They did make the SRA for a time, Spec Race Atom. IIRC it was a simpler version of the car with a naturally aspirated K24. A guy showed up with one at the last track day I did years ago and laid down similar lap times to the fastest cars of the day overall. Full prepped race cars with 500hp vs a ladder with a Honda engine 😂
I drove an Atom 3 about 10+ years ago in Snohomish county Washington. It had a supercharged chevy cobalt engine that made close to 300 hp. Was the ride of my life and i think its the closest to what a 50s f1 car must have been like but on better tires. An experience I will never forget.
@@848evo4 Hey easy there buddy.. The Ecotec was all we had available here at the time due to regs and it was a riot to drive. What was the V8 like to drive? I'm sure it was absolutely manic with 500 HP and such a high rev limit.
That was lazy editing. I'm sure Hammond, Clarkson and May have all misspoken during reviews, but then they would cut it and reshoot. It was a commitment to quality and it will be missed.
@@JohnKickboxing ( i might be wrong im not an expert ) but from what i know turbo lag is the time it take for the turbo to spool and build pressure so most turbo have a bit of lag some more than others, turbo can be spolled with exhaust when mounted that way and also iv heard electronically assisted turbo are a thing in wich an electrical motor makes the turbo spin. like i said im not an expert but id guess it has a bit of turbo lag.
I want one - I'm age 84 - guy said to me one time ... "petrolhead" "it's a disease" "no known cure" - still drive daily, Mazda 2, 5spd MT - KYB Gas Shocks, UHP tires - love it
Brilliant Ollie, the best motor journalist out there making these cars relatable, no ego. Drifts and donuts by detuned racing drivers tell me nothing I need to know about the cars. Keep up the brilliant work!
Sir Ollie looks genuinely happy. I can actually feel the pleasure he is having while driving this beautiful thing. Thanks for making this a shared experience especially for us mere mortals who will never have a chance of driving this in our lifetimes. This is what i love about Top Gear. Will always be a fan. Thank you! Really!
Sure but it’s already fun on the type r haha, I own a fk8 and I get to listen to this sound track all day and the fwd set up is actually ridiculously fun especially on track. When I got to non power based tracks where handling is being tested, my car gives 911’s a run for its money and it’s fun to see a 60k(cad) car do that to a 250k (cad) beast
Palatov Motorsports did most of the testing of the Haybusa V8-powered Mk1 Atom about a decade ago. I was lucky enough to be terrified on a track run in the thing. He's used the research to design his own ICE and EV powered cars.
Impressive that Ariel have loaded the car down with all the computing aid weight to go along with the ridiculous power numbers. It makes a ton of sense but they're definitely moving into Radical territory. I suspect a Le Mans prototype halo car is in the works.
These videos make me miss Jeremy, Richard and James. The cars just keep getting more amazing and there's just nobody today who can find the words to do the cars justice. When Clarkson raises his voice he does it with so much intention, so much restraint that it has real force. In contrast this guy pretty much yelled his entire review.
Who would have guessed that original crew were as good as they were. Jeremy was the major difference. I used to get entertained and only mildly irritated sometimes at his attitude. The scripting must have been ad libd for him. Very hilarious content and tone and inflection. Quite brilliant Mr Clarkson is, I have to say. He funny as hell. Sharp as a pin. They did the right thing. Dont bite the hand that feeds. BBC caught a major wake up. So stupid some of these large organisations can be. They lost a massive asset. Great for history books and for those brilliant minds that are being exploited. Have to say, it has hapnd in my career. Companies literally closed after 2-3years. No-one ever told me abt it. I heard it through the grapevine.
Everyone tells me my fk8 sounds horrible, but then there’s me listening to this exact same soundtrack every single day. Idk, hard to not dislike all the turbo whooshing sounds haha. I love it
Seems like quite a personal decision. BAC seems more like a scalpel compared to this but both would be incredibly fun and for me would just depend on my mood or the particular day.
"Oh my word, what a thing" Now if that doest sum up this little beauty, i dont no what will. This just looks like so much fun, but on the edge of insanity, which i love. I want one!
I was putting down 335hp to the wheels on my atom 3 turbo. Was a super fun car. I was going to give more boost :) I think 400whp is the right #. I haven’t driven the 4 yet. Curious to see how much better it’s gotten.
Possibly the best thing ever to come out of Somerset, other than the accent, Cheddar cheese and about 40% of all comedians. One of the very few vehicle companies still entirely owned and made in the UK.
