Looking like the creation of a retired scaffolder with an engineering passion, the Ariel Atom is more akin to contemporary sculpture than anything else. Study the beauty of the welding, where tubes meet for example; then step back and ponder the whole machine. Perhaps Mad Max springs to mind? Whatever, this has to be one of the most outlandish sportscars ever.

Well I for one love bizarre and minimalist machines. But this might just be minimalism too far! Kerb weight is 496kg and there is simply no fat on the bone. The option list does not include a heater, let alone windscreen or vestigial hood. Hell, this makes my favourite Caterhams positively sybaritic and spacious, but more of that anon.

Build Quality

Once you’re accustomed to the naked formula Ford looks, you notice the quality of components. Alcon brakes and monoblock callipers feature (optional), with custom inboard Bilstein dampers and special Dunlop formula R tyres and 16” wheels (option). Besides the substantial, bronze welded chassis there are lovely “Tilton” aluminium pedals and pedal box, further keeping the weight down. Other quality items abound, be it the stainless steel exhaust and manifold or “SPA” twin, easy to read dials. Everywhere you look you will find top quality bits and these all create the high calibre product that is the “Atom”.

Skimping is a word that does not exist in MD Simon Saunders vocabulary. There is something terribly British about the fellow and what they are achieving. He even runs a Defender TD5 and an Aston Martin. Hurrah! It is so enervating to find small British companies flourishing like this, confounding the experts.

Purpose

You cannot get away from the fact that this is one focused, track day car. The road car label comes second, but the company are filling a niche offering something much rawer and appealing. Quite how many buyers wish to drive a car so closely related to a motorbike may be debatable. But in this day and age of sanitised, safe everything, people are bound to kick against Big Brother and crave such a car. Donning motorbike weatherproofs and a full-face helmet adds to the frisson.

Climbing into this 220 bhp projectile is child’s play. Hold onto the back of the double moulded seat, clamber over the tubing (which has scratch protection film) placing feet onto seat and slide yourself in. Slightly easier if you remove the quick release steering wheel. Now comes the difficult part of clipping the four-point harness together and tightening everything up. Remove gloves and quietly fume inside your full – face. Once in, you won’t wish to get out every five minutes that’s for sure!

The newly enlarged 10 gallon, aluminium tank (sitting safely behind the bulkhead) will get you to most track day venues without stopping, but make sure you have visited the smallest room before departure! That one piece moulded seat slides on runners and has a bolted pin holding it in place. The steering wheel is fixed so it is important to tailor to sir’s exact requirements. I wish there was some lumbar support moulded in, but integral head restraints are spot on.

The handbrake is right by the tubing and difficult to get to when tightly embraced by the “Willans" harness. Neat racing like mirrors fall easily within reach and joy of joy, acres of footwell space await your plates, so ordinary shoes are no problem. Two pipes running down the middle of the floor take water to the tiny radiator up front. Beautifully clear dials (x2) sit directly in front of you, easily visible through the suede steering wheel (which has change lights built into the top section). How racing car is that for you!?

Light & Airy

A little blister is located either side of the dials, housing a few flick switches covering normal duties along with a rubber covered start button with key the other side. These pods are just a stretch too far for easy, telepathic operation. All around you is silver powder coated tubing with air drifting all about. Odd, very odd. There are slivers of bodywork if you can call it that. This amounts to a Concorde protruding snout and airbox / engine cover. That’s your lot. All part of the motorbike feel purposely designed in. Velcroed nylon panniers running along the sides are being developed, offering some vital ‘boot’ space.

Boot space such as it is, amounts to a titchy bin in the nose, behind the motorbike battery and fuse box.

When you see the car in the flesh you itch to drive it. Because of its’ nakedness you might feel anxious at first. Ensuring the “Toad” immobiliser is unarmed push that starter and welcome the lovely, rasping staccato bark of the Japanese spec Type R unit just behind you.

Performance

220 bhp and 496 kg equate to around 496 bhp per ton, providing enough thrills for most petrolheads. Ariel do offer a slightly tamer 160 bhp version, which would still get you to the office in double quick time!

