owner&amp;#039;s taste. Although the setup was not perfect for me, the composure and quickness were outstanding. Unlike driving other high-horsepower cars, you experience more than just an increased rate of speed. The Atom is an open-air adventure that hits all the senses like an angry acupuncturist.   If the idea of sensory overload, minimalism and a 4-wheel motorcycle is your cup-o-tea, check out what Brammo Motorsports is doing. It is the official U.S. manufacturer for the Ariel. Owner Craig Bramscher has sourced engines from GM. The 2.2-liter or supercharged 2.0-liter Ecotec that powers the Cobalt SS is being fitted and, depending on specified engine package, will be producing between 140 and 300 horsepower. Before you roll your eyes and say you&amp;#039;d rather have the Honda Civic Type-R engine, let it be known that the 2.0-liter Ecotec, built in Kaiserslautern, Germany, has been used in various drag racing and Bonneville speed cars with horsepower numbers in excess of 1000. But if you really want the Honda engine, it is also available.   To reach the exhilaration rate of a 1-liter superbike with roughly a weight-to-power ratio of 4:1, all that&amp;#039;s needed in an Ariel Atom is 400 bhp. If you think you want one, you&amp;#039;ll need to get in line. Jay Leno is to receive the first one. For the base car, prices are being set near $35,000 with the most expensive coming in around $75,000. The Atom is technically sold as a track-only car; however, there are kits to enable an owner to assemble one, thus allowing the vehicle to be registered as a kit car. A bit of a hassle, but worth the effort. Still want one? Me too. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a11600/ariel-atom/>