The Deronda G400 Finally Gives the Ariel Atom Some Competition

[Soup]

The Deronda G400 Finally Gives the Ariel Atom Some Competition

Apr 20th, 2009 by Ross Edwards

Here’s an experiment for you: ask any car enthusiast forum to imagine the ultimate street legal budget supercar. The answers you get will depend on the forum, of course, but one answer that will almost always pop up will be ‘Ariel Atom with a Small Block Chevy engine.’ Combine the bulimic weight and insane handling of the Ariel Atom with the stump pulling torque and infinite potential of the SBC and you’ll have an unbeatable combination in most people’s eyes. Apparently someone has been paying attention, because the Deronda G400 is almost exactly that.



The Deronda G400 is a tube frame, open top racecar with a 6.0 liter, 400-hp Corvette sourced LS2 V8 stuffed in the back and mated to a Porsche 5-speed transmission. The Deronda weighs 1,890 lbs according to Autoblog, which recently road tested the British built roadster. The Deronda is quite a bit heavier than the Atom’s 1,400 lb curb weight. Despite being almost 500 lbs heavier, the Deronda’s power-to-weight-ratio is identical to the supercharged Atom’s, both come in at 4.7 lbs/hp.

While it has the same power/weight ratio as the Atom, the Deronda’s extra 100 horsepower makes a huge difference in top speed. While the Atom runs out of breath at 140 mph, the Deronda keeps going all the way to 180. For comparison’s sake, the Audi R8 will go 186mph, and the fastest motorcycles in the world will go about 187 from the factory. That’s not bad company to be in.



Here’s the best part: the Deronda G400’s and Ariel Atom both start at around $65,000, but for that price, you’re stuck with the less impressive naturally aspirated, 245-hp Atom. That makes the Deronda G400 the new ultimate bargain supercar.

The Deronda G400 Finally Gives the Ariel Atom Some Competition | PriceWheels Blog

Also: **** yeah I got my job back.

[UKunt]

the main thing is does it corner well.to much torque for such a light car.and it looks like a cheap copy of a atom...

[STIvsSVT]

Competition improves the breed.
I just wish someone would come out with one in the $30k range and really shake things up.


Those taillights look like they belong as the starting lights of a race track, not on the back of a car.

[UKunt]

I woudl rather have one of these. Caterham Cars - Designed for racing, built for living
then a ugly rip off of a atom...they could of made it look more of a car.rather then a cheap ass kit car.

[Soup]

Originally Posted by UKunt

I woudl rather have one of these. Caterham Cars - Designed for racing, built for living
then a ugly rip off of a atom...they could of made it look more of a car.rather then a cheap ass kit car.

I agree, the catrham has a cool classic design and the atom if funky and futuristic. The Deronda looks like a concept car from the 50's where they imagined "AN AEROPLANE FOR THE ROAD!"

[GTIKEN]

Too much torque? F1 cars have how much torque and weigh how much? If it's done right it's not a harmful thing.

Come on man...what did torque ever do to you?

The back of it is god awful ugly though. The front end does look cheap compared to the caterham.

However, it's hard to argue with the performance, top speed is waaaaaay higher, can you imagine the effect it would have on the nurburgring against the caterham? You would get dropped into oblivion.

[Memphis]

that thing would be terrifying I wonder which is more fun to drive, the ecotec atom or this atomish beast

[Soup]

they replaced the ecotec with the k20 this year.

[Memphis]

booooo

[EVILZ33]

dont like the tail lights but sure do like that motor in there

[UKunt]

Originally Posted by GTIKEN

Too much torque? F1 cars have how much torque and weigh how much? If it's done right it's not a harmful thing.

Come on man...what did torque ever do to you?

The back of it is god awful ugly though. The front end does look cheap compared to the caterham.

However, it's hard to argue with the performance, top speed is waaaaaay higher, can you imagine the effect it would have on the nurburgring against the caterham? You would get dropped into oblivion.

F1 engines dont have a huge amount of torque.they are only a small CC9and the fact of it having millions in the car to handle it). il eat my hat if this thing can out handle a atom.this is just sometime someone made in there back garden...lol and your dreaming if you think it will beat a caterham....a caterham is faster the a veyron/enzo/ and alot of other supercars.

[UKunt]

Originally Posted by Soup

they replaced the ecotec with the k20 this year.

they came with honda engines over here.......catch up yankyyyyyyyyyys

[Soup]

Originally Posted by UKunt

they came with honda engines over here.......catch up yankyyyyyyyyyys

Originally Posted by Soup

they replaced the ecotec with the k20 this year.

Let me google that for you

[UKunt]

we didnt have ecotec atoms.

[UKunt]

the atom on topgear....3years ago.and it had a 2liter honda engine.not a ecotec.!!!!!

YouTube - Top Gear - Ariel Atom - BBC