UK built Ariel Atom with a Rotrex Supercharged Honda K20-R fully built motor producing almost 900 BHP per ton.

This Atom was imported by it's original US owner in 2005 from the UK as a 220HP model and was one of first Atoms ever in the US. I bought it in original condition with just a couple of thousand miles on it in June 07.

In October 07, I purchased a Rotrex Supecharger kit from TTS Performance in the UK. The kit consisted of a Rotrex C30-94 Supercharger with a custom fabricated air to air Intercooler and piping to fit into the Atoms Ram Air intake box. 750CC RC Injectors and a half decent tune on the original ECU finished off the list of stuff for the stage 1 upgrades. After a very long weekend of late nights and more than a few beers, I managed to install this kit in the Atom.

Even in it's original 220BHP form, this is an awesome machine. At just over 1100lbs, 220BHP gives 0-60 acceleration times of about 3.4 seconds. Driving the car one day with 220BHP and then a few days later with a supercharger at 475BHP is quite a contrast. I could wheelspin the rear wheels in 5th at 100MPH on a dry road when punching the gas. Granted, the R-compound tires were cycled out and hard as bricks, but it's hard to describe such performance. Insanity is probably pretty close. Orgasmic is better :)

Stage 2 of the upgrades started in November 07. I handed over my baby to John Grudinski of Hytech in Irvine CA. John builds the best exhaust systems on the planet for all sorts of high end racing and tuner applications. He also happens to be a master engine builder and a Honda nut.
The goal of stage 2 on the upgrades was to build out the engine to handle the power and to get a much better ECU and tune. Dan Benson machined and installed Darton Sleeves, Hytech did the Carrilo Rods, Weisco Pistons, customized oil pump to eliminate cavitation up to 10K rpm, Hytech Baffled Sump System. The head was sent out to Endyn in TX for machining, porting and polishing and O ringed. Hytech installed new cams, titanium valves and inconnel seats. A complete new header and exhaust system designed also by Hytech. New Hondata K-Pro ECU. Tuned by Hytech Sean Church and Doug McMillan of Hondata.

The OEM gearbox was replaced with a Quaife dog gear kit mated to a competition clutch and lightweight flywheel.

This video clip shows a first time effort at 0-100-0. The world record is about 9.4 seconds by a 700+HP Ultima GTR in the UK. I got to over 100 and back to zero in about ten.

With a good road surface, some practice to eliminate the wheel spin and brake lock ups and good timing equipment, I plan to try for the 0-100-0 record at some point.

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TTS Intecooler and Rotrex Oil Cooler behind where the "old" ram air intake box was. K&N Air filter in the foreground.

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This Atom is Street Legal in California and driven every weekend in Orange County. This is the worlds most powerful Atom as far as I know, with close to 500BHP.

A well respected track instructor and multiple class record holder at his track who drove this Atom said "it's the closest thing to an Indy Race Car I have ever driven, I can't believe they let you drive this on the streets"