Ariel Atom

[Richard230]

I hope my memory isn't faulty, but I seem to recall that before Brammo decided to build electric motorcycles, they were thinking of electrifying an Ariel Atom (and I think they actually did produce a prototype). When I read that, I wondered what an Ariel Atom was. Now I know. Top Gear, the funny and fun British high-performance car show tested an Ariel Atom V8 in their latest episode and raced it on the same track (at the same time) against a new BMW S1000RR street-legal superbike. Here is the link to the 12-minute video of the Top Gear segment. I note that Top Gear has retained a new Stig (which is their anonymous professional race car driver) : 



If I was wrong about the historical link between Brammo and the Ariel Atom, I apologize. But it is still a fun episode to watch. If I was right, you can imagine what an electric version of the Atom might have been like.

[protomech]

Brammo bought the rights to produce Atoms in the US. They used the GM Ecotec 2.0L engine instead of the Honda K20 used in the UK.

I don't know if Brammo was ever looking at an electric Atom; one gentleman did create an electric Atom, the Wrightspeed X1 based on the AC250 motor in the Tesla Roadster. Ian Wright, Wrightspeed's founder, was also a co-founder of Tesla FWIW. I recall reading that he intended to create a production X1, but put his plans on hold when the economy collapsed.

Other interesting super-light EV projects:

DetroitEV's Electrolite Roadster based off of RCR's SL-R kit car.
Palatov Motorsports dp1/e track prototype, based on an earlier gas design. See also the dp1/e info page, which has one of the most honest and compelling justifications for EVs I've read.

[Brammofan]

You are, indeed, correct.  As Brian has mentioned over on HellForLeather.com, this particular Atom is not one of the Brammo-made cars, although he designed the wing.

More information about the Brammo history including its early supercar efforts, can be found on Wikipedia in a particularly well-written article.

[Richard230]

Thanks Brammofan. That was an interesting article. At least my memory was right about the Atom and Brammo having a history.

My understanding is that the car in Top Gear uses two Suzuki Hyabusa engines stuck together in some way to make a very powerful V8. I am not at all sure how that was done, but the reason probably had something to do with Honda not wanting them to use their engines any more.

I have to tell you, I wouldn't want to race a car on a motorcycle on the same track at the same time. One mistake by the rider or the driver could result in mayhem.