The Atom has received a lot of updates since its original incarnation several years back. One thing has remained true, though: it’s one insane car. That tradition of insanity continues with the Ariel Atom 3S, the newest update to the unbelievably road legal exoskeletal vehicle.
Based on the latest-generation Atom 3, it’s, basically, the same ride, but packed with all the best performance equipment money can buy. You know, kind of like tricking out your Atom 3 all in one go, so you don’t have to bother with incremental level-ups piece by piece over time.
The Ariel Atom 3S houses the same 2.4-liter Honda engine as the Atom 3, but turbocharges it to 365 horsepower, the second most powerful of the fleet right after the Atom 500. That change is enough to blast it from standstill to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds, as well as covering the full course at the Virginia International Raceway in under two minutes. Key updates include a five-stage traction control system that can be adjusted from inside the cockpit, additional cooling radiators in aerodynamic twin side pods, Alcon four-piston brake calipers with two-piece floating discs, new JRI adjustable dampers assisting the F1-style pushrod suspension, and an optional Sadev 6-speed sequential race inspired gearbox.
A full LCD display now sits in the cabin, displaying data for speed, RPM, gear position, water temperature, and fuel level. It also comes packaged with a full glass windscreen, so you can enjoy high speeds without the wind getting directly in your face.
Available now, pricing for the Ariel Atom 3S starts at $89,975.