I see ugly news headlines in the future

 

Would you feel confident in it if it were the Atom that endo'd at MSR rather than the GT3?

 

As confident as in a tin top car? Of course not. As confident as in an open wheel car? Sure. They thing looks to be just as safe in a rollover as the FM's and FC's racing around in SCCA every weekend.

 

Except that they are going to be going WAY faster than any FC or FM.

 

Unlike single-seaters, the occupants heads are outside of the protected area. A rollbar that spans the entire width of the car would be a start.

 

I sat in one in the showroom and didn't feel comfortable with the open sides.

 

Exactly what I was thinking

 

Isn't that kind of an oxymoron?

 

Someone mentioned that the US cars have a different rollbar, but I would be very concerned about that aspect. Also, the frame seems to be the two rails down the side. How well is that connected to the tub, where the seats mount? There is no intrusion protection against something like a suspension part coming through the side. I also wonder that the front crush space looks like.

It may be great, but the photos raise a lot of questions.

 

Very nice new car Mike - is that yours or just a photo place holder until yours arrives? If yours, have you had it our for real yet?

 

Mark, the car that showed up at our club has a rollbar that was optioned for the US. It actually goes from one side of the chassis to the other and is not a "hoop", but more squared off. I still see the potential for head/arm to get crushed from a violent rollover. It passed tech inspection, but would have me a little nervous riding shotgun.

 

That must be a seriously stressed 2.4L V8. The Radical SR8 uses a 2.6L V8 to make 360hp, and 'claim' 455hp from a 2.8L motor. Anyone who knows Radical knows their 'claimed' HP numbers are always a little optimistic. And that 455hp motor has a rebuild interval of something like 20 hours. Hell, motors in F1 rev to 19,000 RPM to make, what, 850 or so HP from 2.4L.

-Matt

 

There gonna supercharge it, but thats still are large claim. Talk about driving a rocket.

 

Timely post, less than 24 hours ago I was at the Moroso track in S. Florida with the Atom Experience (http://www.arielatomexperience.com/) - "platinum" version, advertised for more advanced drivers and emphasizing seat time.

Every driver that showed up there was a serious car guy, no doubt. I personally went there for a test drive as I am considering one.

Got around 120 track miles, plus some laps in the right seat with instructors.

The folks organizing this (and now taking over the N. American market for this car) are really top guys, everyone there is a serious car guy. Quality folks.

The cars we drove were the 245hp ones, but at 1,400lbs and very little drivetrain loss it is safe to say that this is the fastest car I've ever driven. I know they sell a 300hp version but I don't know that it would have made a difference in a track.

There are some nagging but correctable (and maybe subjective) issues such as pedal placement and throttle modulation.

I am not a fast driver but I feel equal drivers (me) the Atom could lap my GT3 like if it were a minivan.

Lucky for me I will likely add an Atom to supplement my ever less streetable GT3 this year.

In any event the message is that the Atom is a bona-fide, well built car that is likely to surprise any racer that gets a chance to drive it on a track.

 

Man that must be fun, but my so dangerous x100!