If I was rich, this will be my Go-To ... because even if it's expensive, you get to experience the Formula 1 sensations (Weight, Reaction, Height ... etc)
This reminds me of when Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the original. Sadly I doubt that it will come to the US. I'd be very happy with 300hp in this. Thanks.
As a fan of Honda and type r of course I think it’s time for an awd 400 hp automatic new type r them shifts sound amazing please Honda show them how it’s done !!!!
I love these things, and I love honda engines, but I would really love to see one of these with a EA855 DAZA from an RS3 in the back, the only thing that could possibly improve on the experience one of these offers is a properly exotic exhaust note.
This car looks like it has absolutely zero crash impact protection. Crumple zone especially. In fact the frame looks so rigid you are likely to lose your head at high speed impact. Pity you cant watch your head rolling down the road still with the helmet on. I love it but wouldnt ever get one.
The mechanical noises are what I'm going to miss when cars go electric. I just don't have any love for electric cars because the soul and character of a car come from the engine. I hope this is a big seller for Aerial, and we see them on the roads.
Seems like that would be a bit heavy. I’d probably be perfectly content with an NA K series motor built up to rev so I could enjoy the building rpm as long as possible.
k is king.. as of right now there's no better engine than a honda k series old or new.. ls engine maybe.. but k beats it in weight.. 5 cyl audi engine will spend more time in the mechanic bay than on the track
If any man had a dream of becoming an IndyCar or F1 driver, this is as close as you were going to get if you did not achieve that dream due to life circumstances
Bro definitely got his words and figures mixed up driving this. My stock MX-5 makes more than 100bhp per tonne, and this thing has a lot more power and a lot less weight than that does. And I’m quite sure the word he was looking for, instead of magnanimous, was intuitive. Great car nonetheless though and if I had the disposable income, I’d have one yesterday.
3:40 excuse me, but the true fear with lightweight cars from small companies [emphasis on small companies] is the maintenece cost and serviceability. This is far from being expensive to purchase as a lamborghini, which might leas one common chap to think it's a perfect compromise between style and performance, or the best cost-benefit ratio for a budget track-day car. But even if you can consider 140k a bargain, I can only imagine the cost to mantain this toy, specially if it needs parts, as these things often do. Put some more tens of thousands on the purchase, you can get a used ferrari with the same hazard and potential for maintenece cost, while also getting a world class brand and style that's also gonna work well outside tracks.
No actually. I had one and hardly cost me anything other than a service every year which was £500. As with all lightweights they are very easy on components because they are not lugging around extra weight. Fantastic thing and I miss it terribly
Ariel needs to have a one-make racing series.
They did make the SRA for a time, Spec Race Atom. IIRC it was a simpler version of the car with a naturally aspirated K24.
A guy showed up with one at the last track day I did years ago and laid down similar lap times to the fastest cars of the day overall. Full prepped race cars with 500hp vs a ladder with a Honda engine 😂
I think they might
There used to be one called Atom Cup. It last ran over a few years ago
I was thinking the same thing.
Thank You... that's EXACTLY what I've been saying ever since I became aware of the Ariel Atom years ago!!!
Only in Britain would they design an open air cockpit car in a country which is cold & rainy 350 days a year.
Most F1 cars are designed here too...
Are you saying if I lived in the UK, I wouldn't be able to go topless most of the year? That would be hell for me! 😔
London has less rainfall than Istanbul. Turkey probably has better road surfaces than the UK though.😀
Most F1 races are outside of the UK.@@thesupremekai1980s
@@thesupremekai1980s but they only race there once
I drove an Atom 3 about 10+ years ago in Snohomish county Washington. It had a supercharged chevy cobalt engine that made close to 300 hp. Was the ride of my life and i think its the closest to what a 50s f1 car must have been like but on better tires. An experience I will never forget.
I loved the engine and power band way more than the Honda motors
@@stiggy60426 Did you have the chance to drive an Ecotec example of the atom?
@@Underpantsniper I have drove all versions except the 4, including the V8, the ecotec were turds compared to the Honda powered cars
@@848evo4 Hey easy there buddy.. The Ecotec was all we had available here at the time due to regs and it was a riot to drive. What was the V8 like to drive? I'm sure it was absolutely manic with 500 HP and such a high rev limit.
@@848evo4which ecotec was it? The V6 with 375hp? If so, I highly doubt it was bad.
There’s no way Ollie misspoke that badly and said it must have 100hp per ton. It’s 750hp per ton. It’s insane.
Glad I'm not the only one who heard that 😂
He meant a thousand, for sure.
I thought the same
That was lazy editing. I'm sure Hammond, Clarkson and May have all misspoken during reviews, but then they would cut it and reshoot. It was a commitment to quality and it will be missed.
