Ariel Atom 500: extreme supercar gets a V8

Ariel Atom 300 is an amazing car. It has no roof, nor doors, no windshield and can take you from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.5 seconds.

Now this British manufacturer is working on an extreme version called Atom 500. Power will come from a V8 engine that develops 500 horsepower.

Weight of the car will be around 500 kg (1,100 lbs). Potential 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time will be around 2.5 seconds making it as fast as $1,8 million Bugatti Veyron.

Price of the Ariel Atom 500 will be around $160,000 (115,000 euros). This does not seem much if you compare it to a Veyron, but if you compare it to an Atom 300 it is three times more.

Main reason for such difference is the new 3.0-liter V8 engine. As Ariel will produce their own V8 engine from two Suzuki Hayabusa blocks then engine cost will be around $50,000 (36,000 euros), plus a new custom six-speed another $17,000 (12,200 euros).

Ariel Atom 500 will go on sale within a few months and will be produced in very limited numbers.

Via: Autocar