Ariel
Ariel is an independent British sports car maker based in Somerset. The family-run firm only produces one car, the Atom, a stripped-down, track-focused drivers' car to rival Caterham and Lotus.
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Ariel Atom
The Ariel Atom is one of the most extreme road cars money can buy. It has no roof or doors, and has only recently become available with a windscreen. It's built like this for a reason: so that the lightweight chassis makes the most of the engine's performance. The driving experience is sensational, thanks to its lightweight construction and agile handling. The rear-mounted 2.0-litre petrol engine is from the Honda Civic Type R, but because the Atom is so light, it's a lot faster. If you want more speed, there's a supercharged version of the same engine, while the hugely expensive Atom V8 is pretty much the fastest car on the road. Despite its minimalist looks, prices are high, as the Atom is built by hand from high quality components usually found in the world of motorsport. Of course, the major downside of the Atom is that it's hugely impractical - it's only really suitable for the well off, who want a car for sunny days at the race track.