@@Matt-z6q
Good point!
That gearbox sounds brutal in the best way, and the turbo noises are perfect 🚀🚀
Hey, anyone here can tell this car has turbo lag or not?
@@JohnKickboxing ( i might be wrong im not an expert ) but from what i know turbo lag is the time it take for the turbo to spool and build pressure so most turbo have a bit of lag some more than others, turbo can be spolled with exhaust when mounted that way and also iv heard electronically assisted turbo are a thing in wich an electrical motor makes the turbo spin. like i said im not an expert but id guess it has a bit of turbo lag.
Reminds me of the one mounted on Kawasaki H2R ... this whistling is music !
what a fabulous little thing. potential for 500+ horsepower in a car that weighs 600kg is just insanity
They had 500hp a decade ago lmao
@@noncog1yea I wish they made more with the v8, but boosting a Honda engine is definitely cheaper easier and more reliable
@@reed785M the Honda engine is much better than the V8 was, that engine was a hand grenade but it did sound sweet and was great at roasting the tires
@@noncog1 yes but that was from a V8, this from a turbo 4 cylinder…
@willlashley1378 what is the function of the word "but" here?
I want one - I'm age 84 - guy said to me one time ... "petrolhead" "it's a disease" "no known cure" - still drive daily, Mazda 2, 5spd MT - KYB Gas Shocks, UHP tires - love it
I drove a 220hp Ariel 2. It was absolutely MENTAL. I was eviscerating 996 Turbos. I cant imagine what thats like.
nbfl mx5 owner here. this is dream car stuff. forget them 1.7 tons hypercars.
Exocet
thanks professor...@@noncog1
Approx 666 bhp/tonne. No wonder it’s such a beast…
Definitely not 100hp per ton!!
@@stan110782I picked up on that too, I guess when your driving something that good you can get a little flustered.
@@stan110782 yeah i don't know where he got that from
@@videofrat3115 I reckon he meant 1000hp per metric tonne, which isn't *too* far off
That's a *devilish* amount of power to weight ratio
What a car 🤯 Gotta say, Ollie's the best guy on this channel. Top quality as always.
No he isn't. He's definitely the wrong presenter to review this car.
@@Tony11442 elaborate please?
@@crescentfuze he means Harris, the answer is always Chris Harris
I'll probably never drive one, but I'm so glad it exists
If i could choose a toy for trackdays, especially to take to the nurburgring THIS is it 😮
Brilliant Ollie, the best motor journalist out there making these cars relatable, no ego. Drifts and donuts by detuned racing drivers tell me nothing I need to know about the cars. Keep up the brilliant work!
Sir Ollie looks genuinely happy. I can actually feel the pleasure he is having while driving this beautiful thing. Thanks for making this a shared experience especially for us mere mortals who will never have a chance of driving this in our lifetimes. This is what i love about Top Gear. Will always be a fan. Thank you! Really!
the definition of speed
I’ve got my headphones on and you absolutely nailed the audio on this one 👏
The Gotland Ring is such a fantastic race track! Looks like a day of fun :D
Thank you for answering my unasked question!
It's awesome, we go there every summer for driving and vacation. The beaches on Fårö island are beautiful.
More people should use that Honda engine in a RWD format. The world needs it.
Sure but it’s already fun on the type r haha, I own a fk8 and I get to listen to this sound track all day and the fwd set up is actually ridiculously fun especially on track. When I got to non power based tracks where handling is being tested, my car gives 911’s a run for its money and it’s fun to see a 60k(cad) car do that to a 250k (cad) beast
I still love the Atom 500 V8. The sound of a double Hayabusa is intoxicating.
I've driven the turbo Honda K20C powered Atom on track, they're absolutely savage.
Can't recall Ollie ever being that thrilled by a test drive.
What an energetic and exciting video, totally gets across the vibe of the cat. Great job fellas.
Palatov Motorsports did most of the testing of the Haybusa V8-powered Mk1 Atom about a decade ago. I was lucky enough to be terrified on a track run in the thing. He's used the research to design his own ICE and EV powered cars.
lol, that engine was a grenade
That bar is going to knock all your teeth out 😂
Impressive that Ariel have loaded the car down with all the computing aid weight to go along with the ridiculous power numbers. It makes a ton of sense but they're definitely moving into Radical territory. I suspect a Le Mans prototype halo car is in the works.
These videos make me miss Jeremy, Richard and James. The cars just keep getting more amazing and there's just nobody today who can find the words to do the cars justice. When Clarkson raises his voice he does it with so much intention, so much restraint that it has real force. In contrast this guy pretty much yelled his entire review.
