The vehicle is powered by the Honda Civic Type R’s K20Z engine, which now delivers 270 hp (the unit originally came with an output of 240 hp - on the Atom). However, the powerplant hasn’t become a follower of the forced induction religion, staying true to its natural aspiration belief. This means that we can enjoy benefits such as a screaming 8,700 rpm peak power point, as well as a linear power delivery.
So, let’s see what the unit can do. The mill catapults the Atom to 60 mph (98 km/h) in 2.9 seconds and, if the driver keeps squashing the pedal on the right, it allows the toy to hit a top speed of 240 km/h (149mph).
The vehicle comes with components that are borrowed from the V8 incarnation of the Atom, using goodies such as adjustable dampers and stiffer springs. It also uses a beefier braking system.
Only 10 units of the vehicle will be built, as it has been created to celebrate 10 years of Atom presence on the market. Each will come with its distinct livery and numbered plaque. The custom track animal comes with a pricetag of around EUR60,000 ($80,000).
"We found that both ourselves and Mugen had the same meticulous attention to detail in the build of our cars and their engines," says Simon Saunders, the head of Ariel. "One Ariel technician makes a car, one Mugen technician builds an engine. The result is a truly hand made car with a hand made engine."
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