Ariel Atom 0–60 Times
The Ariel Atom 0–60 times and quarter-mile times below are from 3 verified production tests sourced from reputable automotive resources such as Car and Driver and Motor Trend and more.
The fastest tested production Ariel Atom is the 2009 Ariel Atom 3 Roadster, which went from 0 to 60 mph in 2.90 seconds, reaching the ¼ mile in 11.20 seconds at 125.0 mph, according to Car and Driver.
The slowest tested production Ariel Atom is the 2007 Ariel Atom 2 Roadster, which took 3.60 seconds to reach 60 mph, running the ¼ mile in 12.30 seconds at 106.2 mph, according to Motor Trend.
Across the 3 verified production tests of the Ariel Atom, the average 0–60 mph time is 3.17 seconds. The average quarter-mile time is 11.67 seconds at 116.07 mph.
Fastest 0–60 2.90sec 2009 3 Roadster · stock
Average 0–60 3.17sec Across 3 production runs
Avg ¼ Mile 11.67sec @ 116.1 mph trap
Slowest 0–60 3.60sec 2007 2 Roadster
Across 3 verified production runs, the Ariel Atom ranges from 2.90 to 3.60 seconds 0–60, with a 3.17-second average.
The Ariel Atom is ranked in these lists
- #1 Fastest Cars Under 300 HP #1 Fastest Cars Under 400 HP #1 Fastest 4-Cylinder Cars #2 Fastest Cars of 2000's #2 Fastest Supercharged Cars #3 Fastest Roadsters #8 Fastest Quarter-Mile Manual Cars #15 Fastest Cars Under 600 HP #22 Fastest RWD Cars #38 Fastest Cars Under 800 HP #40 Fastest Quarter-Mile RWD Cars #54 Fastest Hatchbacks #74 Fastest Quarter Mile of All Time
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Ariel Atom Performance Overview
Minimal-mass, open-wheel performance defines the Ariel Atom across 4 verified tests spanning 2001 to 2009. The recorded story begins with the Series 1 era, where the 2001 Roadster used a 190-hp naturally aspirated Rover K18 and reached 60 mph in 5.0 seconds. That established the baseline for the Atom's early production form: gasoline-powered, simple in layout, and focused on low weight rather than high output alone.
The largest step came with Series 2 from 2003 to 2007, when the Atom moved to Honda's supercharged K20A and a 300-hp output. In the available tests, the 2005 2 Roadster ran 0-60 in 3.6 seconds, then the 2007 2 Roadster cut that to 3.0 seconds and covered the quarter-mile in 11.6 seconds at 113 mph. That shift from the original naturally aspirated setup to forced induction marks the model's main performance transition.
By the Atom 3 period, represented here by the 2009 3 Roadster, the formula was further refined around a supercharged Honda K20Z making 300 hp. It delivered the model's quickest figures at 2.9 seconds to 60 mph and a class-defining-for-this-model 11.2-second quarter-mile at 125 mph. In this dataset, the Atom stands today as a gasoline-only platform whose latest tested form remains its quickest.
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Ariel Atom 0–60 Times by Generation: Series 2 to Atom 3
2 generations| Generation | Years | Avg 0–60 | Fastest 0–60 | Production Tests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atom 3 | 2008–2012 | 2.90s | 2.90s — 2009 3 Roadster | 1 | The Atom 3 generation (2008–2012) averaged 2.90 seconds to 60 mph across 1 production tests, led by the 2009 3 Roadster at 2.90 seconds. Output was 300 hp across 2.0L Supercharger I-4 configurations. |
| Series 2 | 2003–2007 | 3.30s | 3.00s — 2007 2 Roadster | 2 | The Series 2 generation (2003–2007) averaged 3.30 seconds to 60 mph across 2 production tests, led by the 2007 2 Roadster at 3.00 seconds. Output was 300 hp across 2.0L Supercharger I-4 configurations. |
Atom 3 2008–2012
Avg 0–60 2.90s
Fastest 2.90s
Tests 1
2009 3 Roadster
The Atom 3 generation (2008–2012) averaged 2.90 seconds to 60 mph across 1 production tests, led by the 2009 3 Roadster at 2.90 seconds. Output was 300 hp across 2.0L Supercharger I-4 configurations.
Series 2 2003–2007
Avg 0–60 3.30s
Fastest 3.00s
Tests 2
2007 2 Roadster
The Series 2 generation (2003–2007) averaged 3.30 seconds to 60 mph across 2 production tests, led by the 2007 2 Roadster at 3.00 seconds. Output was 300 hp across 2.0L Supercharger I-4 configurations.
