Mtn Busa

I'm ready to replace my XK8 vert. (C2S garage-mate) with something a little more like the Hayabusa I sold recently.

Has anybody driven one of the new "sport-cars" like the Atom, etc.? Are any of them licensable in the US?

I've done some preliminary i'net searches and can only find references to Aerial Atoms being sold and legal here.

Thanks,

Tony

ltc

IIRC, Rennlist member 'dp35' has an Atom
Send him a PM

Mtn Busa

Thanks!

ltc

At one time Brammo Motorsports (Oregon IIRC) was the US manufacturer/distributor for the US Atom.

It now seems to be a company in Virgina:
http://www.arielatom.com/sales/sales

Bob Rouleau

The Atom is a blast to drive and street legal in a number of states. The latest Atom 3 with Honda power is outstanding!

Mtn Busa

Thanks all. It sounds like the Atom may be the only choice if I want to license it for road use. I'll keep researching.

Bob Rouleau

Contact the guys at TMI via the arielatom web site. The cars are now built in the USA right at VIR. Check out the Ariel Atom Experience. Gives you a chance to drive one for a day on a race track. Major fun.

Mtn Busa

Thanks Bob. I'm kinda' booked this spring, but a trip to VIR may be in the cards later this year.

I've been on the website and am hooked.

Bob Rouleau

I drove the new 3 at VIR and I'm hooked too. Should have mine in late March. A total blast to drive and stupidly fast. 300 HP and 1300 lbs, what can I say but wow

dp35

Here's an interesting article from Evo Magazine, including the KTM X-Bow, Atom, Lotus 2-11, and Caterham R500.

Based on my Atom experience, the Evo article seems fairly accurate. Some of the other stories written have described the Atom as "scary", which IMO reveals the author's lack of talent/experience.

An Atom really is like nothing else, and if you aren't ready for that, it could scare you. That doesn't mean there's a problem, its just really really fast. I'm sure any fast race car is the same way, except they aren't street legal.

TMI is the company building the Atom 3 at VIR, and they are the same group that did the Atom Experience. The new Atoms built by TMI will be identical to the UK versions, unlike the Brammo Atoms. So if you read articles in European magazines about the Atom 3, you can apply that info. to the new US Atoms too.

vinceqn

Ive seen the Atom driving to work in Irvine Ca every now and then, there have been a few different road legal race cars here. I'd love to see the KTM or any 3 wheel car in person. The VW (or should I now say Porsche/VW hehehe) and Peugot concept both look amazing, If anyone wants to offer me a ride in one ill have a nice lunch ready to repay you