Limited Edition Ariel Atom Tuned by Mugen Packs 270 Horsepower

At the 2011 Autosport International Show in Birmingham, UK, Ariel unveiled the latest iteration of its “no screen, no roof, no doors” Atom, the Mugen-flavored limited edition it first hinted at back in December. Only ten units will be built, each featuring a special livery with a red chassis, white bodywork and red graphics showing the number of the car, to mark 10 years of production and 1,000 Atoms manufactured.

The highlight of the bare-essentials sports car is a Mugen-tuned 2.0-liter Honda K20Z naturally aspirated engine, delivering an impressive 270HP at 8,600 rpm and 255 Nm (188 lb-ft) of torque at 6,000 rpm.

Each powerplant is stripped, measured and fully blueprinted at Mugen Europe’s Northhampton headquarters and then reassembled using different pistons, camshafts and valve springs. Other upgrades include a new manifold with bigger throttle body, race grade spark plugs and lightened flywheel. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a close ratio Honda 6-speed manual gearbox and limited slip differential.

Once the assembly is complete, Mugen tests the engine on a dynamometer. The entire process lasts seven days and, before being signed off, the high revving four-pot is bore scoped and inspected one last time.

The Atom is known for its superb handling and the Mugen should be no different. Boasting a 4-way adjustable damper/spring package, sourced from the 500HP Atom V8, the anniversary model also comes with high performance ventilated brakes and white Ariel magnesium alloys, shod in Yokohama AO48 track-spec tires.

As you’d expect, the Atom Mugen is a very fast piece of machinery, completing the dash to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 2.9 seconds and reaching a top speed of 150 mph (241 km/h).

The open cockpit has been fitted with a new multi function LCD screen housed in a carbon fiber instrument panel. Besides showing gearshift lights and standard warning lights, it can also warn the driver if any other functions go outside their programmed values, which can be handy for pinpointing malfunctions and avoiding critical failures during track days. The driver and passenger racing buckets come with 3-inch FIA harnesses with crutch straps as standard.

“The advantages of being small are obvious in this latest Atom. It’s a hand built car, tailored to suit individual customers who we know and like as friends and who are passionate about their cars and driving. The ability for Mugen to hand build a performance engine, coupled with the legendary Honda reliability, takes this one stage further”, said Simon Saunders of Ariel.

Every Ariel Atom Mugen is built by two technicians, one from Mugen and one from Atom, with both signing off the engine and car only when they’re 100% sure everything is A-OK, reflected in a numbered build plate. No information on the pricing has been released.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Atom via Atom Club

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Limited Edition Ariel Atom Tuned by Mugen Packs 270 Horsepower

At the 2011 Autosport International Show in Birmingham, UK, Ariel unveiled the latest iteration of its “no screen, no roof, no doors” Atom, the Mugen-flavored limited edition it first hinted at back in December. Only ten units will be built, each featuring a special livery with a red chassis, white bodywork and red graphics showing the number of the car, to mark 10 years of production and 1,000 Atoms manufactured.

The highlight of the bare-essentials sports car is a Mugen-tuned 2.0-liter Honda K20Z naturally aspirated engine, delivering an impressive 270HP at 8,600 rpm and 255 Nm (188 lb-ft) of torque at 6,000 rpm.

Each powerplant is stripped, measured and fully blueprinted at Mugen Europe’s Northhampton headquarters and then reassembled using different pistons, camshafts and valve springs. Other upgrades include a new manifold with bigger throttle body, race grade spark plugs and lightened flywheel. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a close ratio Honda 6-speed manual gearbox and limited slip differential.

Once the assembly is complete, Mugen tests the engine on a dynamometer. The entire process lasts seven days and, before being signed off, the high revving four-pot is bore scoped and inspected one last time.

The Atom is known for its superb handling and the Mugen should be no different. Boasting a 4-way adjustable damper/spring package, sourced from the 500HP Atom V8, the anniversary model also comes with high performance ventilated brakes and white Ariel magnesium alloys, shod in Yokohama AO48 track-spec tires.

As you’d expect, the Atom Mugen is a very fast piece of machinery, completing the dash to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 2.9 seconds and reaching a top speed of 150 mph (241 km/h).

