Connect 4

ARIEL ATOMS

After 18 years and 1800 cars, Somerset’s spi ing spartan sports car reaches its fourth generation

The new one

Ariel Atom 4 (2019)

Looks familiar but this is an all-new car, with fresh chassis, suspension, brakes, bodywork and the latest Honda Civic Type R turbo engine. Key stats are 320bhp playing 595kg for 0‘100mph in 6.8sec and £39,975. First deliveries next spring.

The scary one

Ariel Atom V8 (2010)

Few climb out of Atoms asking for more power but somebody somewhere must have, because this 25-o–, £125k+ missile was the result. V8 delivered up to 500bhp in track trim, yet ace setup meant remarkably un-scary handling.

The irst Honda one

Ariel Atom 2 (2003)

The earliest Atoms were powered by Rover’s K-series engine

but 2003’s Atom 2 began the Honda partnership that continues to this day (the Nomad and Ace motorcycle also use Honda power), with optional supercharging for added ‹izz.

The one they made earlier

LSC prototype (1996)

Atom began as the Lightweight Sports Car (LSC), a project initiated by company founder Simon Saunders while working as a university lecturer. Finished car was shown at the 1996 British motor show – three years later it was in production.