Ariel Announces 500-horsepower V8 Atom

[Doppelgänger]

What i see that many fail to realize is that TQ is the enemy in a lightweight car. Too much TQ just turns the rear tires into liquid. So it makes plenty of sense to have a low tq/high hp motor in the car. Look at RX-7's, they don't make much tq, but any one pushing 400+rwhp is going to be straight up GONE....and not because of it's tq rating. I'd also be willing to bet the F1 engines don't have much tq compared to the hp output for this same reason.

[speedminded]

What i see that many fail to realize is that TQ is the enemy in a lightweight car. Too much TQ just turns the rear tires into liquid. So it makes plenty of sense to have a low tq/high hp motor in the car. Look at RX-7's, they don't make much tq, but any one pushing 400+rwhp is going to be straight up GONE....and not because of it's tq rating. I'd also be willing to bet the F1 engines don't have much tq compared to the hp output for this same reason.

Exactly!

That's what worries me with my lil project car, lolol! I'm aiming for around 400whp & over 420+ ft-lbs. torque @ 11psi and well under 2,300lbs curb weight...at 1.5 bar and the right compressor housing it could be nearing 500whp. Granted the Ariel is half the weight though! Right now I'm just trying to figure out how to stuff more than a 245 tire under the rear fenders because I know it's going to need it!

[FoolsDrifFWD]

What i see that many fail to realize is that TQ is the enemy in a lightweight car. Too much TQ just turns the rear tires into liquid. So it makes plenty of sense to have a low tq/high hp motor in the car. Look at RX-7's, they don't make much tq, but any one pushing 400+rwhp is going to be straight up GONE....and not because of it's tq rating. I'd also be willing to bet the F1 engines don't have much tq compared to the hp output for this same reason.

[umairejaz]

What i see that many fail to realize is that TQ is the enemy in a lightweight car. Too much TQ just turns the rear tires into liquid. So it makes plenty of sense to have a low tq/high hp motor in the car.....I'd also be willing to bet the F1 engines don't have much tq compared to the hp output for this same reason.

Yes sr +1

Its supercharged its going to make plenty of torque in the mid/low end of the band.....

lol no, I doubt it.

and yes, torq is overated in a small lightweight car. With as little weight as the atom is, im sure it will have plenty enough to get around town in and at the track, good luck catching up!