Today's News by Jack Nerad for Driving Today

Build Yourself a Supercar

Friday, January 29, 2010

There was a time when a car was little more than an internal combustion engine attached to four wheels and a couple of seats. Now, a company called TMI AutoTech is returning to that ethic. 

The firm is the American builder of an ultralight, ultra-performance sports car called the Ariel Atom, which is little more than four wheels and an engine. In fact, the car is so rudimentary that its builder doesn’t authorize street use of the vehicle, emphasizing its use on the track instead. But now, TMI AutoTech is offering what it calls “a more configurable car” at reduced prices.

“TMI’s goal has always been to produce the best-handling, most extreme, ultralight sports car for the track and street,” said Mark Swain, vice president of sales and marketing at TMI. “Now, thanks to increased in-house manufacturing capabilities, we’re able to offer more variations of the Ariel Atom and at pricing that was unachievable in the past, all while increasing TMI’s already stratospheric build quality.”

We cannot attest to the “stratospheric build quality,” but we do know that for 2010, customers can select between a naturally aspirated, 219-horsepower edition starting at $49,980; an upgraded 245-horsepower edition; or the supercharged model, which raises horsepower to 300. TMI also makes available a rolling chassis version of the Ariel Atom to customers who prefer to build and modify the car in their own garage.

All models feature the Japanese-spec 2.0L Honda K20 drive-by-wire engine, a six-speed transmission, close-ratio gearbox, limited-slip differential, PBR single-piston floating disk brakes and bespoke Bilstein suspension. With a curb weight of just 1,375 pounds, the Ariel Atom boasts one of the highest power-to-weight ratios on four wheels and is capable of reaching 60 mph in less than three seconds. A variety of performance and track-ready options are available, letting you customize a one-of-a-kind Atom that meets your driving needs. Cars can be ordered directly from TMI AutoTech.

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