Atom 3.5R - 700 bhp/tonne Caterham 620R - 508 bhp/tonne Zenos E10R - 500 bhp/tonne (nope, not even close - read the rest of my comment) "slighty off-colour engine" - i've heard that all the Zenos E10Rs had a cooling issue. You had full power for maybe your first full lap, but by your second lap the engine was overheating and you lost a LOT of horsepower. Owners that wanted to use an E10R on track got an aftermarket chargecooler fitted (which resolves the problem). Also from the factory the engine actually made about 310-315hp too not the 350hp claimed, again this was fixed aftermarket via a remap to get the full 350hp. Also the Zenos wet weight is probably somewhere around 850kg I think (someone posted on a forum after they had weighed it), it's certainly considerably more than the 700kg dry weight they liked to use for marketing and their bhp/tonne figure. Zenos built a really great car, but the 500 bhp/ton in their marketing was complete BS. The uncooled + unmapped car in the video was was probably only making 340 bhp/tonne during it's fast lap due to the cooling issue. Even the modified ones are probably only making 410 bhp/tonne, so less than the Caterham and massively less than the Atom at 700hp/tonne. At any rate, putting aside comparing it against faster cars, the Zenos is a great car in it's own right, especially if you want a car you can use for longer trips instead of just around a track (no trunk though!) But if you're considering a Zenos, get one with the mods already done. It's important to note that the brakes also needed upgrading, and getting the chargecooler fitted also means you don't have a loud air intake right next to your head, which is a bonus. (I was considering buying one myself, but there isn't one for sale atm with the mods already done, and I don't want to have to spend another 10-15k after i buy it!)
Ok, so the Atom is *slightly* faster and easier to control than the Caterham. But it is not a pretty car. At all. The Caterham style is fairly outdated, but it still looks decent. Plus, the Caterham sounds better on WOT (Wide open throttle) and doesn’t sound like a cat defending its territory. I would go Caterham.
Firstly, the Atom had the advantage of being third in the queue and so benefiting from driver improvement through the day. Secondly (and perhaps as a result of the first), it looked to me like the Atom was being driven quite a bit harder than the Caterham, using all the track and a touch more, too. That said, the Atom's aero would presumably confer a real advantage on the track, where cornering speeds are high.
I suspect you have answered your own point exactly. The extra downforce of the 3.5R makes it easier to extract more performance and drive harder - without something bad happening! - than the Cat.
Ariel atom is not as composed as the caterham very twitchy in the bends. I think you would have beaten the atom in the caterham if you had the full roll cage would have made the difference.
the tyres are semi-slick, and contrary to the manufacturers nowadays, large rim size only adds unnecessary rotational and unsprung mass which basically hurts all aspects of performance unless your car is so heavy that you need massive brakes plus huge wheel diameter to fit such brakes in (& in rare cases to attain stiffer tire side walls from being able to fit in low-profile tires). If you're by any chance referring to tires being too narrow, the physics will be against it. In briefest terms too wide tires can cause rubber unable to heat up sufficiently to "deform" for better grip. Most manufacturers use large wheels for only the sake of looks.
It can't. Nothing has lapped Combe that fast. The outright lap record is around 58.5 seconds and it definitely wasn't done in a Civic 😂 It was done I believe in a Dallara race car.
Couldn't even watch this video for more than a couple of minutes. The overmodulation on the audio was annoying and I couldn't hear the car at all. Your sound guy must have been drunk or something because that's unacceptable.
Never seen a Caterham being driven that cleanly round a track. Amazing bit of skill from Mr. Steve
Atom 3.5R - 700 bhp/tonne
Caterham 620R - 508 bhp/tonne
Zenos E10R - 500 bhp/tonne (nope, not even close - read the rest of my comment)
"slighty off-colour engine" - i've heard that all the Zenos E10Rs had a cooling issue. You had full power for maybe your first full lap, but by your second lap the engine was overheating and you lost a LOT of horsepower. Owners that wanted to use an E10R on track got an aftermarket chargecooler fitted (which resolves the problem). Also from the factory the engine actually made about 310-315hp too not the 350hp claimed, again this was fixed aftermarket via a remap to get the full 350hp.
Also the Zenos wet weight is probably somewhere around 850kg I think (someone posted on a forum after they had weighed it), it's certainly considerably more than the 700kg dry weight they liked to use for marketing and their bhp/tonne figure.
Zenos built a really great car, but the 500 bhp/ton in their marketing was complete BS. The uncooled + unmapped car in the video was was probably only making 340 bhp/tonne during it's fast lap due to the cooling issue. Even the modified ones are probably only making 410 bhp/tonne, so less than the Caterham and massively less than the Atom at 700hp/tonne.
At any rate, putting aside comparing it against faster cars, the Zenos is a great car in it's own right, especially if you want a car you can use for longer trips instead of just around a track (no trunk though!) But if you're considering a Zenos, get one with the mods already done.
It's important to note that the brakes also needed upgrading, and getting the chargecooler fitted also means you don't have a loud air intake right next to your head, which is a bonus.
(I was considering buying one myself, but there isn't one for sale atm with the mods already done, and I don't want to have to spend another 10-15k after i buy it!)
