The Ariel Atom – Clarkson loves it and so do we!

The Ariel Atom - the most fun you can have a road-legal car

The Ariel Atom – the most fun you can have a road-legal car

‘Driving nirvana’ he called it. ‘One of the most beautiful cars in the world’ he reckoned. These are the superlative words of Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson who concluded that driving the Ariel Atom was ‘off the scale’ in terms of excitement and, we hate to say it, but we might just have to agree with him!

We’ve currently got two suppliers offering you the chance to drive the Ariel Atom in York, Birmingham, Kenilworth or Stafford. It might look like a half-built Formula One car, with its exoskeletal body work, but it IS actually a fully legal roadworthy car (Clarkson’s test is whether it can get over a road hump and it can!) with just enough space for a tax disc, lights and mirrors. Apparently, there’s even a boot, but it’s probably not big enough for a pair of golf shoes, let alone a full set of clubs.

Take Clarkson's word for it - you'll love driving the Atom!

Take Clarkson’s word for it – you’ll love driving the Atom!

It really is an amazing piece of design and engineering though and British too, being lovingly built by hand at the works in Somerset. Weighing in at just 500kg and pushing out well over 300bhp, the car is totally capable of taking you into warp speed – the question is can you drive it?

With expert instructors in the passenger seat, you’ll soon get the hang of the push button ignition, uber light steering and the sheer power. If you can change gear fast enough, the Aerial Atom will give you a 0-60mph time in less than three seconds, no problem..now that’s what we call exciting!

The ITB staff go air-sphereing!
Fancy learning to drive a powerboat?