Brace Yourselves: The Ariel Atom Is Set To Get NSX-Inspired Hybrid Punch
The products of Ariel are already well known for being facilitators of sheer and utter four-wheeled lunacy, but they could be set to get even more mad. Just imagine for a moment the searing acceleration offered by the various Atom models, but supplemented with the instant torque delivery of an electric motor. Exciting thought, no? And it’s set to become a reality in the coming years thanks to Ariel’s relationship with Honda.
The small British firm already sources many of its power plants from Honda, so it’s only natural that the hybrid technology showcased by the NSX will eventually make an appearance on the Atom, as Ariel boss Simon Saunders explains to Autocar. “The technology in the NSX is cutting-edge and expensive, but it will work its way down the food chain to the hot hatches…At that point, it becomes achievable for us to use in the Atom,” he said.
There are more attainable hybrid powertrains in the Honda stable which have been considered by Ariel, but none have the performance credentials the company is after. “For Honda it’s more about emissions, but for us it’s mostly a performance thing,” Saunders explains.
So, it’ll be some time before a hybrid Atom is made, but from the sounds of it, it’ll be well worth the wait.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Here we go. Yes!!!!!!😃
Whoever drives it on a track will need immediate face reattachment and plastic surgery afterwards.
We know who’s gonna test this when it comes out
This is … Electrifying.
You can say this is a SHOCKING development
Eh. Won’t it just get heavy and expensive? It seems cool at first, but I personally hope they sell this alongside the original.
By the time this actually happens, the batteries and hybrid tech won’t be as expensive as it is. Following the current trends of technological advances.
Now the V-Tech could really kick in hard!
But isn’t the point of the Atom to be ridiculously light for sheer acceleration AND handling? With hybrid power comes batteries and whatnot. Honestly not as hyped as I thought I would be at an announcement like this.
yeah, but the atom has appalling weight distribution. having batteries at the front and the back can help that. plus moar downforce bro. GTR is fast around corners because of its weight, it wouldn’t corner if it was light. (According to Nissan)
The lotus Elise begs to differ with that logic. Less mass means the body of the vehicle experiences less inertia force and therefore can change direction more radically. Sure handling is dependent on other things, but weight does make a big difference (see any lotus, the mx5, so on). Furthering, the downforce created by weight has a tiny effect in comparison to the big wing and splitter - that’s why racecars go for weight reduction bro and rely on their aero kits
hybrid tec always makes for its weigth. and you wont need 3 motors for the ariel. maybe one in the front is enough.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
What?
Honda not calling their hybrid technology E-Tech is depressing
But isn’t SH SH-AWD much more fun to say?!?
VEtec kicked in yooo
Why?
Light car, small engine, where’s the problem?
Why the need for (heavy) hybrid tech?