The open cockpit has been fitted with a new multi function LCD screen housed in a carbon fiber instrument panel. Besides showing gearshift lights and standard warning lights, it can also warn the driver if any other functions go outside their programmed values, which can be handy for pinpointing malfunctions and avoiding critical failures during track days. The driver and passenger racing buckets come with 3-inch FIA harnesses with crutch straps as standard.

“The advantages of being small are obvious in this latest Atom. It’s a hand built car, tailored to suit individual customers who we know and like as friends and who are passionate about their cars and driving. The ability for Mugen to hand build a performance engine, coupled with the legendary Honda reliability, takes this one stage further”, said Simon Saunders of Ariel.

Every Ariel Atom Mugen is built by two technicians, one from Mugen and one from Atom, with both signing off the engine and car only when they’re 100% sure everything is A-OK, reflected in a numbered build plate. No information on the pricing has been released.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Atom via Atom Club

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Limited Edition Ariel Atom Tuned by Mugen Packs 270 Horsepower

At the 2011 Autosport International Show in Birmingham, UK, Ariel unveiled the latest iteration of its “no screen, no roof, no doors” Atom, the Mugen-flavored limited edition it first hinted at back in December. Only ten units will be built, each featuring a special livery with a red chassis, white bodywork and red graphics showing the number of the car, to mark 10 years of production and 1,000 Atoms manufactured.

The highlight of the bare-essentials sports car is a Mugen-tuned 2.0-liter Honda K20Z naturally aspirated engine, delivering an impressive 270HP at 8,600 rpm and 255 Nm (188 lb-ft) of torque at 6,000 rpm.

Each powerplant is stripped, measured and fully blueprinted at Mugen Europe’s Northhampton headquarters and then reassembled using different pistons, camshafts and valve springs. Other upgrades include a new manifold with bigger throttle body, race grade spark plugs and lightened flywheel. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a close ratio Honda 6-speed manual gearbox and limited slip differential.

Once the assembly is complete, Mugen tests the engine on a dynamometer. The entire process lasts seven days and, before being signed off, the high revving four-pot is bore scoped and inspected one last time.

The Atom is known for its superb handling and the Mugen should be no different. Boasting a 4-way adjustable damper/spring package, sourced from the 500HP Atom V8, the anniversary model also comes with high performance ventilated brakes and white Ariel magnesium alloys, shod in Yokohama AO48 track-spec tires.

As you’d expect, the Atom Mugen is a very fast piece of machinery, completing the dash to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 2.9 seconds and reaching a top speed of 150 mph (241 km/h).

The open cockpit has been fitted with a new multi function LCD screen housed in a carbon fiber instrument panel. Besides showing gearshift lights and standard warning lights, it can also warn the driver if any other functions go outside their programmed values, which can be handy for pinpointing malfunctions and avoiding critical failures during track days. The driver and passenger racing buckets come with 3-inch FIA harnesses with crutch straps as standard.

“The advantages of being small are obvious in this latest Atom. It’s a hand built car, tailored to suit individual customers who we know and like as friends and who are passionate about their cars and driving. The ability for Mugen to hand build a performance engine, coupled with the legendary Honda reliability, takes this one stage further”, said Simon Saunders of Ariel.

Every Ariel Atom Mugen is built by two technicians, one from Mugen and one from Atom, with both signing off the engine and car only when they’re 100% sure everything is A-OK, reflected in a numbered build plate. No information on the pricing has been released.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Atom via Atom Club

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Ariel to Celebrate Atom’s 10th Anniversary with Mugen-Tuned Special

Ariel's much acclaimed bare-essentials sports car, the Atom, turned 10 this year. In order to celebrate the special occasion, the British maker has joined forces with Mugen's European branch to develop a special edition model, which will be launched onto the market in January 2011 in a strictly limited run of 10 cars.

The new lightweight model will feature distinct livery in order set it apart and every unit will come with a plate signed by Mugen and Ariel technicians, certifying their work. According to Ariel, the Atom Mugen will be as track focused as ever, using Honda’s K20Z naturally aspirated Type R engine to its full potential.

