1 00:00:00,468 --> 00:00:05,930 I want to talk about middle aged man, you are thirty five, maybe forty you got a little bit of spare cash 2 00:00:06,130 --> 00:00:13,653 in the bank and you want to buy yourself a big powerful sports bike, coz you weren't allowed to have one when you were 17 and your mom and dad said no. 3 00:00:13,844 --> 00:00:15,052 No there are gonna be a few problems with that. 4 00:00:20,283 --> 00:00:21,244 This is what you have in mind. 5 00:00:21,852 --> 00:00:26,694 The open road, tearing through the country side the wind in your helmet. 6 00:00:28,940 --> 00:00:31,840 You and the machine perfect harmony. It is an appealing concept. 7 00:00:32,009 --> 00:00:36,130 The reality however is somewhat different. 8 00:00:36,130 --> 00:00:40,681 Because, lets be honest, you are middle aged. 9 00:00:40,681 --> 00:00:43,746 So you'll have a bit of a gut, and that will look ridiculous 10 00:00:43,746 --> 00:00:47,462 in leather motor suit. Whats more you are almost certainly going to 11 00:00:47,462 --> 00:00:50,527 crash. So someone, who you perhaps don't like very much, 12 00:00:50,527 --> 00:00:53,545 will end up with your eyes. 13 00:00:53,545 --> 00:00:58,263 Don't worry though, because I think I have a solution. 14 00:00:59,971 --> 00:01:04,366 This is the Atom. From a small summer set company called Arial. 15 00:01:04,366 --> 00:01:08,551 And when I say small -- it only has 7 employees. 16 00:01:10,213 --> 00:01:13,050 What they've created though is stunning. 17 00:01:13,050 --> 00:01:15,976 I think this is one of the most beautiful cars in the world. 18 00:01:15,976 --> 00:01:19,412 Partly because it is so elegant, and partly because it is such a 19 00:01:19,412 --> 00:01:22,338 wonderful piece of engineering. 20 00:01:22,338 --> 00:01:32,462 Using the chassis as a kind of exoskeleton is just inspired. 21 00:01:32,462 --> 00:01:35,666 Prices start at under 20 thousand pounds, and for that you get 22 00:01:35,666 --> 00:01:40,171 indicators, lights a tax disk and ... that about it. 23 00:01:40,171 --> 00:01:46,580 Not only you don't have a windscreen, there isn't even any bodywork. 24 00:01:46,580 --> 00:01:49,552 There are really very few components, and the lovely thing is 25 00:01:49,552 --> 00:01:52,942 that as you drive along you can see them all doing their jobs. 26 00:01:52,942 --> 00:01:59,629 Look! There's the steering, and there's the suspension - it brilliant! 27 00:01:59,629 --> 00:02:02,416 Now at this point you are probably thinking the Atom is a bit 28 00:02:02,416 --> 00:02:05,295 of a laugh, a bit of a gadget, a bit of a toy. 29 00:02:05,295 --> 00:02:06,595 But you'd be wrong. 30 00:02:06,595 --> 00:02:11,518 Very wrong. 31 00:02:11,518 --> 00:02:15,140 You see, the engine is lifted from a Honda Civic type R. 32 00:02:15,140 --> 00:02:18,716 And only for that little extra something, its supercharged. 33 00:02:18,716 --> 00:02:21,688 So it develops 300 bhp. 34 00:02:21,688 --> 00:02:24,893 And because the Atom weighs only 500 kg, this means 35 00:02:24,893 --> 00:02:28,886 you are getting 600 bhp per ton. 36 00:02:28,886 --> 00:02:32,648 And thats more than you get from a Ferrari Enzo. 37 00:02:32,648 --> 00:02:42,540 So, stick that in your sport's exhaust, Mr Kavadzaki. 38 00:02:42,540 --> 00:02:47,091 This car goes like nothing you could possibly imagine. 39 00:02:47,091 --> 00:02:56,007 If you can change gear fast enough it can do nod to 60 in 2.9 s. 40 00:02:56,007 --> 00:03:02,323 The Atom is fast, on an entirely new level. 