Who would have guessed that original crew were as good as they were. Jeremy was the major difference. I used to get entertained and only mildly irritated sometimes at his attitude. The scripting must have been ad libd for him. Very hilarious content and tone and inflection. Quite brilliant Mr Clarkson is, I have to say. He funny as hell. Sharp as a pin. They did the right thing. Dont bite the hand that feeds. BBC caught a major wake up. So stupid some of these large organisations can be. They lost a massive asset. Great for history books and for those brilliant minds that are being exploited. Have to say, it has hapnd in my career. Companies literally closed after 2-3years. No-one ever told me abt it. I heard it through the grapevine.
7:00 “You don’t have to drive it like an utter lunatic”, says the man who drives this open top 400hp beast of a car with just a wool cap…
It’s the new boutique designer helmet , very chic ! lol
The one to have Ariel Atom 500 - 500bhp V8, 0-60mph in 2.3 seconds, 550kgs, 909 bhp/tonne.
Need a Carwow drag race against something
Beyond disappointed that Harris isn’t driving it.
Been building vw kit cars for years like these. Light weight, adequate HP and torque. Always a fun time
Everyone tells me my fk8 sounds horrible, but then there’s me listening to this exact same soundtrack every single day. Idk, hard to not dislike all the turbo whooshing sounds haha. I love it
This car is probably the closest experience to a motorcycle without being one.
Until you ride a motorcycle
@ICEV Oh for sure. I'm a bike guy, but to those who won't ride a bike, this is probably as exciting as it gets on 4 wheels
BAC Mono looks way better
@@ICEVYeah!
4 cyl 1.000Ccm feels 2X faster than this.
Being strapped in a bucket seat with a cage and 4 grippy wheels has nothing in common with racing a motorcycle other than being on a racetrack
This thing is to dam cool! Alright but enough playing around lets see what Speed Factories 2500hp honda 4 banger can do in this monster😂
I can see and feel the improved chassis balance and dynamics. BTW, excellent display of vehicle control by Ollie Marriage.
Don’t think it’s possible for a car to be more fun! Well done
Gotland Ring! Great Track, would love to drive that there!
Great piece, Ollie. My question is: Assuming I don't care about the potential to carry a passenger, this or a BAC Mono?
Seems like quite a personal decision. BAC seems more like a scalpel compared to this but both would be incredibly fun and for me would just depend on my mood or the particular day.
If you dont care about 2 seats then the bac mono
"Oh my word, what a thing" Now if that doest sum up this little beauty, i dont no what will. This just looks like so much fun, but on the edge of insanity, which i love. I want one!
Ariel did a great update
I was putting down 335hp to the wheels on my atom 3 turbo. Was a super fun car. I was going to give more boost :) I think 400whp is the right #. I haven’t driven the 4 yet. Curious to see how much better it’s gotten.
Good to see Top Gear has taken safety learnings from their experience with helmets and open cars
huh?
he has his hat on
Safety beanie
Ariel is my favorite brand
best power to weight
and decent price for performance
What an incredible car, looks so much fun!😱
Possibly the best thing ever to come out of Somerset, other than the accent, Cheddar cheese and about 40% of all comedians. One of the very few vehicle companies still entirely owned and made in the UK.
In a world of EVs what a car. Also maybe one of the best sounding vids on here as well 😆
His reaction @0:39 is the same as when you fall out of a building.
Gotland Ring is the place to go if you want both a driving experience of your life, and a very nice vacation. We go there every summer.
If I was rich, this will be my Go-To ... because even if it's expensive, you get to experience the Formula 1 sensations (Weight, Reaction, Height ... etc)
I got a ride in a first generation Atom on a track, it was a new car for the owner, so he was basically cruising while passing everyone else. LOL
Lets be honest, this car is expensive, over the top and plain silly, my god I want one
This reminds me of when Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the original. Sadly I doubt that it will come to the US. I'd be very happy with 300hp in this. Thanks.
it's been in the US for awhile
As a fan of Honda and type r of course I think it’s time for an awd 400 hp automatic new type r them shifts sound amazing please Honda show them how it’s done !!!!
I love these things, and I love honda engines, but I would really love to see one of these with a EA855 DAZA from an RS3 in the back, the only thing that could possibly improve on the experience one of these offers is a properly exotic exhaust note.
Fabulous! Great episode, thank you!
Ive always wanted to drive an Ariel! Hopefully one day i can
Wow. That looks like a lot of fun!