Ok, so the Atom is *slightly* faster and easier to control than the Caterham. But it is not a pretty car. At all. The Caterham style is fairly outdated, but it still looks decent. Plus, the Caterham sounds better on WOT (Wide open throttle) and doesn’t sound like a cat defending its territory.
I would go Caterham.
More Sutcliffe please?
Sure! Press replay a few thousand times! Thank me later.
+Nik Brudar *Badum tss*
Firstly, the Atom had the advantage of being third in the queue and so benefiting from driver improvement through the day. Secondly (and perhaps as a result of the first), it looked to me like the Atom was being driven quite a bit harder than the Caterham, using all the track and a touch more, too. That said, the Atom's aero would presumably confer a real advantage on the track, where cornering speeds are high.
I suspect you have answered your own point exactly. The extra downforce of the 3.5R makes it easier to extract more performance and drive harder - without something bad happening! - than the Cat.
"Jeepers creepers!" lol
I would like to have seen more on car footage, particularly through the bends.
Steve can peddle a car!! 🙌🏻 Love that charger whine !
3 cars but did not hear an engine, a few pops and whining that's it, come on get a new sound engineer.
+Ganooster Moppy not to mention a new video editor, because they left two freaking laps of the zenos and i it bored me out of my mind.
how about Atom 3.5R vs Caterham 620R vs BAC Mono ???
Michael Kappel because a BAC mono, is a single seater and comparatively extremely expensive ... so it's not in this class of cars
the atom reminds me of the rc car from toy story lmao
C'mon, the audio could have been much better
stupid montage. the one drivin on sunny day images has a white helmet. by the way awsome cars all of them but i just prefer the ariel atom.
C'mon guys. Audio is shocking. Video is almost unwatchable. For an established channel, you certainly do have some terrific howlers!
+Flat Eric with this type of cars i never heard better audio
I'm talking about the way Steve's voice distorts. Levels off the chart. Lower mic sensitivity would have done the job.
i am talking about his voice too but in helmet mic always same problem. probably reason mic too close to driver
Microphone sensitivity should be turned down, if it's closer to the mouth. Simple.
+Flat Eric Doesn't always help
That Atom...
i'd love to see a Zenos E10R with a roof
then it would be a funky looking miata.
+Audiwan Kenobi or fiat 124
+Audiwan Kenobi omg I thought I was the only one who got a miata vibe looking at that car lol
No BAC Mono?
Amazes me how many car-savvy people get their facts about Caterhams totally wrong. The 620R does not have 620bhp per tonne. It's actual about 568.
Steve Sutcliffe which one is the easiest to drive (more user friendly)?
+Alexandre Fernandes I bet it's the Zenos.
When you've got a comparison between 3 cars, and the heaviest one weighs 700kg. That's the good stuff, these are real sports cars
I genuinely think that Steve can replace Chris Evans. He can be pretty funny if he wants to be. And he knows what he is talking about every time.
New shirt Steve?
big difference the atom is the only car with a rera spoiler .... that make a difference
What’s also good is the caterham is nearly as fast as the atom with zero down force aids unlike the atom 🤔
Is it me or does his lid keep changing colour?
not the type of cara I like to ser, but at least Sutcliffe is back!
Ariel atom is not as composed as the caterham very twitchy in the bends.
I think you would have beaten the atom in the caterham if you had the full roll cage would have made the difference.
sounds electric..
Supercharger whine
gearshift looks long, not my cup of tea, looks like a mx5 kitcar in looks and weighs about the same :(
Is there a reason why the Ariel Atom still uses those itty bitty wheels and tyres???
why dont they atleast puts some 17 inch wheels under there?
the tyres are semi-slick, and contrary to the manufacturers nowadays, large rim size only adds unnecessary rotational and unsprung mass which basically hurts all aspects of performance unless your car is so heavy that you need massive brakes plus huge wheel diameter to fit such brakes in (& in rare cases to attain stiffer tire side walls from being able to fit in low-profile tires).
If you're by any chance referring to tires being too narrow, the physics will be against it. In briefest terms too wide tires can cause rubber unable to heat up sufficiently to "deform" for better grip.
Most manufacturers use large wheels for only the sake of looks.
top bit of video continuity lol
The AA needs a twin turbo 5.2 v10. It just didn't have enough power!
If you get the caterham, you build muscles trying to control this beast!!
Not sure how the atom blew away the Caterham...1 second in it and didn’t dare push the Caterham
How come these cars take over 1.10 a lap and the civic type r can do the lap in 46.8 or whatever it was?
It can't. Nothing has lapped Combe that fast. The outright lap record is around 58.5 seconds and it definitely wasn't done in a Civic 😂 It was done I believe in a Dallara race car.
come on guys black then white helmet for same lap?????
zenos? why the skinny tires? come on
So you compare the fastest of the other cars, but just the v6 atom? un fair
3klicksPhilip??
did he say the last one was an adder and it was the fastest car in the world lol gta v reference much?
more car vs motorcycle match .
The gearbox on the Caterham makes weired noises...
Great review, horrific editing
Couldn't even watch this video for more than a couple of minutes. The overmodulation on the audio was annoying and I couldn't hear the car at all. Your sound guy must have been drunk or something because that's unacceptable.
Blew the others away? One second over the Caterham? I'd rather not listen to that stupid whine.
Looks like a chopped off miata