Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

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Expand view Topic review: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by Winmoz » Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:05 pm

OK, I do stupid things in the interest of science.

In 2018 I spec’d a new K20 3.5 NA. It dyno’d at 237bhp. It made me smile

I then had it supercharged and it made 304/5th and felt like a totally new car. It made me laugh.

I had it upgraded to 3.5R spec this year. Will be dynoing in a couple of weeks. Expect it to make 340bhp.
Difference between 245 and 310 is very noticeable - sounds, grunt etc.

Difference between 310 and 350 less noticeable - some new sounds, more torque, able to run at a higher gear on track, 5mph higher top speed at Goodwood and Bedford. Looks are [emoji817] improved though. Think there is more to come as the car has a performance envelope way vice by testicular grade!


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Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by Jamier27 » Tue Mar 22, 2022 8:57 pm

Fastlane wrote: ↑Tue Mar 22, 2022 6:08 pm
Jamier27 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 21, 2022 8:54 pm It’s a strange one. I think it maybe is a little quicker in reality.

K20 310 I had was maybe 310/320bhp and the k24 I now have maybe was 280/290 and now 330.. as Previois owner did say he definitely noticed the difference.

Either way I do love this new one I have !
I believe the factory has always said that the supercharged K20 engine has quite a bit more than 310bhp, especially after it has loosened up. One of the owners on here had their K20 dyno'd at 325bhp, so that would fit in with your experience.

By the way, I believe this is your car prior to its upgrade to R spec

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Makes even more sense then.

Good find ! That will be the one!! I know it had red panels from day 1.

Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by Fastlane » Tue Mar 22, 2022 6:08 pm

Jamier27 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 21, 2022 8:54 pm It’s a strange one. I think it maybe is a little quicker in reality.

K20 310 I had was maybe 310/320bhp and the k24 I now have maybe was 280/290 and now 330.. as Previois owner did say he definitely noticed the difference.

Either way I do love this new one I have !
I believe the factory has always said that the supercharged K20 engine has quite a bit more than 310bhp, especially after it has loosened up. One of the owners on here had their K20 dyno'd at 325bhp, so that would fit in with your experience.

By the way, I believe this is your car prior to its upgrade to R spec

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Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by Sir Nick » Tue Mar 22, 2022 8:01 am

CAG3D wrote: ↑Tue Mar 22, 2022 7:52 am Has there been reliability issues with the K20 then? Mine feels bullet proof
I don't know, I have a k24

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Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by CAG3D » Tue Mar 22, 2022 7:52 am

Has there been reliability issues with the K20 then? Mine feels bullet proof


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Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by Sir Nick » Tue Mar 22, 2022 7:44 am

After extensive investigation it comes down to the pulley sizes and resultant boost in the S/C intake plus intake temps.
The k20 Rs run at 11psi. The k24 Rs run at 9psi. At least mine does.
I'm not after out and out power. I've settled for reliability.
The higher torque of the k24 eats my rear tyres at an alarming rate as it is! Or it might just be my driving style ;)

Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by Jamier27 » Mon Mar 21, 2022 8:54 pm

It’s a strange one. I think it maybe is a little quicker in reality.

K20 310 I had was maybe 310/320bhp and the k24 I now have maybe was 280/290 and now 330.. as Previois owner did say he definitely noticed the difference.

Either way I do love this new one I have !
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Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by autobackup » Mon Mar 21, 2022 8:37 pm

It's interesting that you have that feeling - on the forum, as far as I'm aware - only one K24 powered 'R' has been on a rolling road (Sir Nick's) and it was reported to be producing around 330 bhp if my memory is correct?

Anecdotal comments on here have suggested that the silver topped K24 may not be quite as powerful as the red topped K20 due to the design of the cylinder head (single exhaust port)?

My K20 engined Atom returned 362 bhp after it was upgraded to an 'R' last time it was on a rolling road and it is considerably brisker than it was as a 3.5 310 - if your car doesn't feel quicker then I can only surmise that the K24 power unit might not generate quite the same power as a K20 engine?

It'll probably need a communal RR session with both types of engine to get any definitive answers to this rather puzzling conundrum!

Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by Jamier27 » Mon Mar 21, 2022 10:38 am

Ive just picked up my 2016 Atom 3.5.. It wasn't officially built from day one as an R but has been to factory and been upgraded to R spec around 300 miles ago...

Ive jumped straight out of a atom 3.5 k20 supercharged. First thoughts are I was surprised at how different the engine sounds. And that it certainly feels no stronger/faster..

In general should the R actually be noticeably quicker than a non R?? Its only meant to be an extra 40 bhp but that equates to 70 bhp/per ton more so an equivalent of adding 100bhp to a decent hot hatch and that is noticeable unless my maths are out.. It is Monday morning.
Or is it a case it is quicker but due to lower revving deeper noise of K24 the visceral feeling isn't quite as intense?

Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by reg » Mon Mar 21, 2022 6:04 am

woodsypedia wrote: ↑Fri Feb 18, 2022 1:17 pm I've just bought one to replace my 310. Very excited :)

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Looks great!

Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by woodsypedia » Wed Mar 16, 2022 8:25 am

Sir Nick wrote: ↑Sat Feb 19, 2022 1:56 am.
This looks so good....

Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by woodsypedia » Wed Mar 16, 2022 8:24 am

apr1962 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 18, 2022 7:19 pm Looks absolutely stunning. How come only 300 miles?
Some guy had it as part of his collection down in Poole. I did the maths - it's done two trips to Ariel for servicing and that's it. Crazy. Absolute find! Should have the car 1st week of April. It's currently being serviced at Ariel then off to Paintsheild for PPF.

Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by Deane » Sat Feb 19, 2022 10:03 pm

Thanks Autobackup from Cyprus. The 3S also has the side pods. The left one is the turbocharger intercooler and the right one is half of the radiator cooling system. The other half is up in front as usual.

Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by 8_enj » Sat Feb 19, 2022 4:02 pm

Sir Nick wrote: ↑Sat Feb 19, 2022 1:56 am.
This is one of the best looking 3.5R ive seen 👌🏻

Re: Ariel Atom 3.5R owners?

by autobackup » Sat Feb 19, 2022 4:02 pm

Deane

It has the supercharged K20Z4 2.0L engine.

To keep the s/c charge cool it sports the sidepods fitted
- you can see the right-hand side one in the photo :

The left pod contains a charge cooler (radiator, waterpump and electric fan)

The right pod contains a large oil cooler.

My 3.5R also has a Zircotec ceramic coated (inside & out) exhaust and also the oversize Atom V8 radiator as I live in Cyprus where it can get very hot in the summer!

Last time on the rolling road it was achieving 362bhp!

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