British sports car manufacturer Ariel has announced it will be introducing its Atom models to the Indian market. This news comes hot on the heels of Caterham, also a British light-weight sports car manufacturer, recently announcing its entry.
InterGlobe Established Private Limited is looking to capitalise on the racing enthusiasm that F1 has created by collaborating with the Ariel Motor Company to bring the Ariel Atom 3, the latest model, to our shores. Mr Nigel Harwood, President and CEO of InterGlobe said, “The Atom is a perfect fit for any sports car enthusiast who is looking for serious fun and unbeatable performance, be it on the road or track.”
The Atom has no doors, no roof and no body panels; in fact it is just an open chassis with two seats and a powertrain bolted to it. But, as a result, it offers a pure and unhinged driving experience, much like an open-wheel race car. Power comes from a 2.0-litre Honda engine in either 245bhp or supercharged 300bhp guise, both of which will be brought to India. The car has a 0-100kph time of just 2.5 seconds, making it one of the fastest accelerating production cars in the world.
Prices are uncertain as of now, but expect it to cost in the vicinity of Rs 50 lakh.