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Ariel Atom 0–60 Times by Year and Trim
3 production tests · 2 years ▾
2009 Ariel Atom
1 production run Avg 0–60 2.90 sec
Avg ¼ Mile 11.20 sec
Production Tests 1
#01
2009 Ariel Atom 3 Roadster
2.90sec 0–60
11.20s ¼ mi @ 125.0 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 2.90 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 11.20 sec
- Trap Speed
- 125.0 mph
- Engine
- 2.0L Supercharger I-4
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Transmission
- 6M
- Horsepower
- 300 hp
- Torque
- 191 lb-ft
- Curb Weight
- 1,350 lbs
- Power-to-Weight
- 4.5 lbs/hp
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Roadster
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Car and Driver
- Overall Rank
- #1 of 3 production runs
How we verify Ariel Atom performance data
Records and averages on this page cover verified production runs only; modified and prototype results are listed by year but never folded into them. We include only independently published road-test results from automotive publications. Manufacturer-claimed 0–60 times are excluded unless clearly labeled. When multiple publications test the same Ariel Atom trim, each run is listed separately — weather, tires, surface, rollout, and instrumentation all affect results.
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Ariel Atom 0–60 and quarter-mile distribution
0–60 vs ¼ mile · lower-left is fasterEach dot is a verified production test run
0–60 → ¼ mile →
Fastest Recorded run Slowest
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Ariel Atom performance FAQs
10 questions The 2009 Ariel Atom 3 Roadster reaches 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. That run comes from a stock car and stands as the quickest 0-60 time recorded for the Atom. The same test logged an 11.2-second quarter-mile at 125 mph.
The quickest Ariel Atom on record is the 2009 Atom 3 Roadster, with a 0-60 time of 2.9 seconds. It is also the fastest stock Atom, since the quickest overall run came from a stock example. Its best quarter-mile result is 11.2 seconds at 125 mph.
The fastest stock Ariel Atom is the 2009 Atom 3 Roadster at 2.9 seconds from 0-60 mph. There are 4 production Atom tests on record, and none are modified, so the fastest stock result is also the fastest overall result. Its quarter-mile time is 11.2 seconds at 125 mph.
Across 4 Ariel Atom tests, the average 0-60 time is 3.63 seconds. Average quarter-mile performance is 12.25 seconds at 110.8 mph. The quickest Atom recorded 2.9 seconds to 60 mph, while the slowest reached 60 mph in 5.0 seconds.
The Atom 3 generation, sold from 2008 to 2012, posts a 2.9-second average 0-60 time across 1 recorded test. Its fastest run is also 2.9 seconds, set by the 2009 3 Roadster. Output for this generation is listed at 300 hp with a supercharged gasoline powertrain.
The fastest Series 2 Ariel Atom is the 2007 2 Roadster, which reaches 60 mph in 3.0 seconds. Across 2 Series 2 tests from 2003 to 2007, the average 0-60 time is 3.3 seconds. Series 2 cars on record use a 300-hp supercharged gasoline setup.
The Series 1 Ariel Atom, covering 2000 to 2002, records a 5.0-second 0-60 time. That is both the average and the fastest result for the generation, since there is 1 test on record. Series 1 output is listed at 190 hp with a naturally aspirated gasoline powertrain.
The Atom 3 Roadster is quicker. The 2009 3 Roadster runs 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds, while the 2 Roadster averages 3.3 seconds across 2 tests and has a best recorded time of 3.0 seconds. That gives the Atom 3 Roadster a 0.1-second edge over the quickest 2 Roadster run.
The Ariel Atom 2 Roadster averages 3.3 seconds from 0-60 mph across 2 recorded tests. Its quickest run is 3.0 seconds. That makes it one of the faster Atom variants on record, though still slightly behind the Atom 3 Roadster's 2.9-second best.
Across 4 Ariel Atom tests, the average quarter-mile time is 12.25 seconds at 110.8 mph. The quickest quarter-mile run belongs to the 2009 Atom 3 Roadster at 11.2 seconds with a 125-mph trap speed. That same car is also the fastest Atom to 60 mph.
Sources
Car and Driver
Motor Trend
0–60 and quarter-mile times vary with driver, weather, tire temperature, and wear. We collect every verified run we can find — so you see the range of what an Ariel Atom can do, not a single marketing claim.
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