New Ariel Atom V8 supercar uses coloured ceramic coatings

*Ariel specifies Zircotec’s coloured ceramic coating for exclusive Atom V8*

*First OEM application of Performance Colours coating that offers both heat
management and aesthetic qualities to protect ultimate incarnation of Ariel
Atom performance car***

*OXFORD – *Ariel’s new Atom V8 supercar is the first OEM application of
Zircotec’s Performance ColoursTM ceramic exhaust coating, which offers both
a highly aesthetic and effective thermal barrier. Specified by Ariel to
ensure the exposed and visible exhaust system maintains its beauty, the
plasma-sprayed coating also prevents heat transfer generated by the 500bhp,
three litre V8 engine.

“Zircotec coatings are trusted in high performance applications at the
highest levels of motorsport offering surface temperature reductions of over
30 percent,” says Zircotec’s sales director Peter Whyman. “Our lightweight
coating offers a high performance, durable and professional finish that is
entirely appropriate for the Atom V8, a car fitted with many race
specification components and described by Ariel as a race car with number
plates,”

Ariel is the first vehicle manufacturer to specify one of Zircotec’s
coloured ceramics. The Atom V8’s exposed powder coated chassis, coloured
gold for the limited run of just 25 cars, provided an opportunity to use a
coating that would complement the chassis’ finish. Unlike many ‘high
temperature’ paint finishes, Zircotec’s coatings offer a long-lasting and
zero maintenance solution that has been tested to OEM lifetime standards.

In line with the bespoke manufacturing of the Atom V8, each exhaust is hand
sprayed using a plasma torch running at over 12,000°C at Zircotec’s new
Abingdon factory. After a proprietary nickel-based bond coat, molten ceramic
is applied on the carefully prepared system to a thickness of just under 350
microns.

Zircotec coatings are being increasingly used by high performance road and
race car manufacturers as a solution to effectively manage heat. In 2010,
over 70 percent of the F1 grid is using Zircotec coatings to offer
durability and performance benefits.



For more information, contact www.zircotec.com