41 00:03:02,323 --> 00:03:09,057 I have never ever driven anything that accelerates so fast. 42 00:03:09,057 --> 00:03:24,893 Its so quick, it can destroy your entire face. 43 00:03:24,893 --> 00:03:29,955 Its unbelievable speed! 44 00:03:29,955 --> 00:03:34,088 I am an alien. 45 00:03:34,088 --> 00:03:42,076 In the corners its stopped bending my face and used 46 00:03:42,076 --> 00:03:47,138 massive g-forces to tear it off. 47 00:03:47,138 --> 00:03:53,175 The amazing thing is that you never ever miss an ? pad. 48 00:03:53,175 --> 00:03:57,587 Because you can see where's the wheel ends road. 49 00:03:57,587 --> 00:04:02,138 And because there is no weight to pull you out of the line. 50 00:04:02,138 --> 00:04:08,686 You hit every one, every single time. 51 00:04:08,686 --> 00:04:11,565 If anything, this car is even more impressive in the bends 52 00:04:11,565 --> 00:04:14,259 than it is in a straight line. 53 00:04:14,259 --> 00:04:23,175 Anyone who wants to know how a car should behave should buy one of these. 54 00:04:23,175 --> 00:04:30,095 This is driving nirvana. 55 00:04:30,095 --> 00:04:32,045 You can forget anything you've ever driven 56 00:04:32,045 --> 00:04:38,500 anything, there is no car, nothing on four wheels that is as fast as this. 57 00:04:38,500 --> 00:04:39,568 Nothing! 58 00:04:39,568 --> 00:04:43,887 But what about 2 wheels? Is it possible that the atom could be faster 59 00:04:43,887 --> 00:04:47,463 round our track than a motor bike? 60 00:04:47,463 --> 00:04:54,290 Well to find out we've lined it up against the Honda CVR 600RR. 61 00:04:54,290 --> 00:04:58,005 Off the line the bike is a tiny little bit faster. 62 00:04:58,005 --> 00:05:02,324 But on the braking for the first corner, the Atom slipped past 63 00:05:02,324 --> 00:05:04,832 and then it really was a case of good bye Mr. Bond. 64 00:05:04,832 --> 00:05:12,494 Through the bend the bike never stood a chance. And even down the long straight line 65 00:05:12,494 --> 00:05:24,058 mies an hour, it could keep up. By the time we crossed the line the gap had widened 66 00:05:24,058 --> 00:05:28,330 to a massive 4 seconds. 67 00:05:28,330 --> 00:05:33,021 Over the years I've flown F15 fighters and done power slides in airboats and 68 00:05:33,021 --> 00:05:35,110 starved the desert from helicopter gunship. 69 00:05:35,110 --> 00:05:41,705 But the shire excitement this thing is off the scale. 70 00:05:41,705 --> 00:05:43,841 Even so it will be those, who would say that no car, 71 00:05:43,841 --> 00:05:48,810 no matter how fast it is can ever be as exciting as a big bike. 72 00:05:48,810 --> 00:05:53,779 O, please. I don't have to wear a helmet in here! 73 00:05:53,779 --> 00:05:57,169 which means my every ? is full of bees. 74 00:05:57,169 --> 00:06:05,018 And there is so much wild life in my hair. You can ? 75 00:06:05,018 --> 00:06:09,708 And what is more. This is the engine intake in there. Its sucking 76 00:06:09,708 --> 00:06:14,491 and I can feel it - its a pressure in my ear. 77 00:06:14,491 --> 00:06:21,643 It feels that my brain is being sucked out. 78 00:06:21,643 --> 00:06:23,408 Not as exciting as a bike? 79 00:06:23,408 --> 00:06:30,049 Yeah, right! 80 00:06:30,049 --> 00:06:34,089 You know, 81 00:06:34,089 --> 00:06:35,622 I was so ready to disagree. 82 00:06:35,622 --> 00:06:38,222 I think in a normal life I would say rubbish, but I think 83 00:06:38,222 --> 00:06:39,337 you are probably righ! 84 00:06:39,337 --> 00:06:42,309 - No it is better than a bike in so many ways: sitting here and 85 00:06:42,309 --> 00:06:46,256 its not falling over, its faster than a bike - you just saw that, its practical 86 00:06:46,256 --> 00:06:48,625 than a bike, because it has a boot. 87 00:06:48,625 --> 00:06:50,389 - Well, I got that, you have to be kidding. 