Ariel Motors is working on a special edition of its incredible Atom sports car, and naturally they are thinking of ways to make it even faster than before. This time though, instead of adding more power to the mix, they want to shed more weight. And the way they’re going to do this is by using a new titanium chassis.
The titanium chassis is 40 percent lighter than the tubular steel frame the Atom currently uses and it can reduce the overall weight of the car by as much 8 percent. Below 500Kg is the targeted weight for this vehicle, which is insanely light for a sports car.
What’s more, titanium is incredibly rigid and strong and that makes it perfect for a super fast car like the Atom. But it is very difficult and very expensive to produce. To make this chassis, Ariel has teamed up with a reputable titanium supplier and Caged Laser Engineering, and the project is partly funded by Technology Strategy Board’s Niche Vehicle Program. So it’s kind of an experiment really, but then so was the Atom when it was first introduced.
This special Ariel Atom will use a naturally-aspirated Honda engine and lightweight mechanical components. Experience gained from working with titanium will not only benefit the Atom, it could also be useful for Ariel’s future products, possibly including a motorcycle.
Source: Autocar