Ariel celebrates 10 years of Atom production with 10 special Mugen limited edition cars.
By Tom Phillips
17th December 2010
The Ariel Atom is 10! And to celebrate, Somerset-based Ariel will build a special limited edition Atom Mugen which will be launched at the Autosport Show in January. Limited to just 10 cars, Ariel has confirmed that the “standard specification will be focussed at the track nature of the Atom and using the normally aspirated engine to its full potential.”
Ariel’s original Atoms were powered by Rover K Series engines, but for the last seven years the firm has used the Honda K20A unit as fitted to the now-out-of-production Civic Type R.
Logically, the next step was a partnership with Mugen, which has been tuning Honda engines since its formation in 1973, including a stint in Formula 1.
Full details, specs and prices will be unveiled at the Autosport show, but Ariel has revealed that Mugen’s technicians have managed to extract 270bhp from the 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine - up 25bhp from standard.
The firm has also confirmed that the Atom Mugen will feature a special livery and each will get a numbered plaque signed by the Mugen and Ariel technicians responsible for the build of the car.