Grasping the tiny suede steering wheel you gingerly set off, only to find a sharp, late biting clutch which can send you kangarooing down the road. Slowly get some heat into those slick like Dunlop’s (not easy in December) and feel the messages come flooding through the rim as you adjust to the weirdness of it all. The ride over bumpy British roads is very well contained, thanks to the unique Eibach springs and adjustable Bilsteins. Firm, but just compliant enough.

Pick up speed and the 1.7 turn’s lock to lock steering comes alive, writhing like a teasing lap dancer. The handling is neutral on the road inspiring great confidence. Push into a well known corner and it just hunkers down and slingshots you out the bend. With that deliciously telepathic steering, you begin to connect with this “Atom”. People not used to a 0 – 60 mph figure of 3.7 seconds will crawl out calling it “the atomic bomb”.

Quick!

Superbike junkies may call it adequate! Ariel are even planning a 280 bhp tuned version which should sate speed freaks, but believe me the standard model is just fine, safely taking you past most traffic and back before they knew you were there. At motorway speeds in December the wind chill factor comes in, freezing you quicker if not properly attired. Somehow a driver might keep warmer, as more blood courses round him as he concentrates on the job in hand. The photographer called it the “Atom FF”. Something to do with not dressing correctly and cold weather! Top speed is about 140 mph, which will feel like 160 mph! It sits quite happily at about 85 mph on motorways with plenty in reserve. Consumption may average out at 22 mpg driven with some gusto.

So the wind rips at your clothes and hooligan roundabout exits are not recommended, but could you drive for hours up a motorway? Not really. That wind again upsets the applecart. It gets under your full – face and tries to rip it off your head! So you adopt a slight head down style, which takes its toll on neck muscles after a while. You also miss some of the intoxicating induction roar with helmet on as you stretch it through each gear. The electric fan makes an awful noise in slow traffic, cutting in and out regularly, upsetting the whole sportscar ambiance.

Solid

Passing artics is fine and I felt less vulnerable than I possibly might in something akin to a Caterham. The main tubing is big enough to engender a safe, reassuring feeling.

Add to the fact that you sit down in this overhead lighting gantry on wheels with good forward visibility and you have nothing to worry about. Reversing however, is a complete bastard! All kitted up you can hardly see a thing. If ever a car needed park sensors as an option then this has to be it.

Also on a road car - and you may curse me for my nannyness - I would like to find ABS and traction control, even if they add some 2kg to the weight. I simply would not fancy connecting with an artic, having hit a patch of diesel coming out of a roundabout for example.

Comfy Version?

I also believe there's room in the range for a 3rd more road friendly version. A version with a centre console with cubbies to hold a mobile, wallet, bottle of water and filofax, plus a cigar socket to charge the ubiquitous mobile or run a radar detector. The clear perspex side panels and bigger wind deflectors are optional. As I write I was told they are planning an adjustable mini screen a la Healey 100 from the 50’s, which should be available in 3 months time.

Even so, you can bet your bottom dollar that such a positive, fast reacting company will carry on honing this unique, infectious road missile. The new VTec running gear is only some 10kg heavier with a better power delivery and so much more reliable than tuned K series models that increased loyalty is assured.

Weight distribution is a perfect 40 – 60% front to rear, giving better traction out of corners etc. Production is still 1 per week, but by November 2004 the new factory and showroom will be complete, ensuring 2 cars find their way onto the roads. Exports snaffle 50% of production, but 2nd hand values are far stronger than peaky, bike engined Westfields and the like. The average Type R car sells for £24,000 and the new baby bro 160 bhp model some £19,000 +. A 3-4,000 mile used example will cost about £17,500. Simon Saunders is also looking at introducing Atom driving days and maybe an Atom race series to speed development and eradicate glitches.

If you love bikes but hate oily roundabouts then try the bike with four wheels. The acceleration is stunning - you will be “atomised”.

testing

I wish everyone happy new year and thing go smoothly for you...

