Comments on: Taunt Death in a British V8 Go-Kart

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:36:35 +0000

How the heck can they put that kind of hp (and I presume similar torque) to the pavement in a car like the Ariel Atom that weighs ~1,000 lbs? That’s just insane. I love it! And, can’t wait to see the video of Clarkson driving the new 500 hp Ariel (Hamster will probably get the Catterham).

By: optic

optic — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:12:37 +0000

I love the ariel, exige, etc.. but that is just ridiculous. impressive, but ridiculous.

By: Blunozer

Blunozer — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:08:41 +0000

This is why I like playing cars!

Absolutely frikkin’ brilliant!

By: TeeKay

TeeKay — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:29:40 +0000

I wouldn’t mind just the normally aspirated 2.4L V8 with 10k of revs. For such a light car, forced induction will not be pretty. Now, if I have that engine in my Miata, all the big bullies who picked on my hairdresser car will know my barbaric yawp.

By: cRaCk hEaD aLLeY

cRaCk hEaD aLLeY — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:19:40 +0000

5 Valves? Yammi or Aprilia.

By: driving course

driving course — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:41:50 +0000

The Caterham V8 designed by Russell Savory weighs in at 90kg in full running gear which is staggering.
I used to drive a Caterham with 125bhp and that was exciting… 500bhp is just mind blowing.
Can’t wait to see what Clarkson & Co make of it.

By: dean

dean — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:38:31 +0000

Insane. I love it!

I wouldn’t be loving it so much if it threw a rod under full throttle. There’s a reason open cockpit race machines (be it drag or road) all have the engine in the rear. It isn’t just for weight distribution.

By: frontline

frontline — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:35:06 +0000

I can’t wait to see Porsche and Ferrari models along these lines. Lotus is already there.

By: Justin Berkowitz

Justin Berkowitz — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:09:24 +0000

@thefronge:

I had read about the Harley engines, as well (very very cool). I’m actually thinking this has been erroneously reported to be a Hayabusa powerplant.

It has been mentioned as being Hayabusa derived on several other blogs, but:

-Hayabusa displacement is about 1300 CC, so they’d have to reduce the stroke to get from 2600 to 2400.
-The engine is described as having 16 years of development on the RS Performance website, making it older than the Hayabusa.
-It’s 40 valves, or 5 valves per cylinder. Hayabusa is 4 valves per cylinder.

The designer, Russell Savory, is a sport bike designer and engineer. So the inspiration is probably in motorcycle engines, but that’s it.

By: guyincognito

guyincognito — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:04:36 +0000

You left out the best part, 10,000 rpm redline.

By: thefronge

thefronge — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:52:30 +0000

Justin –

How do you know that it’s two Hayabusa engines? Hartley Enterprises made a 2.8 (and a 2.6) V8 with two Hayabusa heads, but I can’t find any solid info on this engine.

By: Virtual Insanity

Virtual Insanity — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:47:07 +0000

That thing would make an awesome daily driver.

By: John R

John R — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:38:30 +0000

“…but the engine’s basis is 2 Hayabusa motorcycle engines that have been functionally joined together…”

Ha, ha! Yes! I knew it. I knew it. In the back of my head, I knew it.

That thing is going to be insane.

By: keepaustinweird

keepaustinweird — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:35:34 +0000

Daddy like. Ohhhh…daddy like!

By: quasimondo

quasimondo — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:32:58 +0000

Must…have…it…

By: Justin Berkowitz

Justin Berkowitz — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:30:55 +0000

By: John R

John R — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:15:52 +0000

2.4?! Whose the supplier for this motor?

By: starlightmica (Richard Chen)

starlightmica (Richard Chen) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:10:57 +0000

2.4L V8 – hmmm. What’s next, an Atom with a race-ready F1 engine (700+ hp)?