New Bugatti Veyron slayer: Ariel Atom 500 V8

The company is hoping to smash production car acceleration records with the 500bhp version

The unmistakeable Ariel Atom is the ultimate track day toy – and now it’s been fitted with an engine more powerful than a Ferrari F40’s to make it the most extreme ‘play thing’ known to man.

The new 2.4-litre Ariel Atom 500 V8 revs to a crazy 10,000rpm and has 200bhp MORE than the standard car, making this 500bhp monster one of the fastest accelerating cars on the planet.

Such a huge amount of power – 500bhp to be precise – is 30bhp more than in the legendary Ferrari F40 which broke the 200mph barrier for the first time – and the Ariel Atom 500 V8 weighs HALF as much.

Ariel has not released performance figures yet, but the 300bhp Ariel Atom is already achieving 0-60mph in less than three seconds and 0-100mph in less than seven seconds.

The company is hoping to smash production car acceleration records with the 500bhp version.

It is the same engine featured in the V8 Caterham RS ‘Levante’ which shocked readers this week with it’s 1000bhp per tonne performance stats and unbelievable looks and it is the ‘Levante’ which looks set to be its biggest rival.

The Ariel Atom 500 V8 should boast similar levels of performance as it weighs almost the same as the Caterham.

Ariel has fitted its road and track harrier with a paddle gearchange, allowing the driver to keep both hands on the wheel amidst demented bursts of acceleration.

Two rear air intakes, a light gold spider-web chassis and wheels and carbon fibre bodywork and wings separate the Atom 500 V8 from the rest of the range

Prices have not yet been released, but the first customer’s Ariel Atom 500 V8 will be built in spring.

Ariel Director Simon Saunders said: ‘The Atom 500 will be the ultimate expression of lightweight performance and represents the outer limits of what is achievable in a road registered car.’