As for me i got poorer lol!!

is been weeks now and i guess i had dump blogging by then and i miss blogging but due to my life had been surround by people i guess i shall keep them secret.

is been quite a while i have not blog due to work and stress. I just pick up a new hobby like playing Hi-Fi stuff and AMP and T-AMP and stuff like that....

A stereophile friend of mine with $25,000 worth of sound-reproduction equipment in his house just went spontaneously gaga over the Sonic Impact T-Amp, a $30 15-Watt amplifier that "easily outperforms amplifiers that cost 100 times more." Apparently, audiophile reviewers (like this guy) (Google cache of previous link) took what was meant as a gimmick cheap battery-powered amp and have turned it into an overnight sensation, shipping thousands of units to a modder audience that are hacking their own aluminium enclosures and the like.
This amplifier is STUNNING. And the review could stop here. Considering shipping, customs fees, VAT etc you can pay 25-30 € max for this item (non-EU Countries, make your conversions). This means the T-Amp costs more or less than a Music CD. At this price, it should deliver a multimedia-like kind of sound and shouldn't even be considered on a HiFi mag like this one. I understand you can find it hard to believe but I can assure you I found it harder, being the skeptic and investigative guy I am.
Warning: this has been the most thrilling and incredible experience I've had with a component in, say, 25 years of HiFi listening. This website has existed since 1995, I've reviewed hundreds of HiFi components, inexpensive and ridiculously overpriced ones. I never - repeat - NEVER came across such a stunning piece of gear in all of these years.

i just bought KEF SPeaker Model is Q1 which is on sale now.. BOY they having promo and is just too bad they are made in China not UK!! =(

I guess they are a good speakers to start with and have been very busy lately due to hunting for a AMP which can plug into my iPod..

Review on the Q1 Spekers can be found below
http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/review_print.asp?ID=2455

Sintex 2005 going on and i been on course & work and play...

WTF..

Never been so pack in my life...

I need a hoilday!! yukies

>_^

Week ago i when to thailand to change my sex today, i wonder how is been fucked like!! Comeon baby F*** me...

Now i am a ladyboy Muhahahhaaaa.....

DUH!!

Just Kidding..

^_<

SSL10629
Originally uploaded by hplanet.

Diffrence btw iPod Nano & iPod 30GB!!

My iPod is on the right and after apple got lawsuit of the Nano got ton of scratch they had shipped in with the white iPod Pouch!!

Some cry & some hold back the tear as my father’s father (grandpa) pass away….

For me i was playing in GA2 inf map the just because i was taking his APC and he Nick "Pen Hat" was so piss that he use cheat to TK me and PB ban me on that server for a while.

I am still very, very pissed off about PunkBuster punishing me without just cause. And in my wild outbursts I have decided to investigate why exactly PunkBuster might ban someone from playing a game online. It seems a bit extreme to ban someone (in some cases for life, for all PunkBuster enabled games) without checking into it. They never go back on their computerized decisions, even if a program such as an autolauncher is to blame for the problem.

I wanted to see what caused PunkBuster to ban a player, so I scavenged the internet for some BF2 hacking software and stumbled across something that you n00bs might be interested in. This particular piece of software is going for $20 dollars online (the site requires a minimum $20 dollar membership to download) at MSXsecurity.com. But hacks are meant to be free, so I'm posting a link to it below.

After playing just one game with this software running I can say openly that there is zero fun to cheating. Not only does it make the game look like crap, but it really didn't help me out all that much. The only difference from my normal game play was that I wasn't killed as much by people hiding behind rocks. But I would rather give up those 4 or 5 deaths for the game graphics to be back to normal. The wallhacks all depend on coloring in the character models with horribly ugly solid blues, greens, reds, and yellows.

This is what happen which i had been busy working at weekend and by monday i need to score some wifey points. And i had not play Battlefield 2 since last week and i need to fix & tune a friend's latop.

I was piss during tune the Laptop due to the ram is on 256MB and Windows XP need 512 to 1GB to run, exculde the applacions. WTF Windows SUX anyway. Lunix better but due to work and game you have to love and hate them.

Now all i have to wait for my new ipod buddies arrival like skin, protecter and pouch and as i said before the estore sux anyway. with poor customer service.