The Mugen-prepared powerplant develops an impressive 270 hp out of a 2.0-liter displacement, which should be more than enough for performance-hungry customers.

“The Type R Honda is the best 2.0-liter normally aspirated engine available. We have put our experience and know how to release even more power from the engine and we’re delighted to see our engine in the Ariel Atom”, Vice President of Mugen Euro, Mr. Hiroki Toyoda said.

Every special edition model will be hand built, with one Ariel employee making the car, while his Mugen counterpart assembles the engine.

The Atom Mugen will be presented at next month's 2011 Autosport Show in Birmingham, UK. More information, including specs and photos, will follow shortly after.

By Csaba Daradics

Ariel to Celebrate Atom’s 10th Anniversary with Mugen-Tuned Special

Ariel's much acclaimed bare-essentials sports car, the Atom, turned 10 this year. In order to celebrate the special occasion, the British maker has joined forces with Mugen's European branch to develop a special edition model, which will be launched onto the market in January 2011 in a strictly limited run of 10 cars.

The new lightweight model will feature distinct livery in order set it apart and every unit will come with a plate signed by Mugen and Ariel technicians, certifying their work. According to Ariel, the Atom Mugen will be as track focused as ever, using Honda’s K20Z naturally aspirated Type R engine to its full potential.

The Mugen-prepared powerplant develops an impressive 270 hp out of a 2.0-liter displacement, which should be more than enough for performance-hungry customers.

“The Type R Honda is the best 2.0-liter normally aspirated engine available. We have put our experience and know how to release even more power from the engine and we’re delighted to see our engine in the Ariel Atom”, Vice President of Mugen Euro, Mr. Hiroki Toyoda said.

Every special edition model will be hand built, with one Ariel employee making the car, while his Mugen counterpart assembles the engine.

The Atom Mugen will be presented at next month's 2011 Autosport Show in Birmingham, UK. More information, including specs and photos, will follow shortly after.

By Csaba Daradics

Honda UK Dealers Offer Factory-Backed MUGEN Tuning Bits

Honda fans in Britain can now trick out their cars with original Mugen performance parts backed by a factory-warranty straight from their dealer. The Japanese automaker said that a total of eight Honda dealers across the UK have launched the MUGEN Original Parts Programme offering a range of tuning parts, accessories and merchandise from the company's semi-official tuning partner.

The programme launches with MUGEN parts for the current FN2 Civic Type R, some of which were seen on last year's 240HP Civic Type R MUGEN special.

The initial range of parts includes forged aluminium wheels, performance brake pads, quick shift kits and a sports suspension for the Type R, as well as body styling kits for the standard Civics and a sports exhaust for the CR-Z hybrid coupe.

Honda said that parts requiring fitment by its dealers are covered by a 12 month/ 10,000 mile warranty, while other accessories are covered by a standard manufacturing defects warranty.

The dealers involved in the MUGEN performance parts programme are:

-Avonvale Honda (Midlands)

-Bristol Honda (South West)

-Inchcape Honda (South East)

-Brayley Honda (Home Counties)

-Two Mills Honda (North West)

-Phoenix Honda (Scotland & Borders)

-Ewens of Cornhill (Highlands)

-Donnelly & Taggart (Northern Ireland)

MUGEN Accessorizes the Honda CR-Z Hybrid Coupe

Honda fans, hold your 'horses'; Mugen's take on the new Honda CR-Z improves the Japanese hybrid coupe in all areas except the one that probably counts the most for you: Performance...

However, there's still hope as Honda's official tuning arm has made it clear that it is still considering the development of a high-performance version of the CR-Z in the likes of the MUGEN Civic Type Rs, but until we see the car in the flesh, you'll have to do with the firm's new range of go-fast bits.

The dress-up package includes various parts such as front and rear aprons, a large roof-mounted wing, side skirts, rear diffuser and a new grille with LED daytime running lights. Buyers can also choose from a variety of 17-inch alloy wheel designs.

For the interior, Mugen's lineup comprises of additional gauges, a carbon fiber mirror, unique gear lever knobs and floor mats.

Hardware improvements come in the form of a sport exhaust system, air filters, sport suspension and brake packages, as well as an 'intelligent' tire-monitoring system.