88 00:06:50,389 --> 00:06:53,269 You are going well but it hasn't got a boot. 89 00:06:53,269 --> 00:06:54,105 It has! 90 00:06:54,105 --> 00:06:57,216 Check it out! 91 00:06:57,216 --> 00:06:59,445 That is a boot! 92 00:06:59,445 --> 00:07:02,696 But seriously, you did get a big ? over there. 93 00:07:02,696 --> 00:07:04,972 You said, "Oh this is the fasted thing on 4 wheels." But its not. 94 00:07:04,972 --> 00:07:06,365 There are track day cars that are quicker than that. 95 00:07:06,365 --> 00:07:08,083 Yes, I don't think this is a track day car. 96 00:07:08,083 --> 00:07:10,498 I don't, because I had this on the road and you can use it on the road, 97 00:07:10,498 --> 00:07:13,006 because the test that we have for our powerboard, 98 00:07:13,006 --> 00:07:15,235 because only road cars can go on this, is weather they can 99 00:07:15,235 --> 00:07:17,510 go over a speed bump. Weather you can use them. 100 00:07:17,510 --> 00:07:19,832 And this can. Well Its definitely a road car. 101 00:07:19,832 --> 00:07:23,176 So it can go on our board, which means. 102 00:07:23,176 --> 00:07:26,241 We gotta give it to the Stig! 103 00:07:26,241 --> 00:07:28,424 And away he goes! 104 00:07:28,424 --> 00:07:30,792 Like a rocket! 105 00:07:30,792 --> 00:07:32,139 God that is so quick! 106 00:07:32,139 --> 00:07:33,579 Now he comes up to the first bend: 107 00:07:33,579 --> 00:07:36,922 no roll, totally flat, through there. 108 00:07:36,922 --> 00:07:41,009 The supercharger whining there as he ? out. 109 00:07:41,009 --> 00:07:45,653 Oh no, no music for him to listen to, because the Atom doesn't have a stereo. 110 00:07:45,653 --> 00:07:47,139 Down to chicago 111 00:07:47,139 --> 00:07:51,412 Look at that! No understeer, no oversteer, no car has ever been that neutral 112 00:07:51,412 --> 00:07:52,155 through there. 113 00:07:52,155 --> 00:07:55,173 Now the real test - the hammer head. 114 00:07:55,173 --> 00:07:59,910 He is running very wide. 115 00:07:59,910 --> 00:08:06,412 Through the followthrough. Will he live. 116 00:08:06,412 --> 00:08:10,405 No doesn't sound like. That's how much confidence this chassis give you. 117 00:08:10,405 --> 00:08:13,935 Right down to the pedal to a bend, ok. 118 00:08:13,935 --> 00:08:16,628 Oh, locking the left front wheel, underbraking, 119 00:08:16,628 --> 00:08:18,532 Comming up to gambon. 120 00:08:18,532 --> 00:08:22,340 Power on there, a little bit of a wiggle, and he is across the line. 121 00:08:22,340 --> 00:08:24,059 Where do you think it came? 122 00:08:24,059 --> 00:08:24,895 - It was fast! 123 00:08:24,895 --> 00:08:25,591 - I don't know. 124 00:08:25,591 --> 00:08:28,842 I would think certainly 1:25 here 125 00:08:28,842 --> 00:08:30,467 - I would say up here. 126 00:08:30,467 --> 00:08:33,811 I would say also 127 00:08:33,811 --> 00:08:35,994 Come on tell us, tell us! 128 00:08:35,994 --> 00:08:42,681 Its going up, its going up! 129 00:08:42,681 --> 00:08:54,013 Its going there! 130 00:08:54,013 --> 00:08:58,053 half a million pound car, twenty nine thousand pound car. 131 00:08:58,053 --> 00:09:00,235 The only think I would just say is obviously if you are 132 00:09:00,235 --> 00:09:02,975 thinking of buying one, I suspect you probably are, 133 00:09:02,975 --> 00:09:05,437 they do an optional big brake pack. 134 00:09:05,437 --> 99:59:59,999 Go for that or you won't be here for the spring.