I help my work mate to buy a Ipod Nano 2GB after he saw me having one Ipod Video.

Holy Shit, I saw Diana Ser today!! Well, it all began I had a dream this morning. I dream that I will saw a beautiful sweet woman today! And then thunderstorm... Lighting... Duh!! I woke up and thought I having nightmares...

I was working today and is was Saturday! Weekend, humm.. As usual when to work and my office is just sit on the Singapore Post main branch building!! When to pay my Singapore Post bills, so did I drop a mail as I passby the letterbox.

I took my number and when to the counter and pay my postal bills. As I was waiting, my head turn left and I did not notice I saw a short, sweet, curly hair, beautiful lady over the next counter!! Until, she was ask about her name to take her parcel as they as send to her. She spoken & said "Diana". My head was think is it that Diana Ser from Channel NewsAsia. I hardly seen as celebraties in the public.
I expect her to be taller in the TV news. So I ask the Singapore Post counter guy. Is that Diana Ser? He simply reply, humm.. let me see! Yeah! Is her. When I look at her she when over another counter to take her parcel. She hurried away and took a big box and a few letter on top of it. Damm, she cute!! =p haha She was wearingher brown leather handbag, demin jeans & white spaghetti strips with her brown bra strips sticking out!! She look great on her curly wavy hair although!

I though is was the end of seen her hurried back to her car I guess. BUT WAIT!!!!!

I when to the NTUC fairprice supermarket was thinking of picking up some yogurt for lunch. Then Diana Ser appear in front of me as she was chosing some butter. I when pass her and think what yogurt I want to eat. Again my mind was thinking holy shit I saw her 2 times of this celebraties in person. Most of the time & most of the Singaporean will saw her on the news TV as a anchorwomen of the Channel NewsAsia Repoter lor!! >_< She is exectlly as Cindy (my ex-gf size). Boy she still hot! I was really expect her to be taller woman and i guess due to all the makeup on the TV and off makeup and in real person is a whole different story lol.....

3rd Place goes to: Albania

2nd Place goes to: Serbia - Look like he is got 2 wife!! WOW &_&

and the winner of the man of the year is: Ireland

Ah, the Irish are true romantics.
At least he’s holding her hand

screen008
Originally uploaded by hplanet.

I did not notice there a BIG Alibab Bag at the BlackHawk in Battlefield 2.

screen005
Originally uploaded by hplanet.

Is quite hard to stay still at the tank especially when it move and swing here and there!!

screen000
Originally uploaded by hplanet.

I quite funny which the leg sticking out in this way. I bet you will know where the enemy are!!

Is been quite a while i have not blog and thing going busy as usually and to me. Life go on and for some how i very sad last night thinking about the past of my life i have done and all the stupid things and etc..

Some are sweet memories & some are bad. i guess that what life all about... Is 2pm plus and time for me to go and have my breakfast & lunch together liao. I wonder what i will whip out in the kitchen lor...

Oh yes, i hunt for a very rare Domain but i will not tell you what is it so stay tune... hehe =p

Every year in late October and early November, he explains, Earth passes through a river of space dust associated with Comet Encke. Tiny grains hit our atmosphere at 65,000 mph. At that speed, even a tiny smidgen of dust makes a vivid streak of light--a meteor--when it disintegrates. Because these meteors shoot out of the constellation Taurus, they're called Taurids.

Above: a Taurid fireball photographed Oct. 28, 2005, by Hiroyuki Iida of Toyama, Japan.

Last week when I was testing the latest version of RootkitRevealer (RKR) I ran a scan on one of my systems and was shocked to see evidence of a rootkit. Qiute by RootKit.com

Imagine you buy a Sony or BMG Audio CD. You agree with the EULA, then your system got hack by Sony.

About the DRM software from Sony that used rootkit technologies. The company behind the technology, First 4 Internet, has now released an update for the software. After visiting the web site, downloading and installing the update, it now seems that the DRM software no longer attempts to hide anything on the computer. The rootkit driver (aries.sys) is removed from the system during the update.

I dont think i will buy any Sony & BMG CDs or even PSP!!

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