Ariel Atom gets V8 power

Could this be the craziest car in the world? We already knew that Ariel had a V8-powered version of the Atom in the pipeline, and now the Somerset-based firm has revealed details about the wild eight-cylinder engine that will take the performance of the skeletal sports car to a whole new level.

Acceleration is set to be mind-blowing, hitting 60mph from a standstill in 2.5 seconds, while the 100mph barrier will be breached in less than six seconds. Luckily an uprated brake and aero package will come as standard to help contain the extra shove.

Ariel’s own engineers will build the 500bhp 3.0-litre unit in-house, and amazingly its reported to weigh in at just 90kg, that's less than 2.0-litre Honda engine currently fitted to the Atom in naturally-aspirated and supercharged form.

An overall kerbweight of around 500kg means that with 100bhp per tonne, the Atom 500 has twice the power-to-weight ratio of a Bugatti Veyron, and will go head-to-head with the similarly insane and ultra-rare Caterham V8 Levante.

Only 25 examples will ever be built beginning some time in 2010, but the estimated £100,000+ price tag is just as shocking as its turn of pace… Especially for a car without a windscreen, roof or doors!