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Ariel Atom crash test
ZEN - 15/6/08 at 01:35 PM

Don't think it would pass the EURO NCAP...









tegwin - 15/6/08 at 01:37 PM

repost....cough....

OUCH though!

clairetoo - 15/6/08 at 02:02 PM

Bit of an echo......echo........echo.......

Fatgadget - 15/6/08 at 02:03 PM

I love my legs much too much to wanna crash head on in something like an Atom.

iank - 15/6/08 at 02:16 PM

Whether it's good or bad (and how many Euro NCAP stars it might get for that matter) rather depends on how fast it was going when hitting the concrete wall streight on - I don't believe that's been published yet.

Seen a lot of tintops with worse damage after a direct assault on a wall/tree/truck.

smart51 - 15/6/08 at 02:18 PM

I read that it was doing 120 when it was driven into a concrete wall. I bet a 5 star car like a megane wouldn't look to pretty at that speed.

Fatgadget - 15/6/08 at 02:29 PM

Why would you want to drive a bootilicious Megan at 120?..An Atom on the other hand...Its just asking for it isnt it?

kb58 - 15/6/08 at 03:10 PM

I don't think it touched the wall; look at it, it's in perfect condition. If he was on the brakes (though I see no skid marks) the nose would be well below curb height.

Even if he wasn't, I'm almost sure an Atom won't clear a 6" curb, which I think is why it ended up banana-shaped. I wonder how the chassis would have fared had the side tubes not been curved.

[Edited on 6/15/08 by kb58]

smart51 - 15/6/08 at 04:11 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Fatgadget
Why would you want to drive a bootilicious Megan at 120?..An Atom on the other hand...Its just asking for it isnt it?


The atom was doing 120 because the throttle stuck open and the driver didn't think to put it in neutral, he just tried to brake against all the power of the engine and lost.

The megane is just a 5 star euro ncap car. It is designed to crash at 40 MPH and get 5 stars. Crash at 120 and it would look a whole lot shorter than that atom.

Volvorsport - 15/6/08 at 04:27 PM

hed have been deaded at 120 .

JoelP - 15/6/08 at 04:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Volvorsport
hed have been deaded at 120 .


fact

repper - 15/6/08 at 05:40 PM

HOLY COW that had to hurt

iv seen them crashed be for but that is the best yet

i was at croft about 3 weeks ago and one guy cliped the cirb with the n/s/r wheel it broke part off the rear supention arm which then span in to the rear wheel smashing the rim which then smashed the mudgard and the rear lights
not cheep top fix i think
but saying that the same guy was at evington on thursday giving it all it had give

Werner Van Loock - 15/6/08 at 07:12 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
quote:
Originally posted by Volvorsport
hed have been deaded at 120 .


fact


As this accident occured in Belgium it's probably 120KPH and not MPH

He said it was stuck in 3rd at full throttle and brakes pushed as hard as he could. He did take a high concrete curb he had a passenger and didn't want it to go sideways wich would've been fatal to himself or his passenger.

His passenger suffered a broken leg, he had both legs broken of wich one more like shattered under the knee.

kb58 - 15/6/08 at 07:56 PM

I don't understand why there are no visible skid marks. Being mid-engine, the front brakes would certainly be able to lock up in a panic stop. Maybe there is a rise behind the car and it flew into the curb with the wheels off the ground?

Doug68 - 16/6/08 at 02:09 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Fatgadget
The atom was doing 120 because the throttle stuck open


This'll be why I'll have a big red Kill button fitted.

I've had throttles freeze and jam wide open on motorcycles (particularly fun on an MX bike) and in a van where the link fell of the diesel pump.

The first time it happens to you, you may not recognize the situation and not react in the best way. Something to think about and have a plan for in case it happens to you.

Kaspa - 16/6/08 at 08:37 AM

Hi Doug, yeh ive had the throttle jam open on Monty once, flat out in 4th gear going into turn one at Taupo, a 2nd gear cnr, only me and my laundry man no how i felt at the time, not something i reccomend
Kaspa

Delinquent - 16/6/08 at 09:13 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Doug68
quote:
Originally posted by Fatgadget
The atom was doing 120 because the throttle stuck open


This'll be why I'll have a big red Kill button fitted.

I've had throttles freeze and jam wide open on motorcycles (particularly fun on an MX bike) and in a van where the link fell of the diesel pump.

The first time it happens to you, you may not recognize the situation and not react in the best way. Something to think about and have a plan for in case it happens to you.


Had the throttle spring snap on a modified beetle, only found out at the end of the triple carriage way road on the approach to a roundabout, which I'd left braking to the last minute on - as you say first time you don't always have the instinct to carry out the correct procedure!

Still, at least I found out my suspension mods had given quite admirable handling...

rpmagazine - 20/6/08 at 11:23 AM

quote:
Originally posted by kb58
I don't understand why there are no visible skid marks. Being mid-engine, the front brakes would certainly be able to lock up in a panic stop. Maybe there is a rise behind the car and it flew into the curb with the wheels off the ground?


I would agree with this. 120kph into a wall equals dead. For example FIA and SFI use 70kph sled test to generate 68g. At this level BSF injuries are significant and seat belt injuries are also significant. 120kph is frankly pretty unbelievable, particularly as the Atom has no crush structures.

kb58 - 20/6/08 at 01:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rpmagazineI would agree with this. 120kph into a wall equals dead. For example FIA and SFI use 70kph sled test to generate 68g. At this level BSF injuries are significant and seat belt injuries are also significant. 120kph is frankly pretty unbelievable, particularly as the Atom has no crush structures.

Unless the story isn't as reported... but I'm speculating.

rpmagazine - 21/6/08 at 01:09 PM

of course, but then that would be normal for forum reportage of events such as this.