10 Nov 09 11:28
Ariel Atom V8
If you want scintillating performance then you'll have to pay a high price if the new Ariel's Atom V8 happens to be on your shopping list.
The British sports car maker will put a £120,000 price tag on its new high-performance machine when goes on sale in the UK in spring next year.
If you do opt for the V8 you will, however, be safe in the knowledge that you own the most hardcore Atom ever and that you'll be in a very exclusive club: only 25 will be built and 19 have already been sold.
It will be powered by Ariel's own 3.0-litre V8 that will deliver 500bhp. It weighs just 500kg and has a potential 0-60mph time of around 2.5s.
The car is now in the final stages of development. Originally it was expected to be around the £100k mark but the high costs of the engine and the gearbox have pushed the price up. The latest price estimate makes the V8 four times the price of a standard Atom 300, which will set you back £30,000.
