Ariel Motor Co announce the Atom 3.5 with 315bhp supercharged engine

Ariel has announced the latest generation of its exoskeletal sports car, representing a natural evolution on from the current Atom 3. The new Atom 3.5 incorporates several design, detail and power upgrades that Ariel hope will retain its title as one of the fastest and most fun lightweight sports cars that money can buy.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Atom 3.5 is the new lighting system, now featuring twin projector headlights, with LED turn signals at the front and LED turn and stop/tail lights at the rear.

Ariel reasoned that with more owners using their cars on the road, it was time to upgrade the Ariel’s lights to make it just as useable at night as it is in daylight. Other visual changes include a new front bonnet.

A restyled front bonnet, twin projector headlights and LED turn signals are some of the exterior changes.

The Atom’s chassis has also been upgraded, based on the V8 and Mugen Limited Edition models – with increases in stiffness and torsional rigidity. Revised engine mountings and new dampers work with these modifications to provide a compliant ride on the road, at the same time as improving the Atom’s balance and traction out on the track.

Honda’s 245bhp 2.0-litre iVTEC K20Z4 engine is retained in the Atom 3.5, but power is now increased for the supercharged version to 315bhp due to changes in the power plant’s intake, mapping and fuel system.

Instrumentation now features an all-new digital LCD display, containing the usual speed, RPM, gear indicator and shift light functions. With this new display system, a data logger can now be added to provide real time information to the driver including lap times, G force, position sensors and various other downloadable information.

But part of the joy of owning an Ariel Atom is the way it can be customised for each owner, and the new Atom 3.5 offers even more ways to personalise the car to each individual’s needs.

The new Atom 3.5 can be ordered with either a 245bhp naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre engine or 315bhp supercharged version.

Simon Saunders, Founder and Managing Director, said “We have become the Saville Row of the automotive world. Not only is the Atom one of the fastest (point to point) cars in the world, but also one of the most unique. There are things we can do in low volume that larger manufacturers simply cannot, so every car is individual to each customer and to exactly what they want.”

The new Atom 3.5 is available to order now, either directly from Ariel Motor Co or from one of its appointed dealers in Europe, USA, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.