This car looks like it has absolutely zero crash impact protection. Crumple zone especially. In fact the frame looks so rigid you are likely to lose your head at high speed impact. Pity you cant watch your head rolling down the road still with the helmet on. I love it but wouldnt ever get one.
Ollie you definitely sold this car to the masses 😅it came across as good as it looked 👌
Talk about an insane sled, this is one that a “normal person” could buy and enjoy
Awesome to try and experience that thrill with you.
‘So what do you want sir?’
‘I want you to mess around with the internals, can you do that?’
‘Yes’
If i had a spare £140k this would be it 💯 perfect 🤩
Hahahaha I've always wanted one of these. Watching your childlike visceral reaction was AWESOME!!!! Well done!
The mechanical noises are what I'm going to miss when cars go electric. I just don't have any love for electric cars because the soul and character of a car come from the engine. I hope this is a big seller for Aerial, and we see them on the roads.
Bla bla bla....
100% Jonathanpowell1470
@@sylvaind.6786 odd response...
I mean electric motors make sound, but not everyone likes the sound of it
Wish Atom would make a version with the Audi 5cylinder
i`ve been saying that about the BAC Mono for years......these cars are to special to sound like 💩
Donkervoort has that...and lightweight
Yup. Which is why they'd never put a shitty Audi lump in it.
Seems like that would be a bit heavy. I’d probably be perfectly content with an NA K series motor built up to rev so I could enjoy the building rpm as long as possible.
k is king.. as of right now there's no better engine than a honda k series old or new.. ls engine maybe.. but k beats it in weight.. 5 cyl audi engine will spend more time in the mechanic bay than on the track
Ohlins TTX is 50% why it’s great.
If any man had a dream of becoming an IndyCar or F1 driver, this is as close as you were going to get if you did not achieve that dream due to life circumstances
This with the triple-motor twin-turbo V6 hybrid SH-AWD from the NSX would challenge dedicated race cars as far as performance...
I had a go in the three at a track day it was terrifying
Imagine Clarkson doing that... Epic Savagery
Where is this track? I love the juxtaposition of it weaving between the windfarm.
If I had money that would be the kind of car I would invest in, to have a really good time on tracks !
Fantastic video! Chapeau that man!
Now that’s what I call real fun.
The blow-off valve sounds amazing
Gosh I wish the type r sounded like this
8:20 - power to weight ratio of 100hp per tonne???? That sounds like an understatement 🤣
I think he meant 10x that!
That blow-off-valve ❤
Very pretty track in the old quarry on Gotland, Sweden.
I just want to see a Track battle between Ariel Atom 4R vs BAC Mono R
When a car looks like a two seater F1, you know it's gonna be fast.
That looks like an absolute riot
Mindless-Bending performance. :-) I'd love to have a go!!
RIP TopGear. Only the trio era will be missed.
If you ever go out in one of these you will never ever forget what it did to you.
Anyone know what the filming location is for this one? Looks like a brand new track!
Avengers: Infinity War trailer music at the beginning was 🔥
Bro definitely got his words and figures mixed up driving this. My stock MX-5 makes more than 100bhp per tonne, and this thing has a lot more power and a lot less weight than that does. And I’m quite sure the word he was looking for, instead of magnanimous, was intuitive. Great car nonetheless though and if I had the disposable income, I’d have one yesterday.
It is a motorbike on 4 wheels.... !!! I like it , no roof !!!
i like how the driver used left foot braking 👍
I have an atom with an regular honda K20 with 480bhp and the engine is 100% orginal.
Everything needs to be perfect with that power to weight ratio. And it is.
Great review
So does this thing compare to a BAC Mono?! if so which one to get?! Why compare it to an Aston or McLaren?!
Si el ariel atom de 365hp es una bestia no se diga este de 400 hp no me imagino debe ser un verdadero monstruo 😮😮😮😮
I really like your helmet , it’s stylish ! lol
Ahh Top Gear's infamous sound mixing employee is back
3:40 excuse me, but the true fear with lightweight cars from small companies [emphasis on small companies] is the maintenece cost and serviceability. This is far from being expensive to purchase as a lamborghini, which might leas one common chap to think it's a perfect compromise between style and performance, or the best cost-benefit ratio for a budget track-day car. But even if you can consider 140k a bargain, I can only imagine the cost to mantain this toy, specially if it needs parts, as these things often do. Put some more tens of thousands on the purchase, you can get a used ferrari with the same hazard and potential for maintenece cost, while also getting a world class brand and style that's also gonna work well outside tracks.
No actually. I had one and hardly cost me anything other than a service every year which was £500. As with all lightweights they are very easy on components because they are not lugging around extra weight. Fantastic thing and I miss it terribly