Ariel Atom 3S

 

The 3S is one of the more recent versions of the street-legal race car known as the Ariel Atom. It was added to the Atom lineup in 2014 and is offered and manufactured for the Americas through Virginia-based TMI AutoTech Inc. Powering the Ariel Atom 3S is a 2.4-liter turbocharged i-VTEC four-cylinder from the Honda Civic with 365 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque mated to a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 155 mph. Many Ariel Atoms driven on the street feature windshields and wipers for protection from the elements, while the drivers of examples without windshields will wear racing helmets when driving them under any circumstance to protect themselves from the elements. Besides the lack of a windscreen, the example displayed in this post adds a massive, extended rear wing and a front lip spoiler for improved aerodynamics, along with two small yellow wind deflectors in front of the driver and passenger seats. Since there aren't any traditional doors on the Ariel Atom, the driver and passenger have to climb over the roll cage to access the vehicle's interior. A removable steering wheel and four-point racing harnesses are standard on the Ariel Atom 3S, while six-point harnesses are optional. In addition, the seats are fixed in place, and anti-lock brakes aren't equipped on the Atom 3S.

Pricing for the Ariel Atom 3S starts at close to $90,000. Exotics on Broadway 2023 marked the first time in several years that I have seen an Ariel Atom up close and the first time seeing a more recent version of the Atom in person. Before this show, the previous Ariel Atom I remember seeing up close was an older version at a car show in my local area. Overall, the Ariel Atom 3S is an awesome track toy and race car for the road. This is the type of vehicle that not many folks may know of or about and may be super impractical for everyday use, but doesn't need a big engine or a ton of power to have a blast driving it in any setting.

You can further support my blogs by checking out my merch (sample pictured below): CPF Store