A TALK WITH ARIEL'S CEO AND FOUNDER, SIMON SAUNDERS

摘要

EC: You started Ariel and designed the Atom. How did it happen? SS: I'm designer that has worked for the likes of Aston Martin and General Motors and taught automotive design. We started doing what became the Atom when I was teaching and also doing some consultancy work. [In the mid-'90s] I decided that if nobody is going to pay me to do their car, I'll do my own car. It ended up with me and one of my students [Niki Smart] doing the first car. It was the right time because there was just beginning to be interest in track day cars and there wasn't much competition: The only cars around really were Caterhams or Westfields, which were basically updates of quite old cars. We wanted an entirely new car, the essence of which was lightweight, and really nothing more than needed. The whole thing about what we're trying to do here is what the big manufacturers can't do, wouldn't do, or daren't do. Our company's motto is "Serious fun." We're not very good at taking the kids to school or going shopping, although that has been known. Basically, our goal is go fast and have fun.