With a kerb weight of just 456kg, the Ariel Atom does not need a very powerful engine. Even when mated to the 225kW supercharged version of the standard 2-litre Honda VTEC engine, this bare-basics sports car, which is essentially a frame on wheels, will outrun a Ferrari Enzo off the mark - with its alleged 0-96km/h time of 2.7 seconds.
For anyone with even the slightest trace of sanity, this kind of kick should be more than sufficient.
For the rest of us, there's the new Ariel Atom 700 created by tuning company DDMWorks.
It's based on the Ariel Atom 2, using a 2-litre Ecotec engine which has essentially been 'twin-charged' with the installation of both a Garrett GTX 3076 turbocharger and an M62 supercharger.
As the modified car's badge implies, the reinvigorated engine pushes 700 horses, which is all of 522kW in metric speak.
STRESSED?
Of course, we have our concerns about how long such a small engine under such immense stress would actually last, but DDMWorks is confident that its extra modifications will do the trick. These include the fitment of Darton Mid sleeves, custom ceramic coated Wiseco pistons, H-beam Carrillo connecting rods and ARP hardware. The fuel pump and cooling system have also been pimped for the extra load.
If 522kW is a bit much, the car also offers selectable power levels of 336kW and 429kW.
BE WARNED
We can't remember ever reading a press release in which the car company actually issues a warning to potential drivers, but DDMWorks' propaganda machine clearly states: “We strongly suggest our customers take a specialized driving course for their safety.” That just about sums this car up.