Progressive has this ad out right now with the tagline ‘Cars lie to us,’ with the following assertion that motorcycles tell the truth. The whole thing reeks of polished ad agency verbiage, but we all get the message that you experience a strip of pavement more for what it is on a motorcycle. There are plenty of reasons for that, but it needs to be said that cars aren’t getting a fair shake when you’re comparing brand-new Indians to, say, a 2025 Nissan Sentra. Yeah, one’s inherently more exciting than the other.
Riders hang up their helmets for a variety of reasons (many, justly), but you need not abandon the corner-carving, wind-in-your-hair experience just because your time on two wheels has come to a close. They’re disadvantaged dollar-for-dollar, but there are dozens of cars on the market that provide similar blacktop bliss, and I’m not talking about Mustangs or ’Vettes.
The following autos come from the extreme corners of the motoring world, boasting horsepower, handling and open cockpits that are sure to cure your two-wheel craving.
1. Ariel Atom 4
The Ariel Atom is arguably the closest you can get to a motorcycle experience in a four-wheeled vehicle. Its open, exoskeleton-style frame means there’s no windshield or doors, leaving you completely exposed to the elements. Equipped with inboard, pushrod-operated suspension, the handling is infinitely adjustable, famously precise and immediate, making it feel like a go-kart on steroids.
Ariel Atom has built its reputation with Honda four-cylinder engines, and the current Atom 4 is powered by a turbocharged K20C 2.0-liter VTEC engine mounted in the rear. The power-to-weight ratio is sensational, boasting sub-3-second 0-60 times in line with current sport bikes.
The lack of a traditional car body means you feel every bump, every gust of wind and every shift in momentum, creating an unfiltered connection to the road that is a hallmark of motorcycle riding. Thoroughly vetted by every automotive publication in the biz, the Ariel Atom has been turning the motoring world on its head for 25 years. [Ariel]
2. Caterham Seven
The Caterham Seven is a lightweight, minimalist sports car with a heritage that traces back to the iconic Lotus Seven. Like a motorcycle, its design prioritizes ‘adding lightness,’ and with a curb weight of around 1,200 lbs, it’s incredibly agile and responsive.
Designed for autocross, corner carving and all-around spirited motoring, Caterham Seven models are based on a rear-drive tubular chassis with coilover suspension and a range of engine options from 84 to 310 BHP.
The Seven’s open-top configuration and low-slung seating position give you a direct view of the road, and you can feel the air rushing past you, much like on a motorcycle. The driver is an integral part of the machine, with every input directly affecting the car’s behavior. [Caterham]
3. KTM X-Bow GT2
From the motorcycle manufacturer KTM, the X-Bow GT2 is a track-focused sports car that embodies the company’s ‘Ready to Race’ philosophy. It features a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, which keeps the weight down (just 80 kg) and the rigidity up. Pushrod coilover shocks, racing ABS features and a track-focused interior make the X-Bow one of the most potent off-the-shelf offerings for FIA competition.
The current generation X-Bow may have traded its open cockpit for a trick canopy-style lid, so you can forget about the wind blowing through your luscious locks, but I think we can all agree it’s grown up significantly in the process.
Power comes by way of a 2.5-liter, inline five-cylinder from Audi, capable of 600 hp, and the gearbox is a six-speed sequential from Holinger. Akrapovič supplies the titanium and stainless steel exhaust system, and the X-Bow is fitted with programmable electric power steering that can be set for driver preference.
The power delivery is immediate, and the handling is razor-sharp, a direct translation of the kind of precision and agility you would expect from a race-bred motorcycle. [KTM, photos by David Fierlinger, Justin Pech]
4. Factory Five Cobra
The Factory Five Racing Cobra is a replica of the legendary Shelby Cobra, a car that revolutionized the concept of American sports cars in the 1960s. Infinitely customizable and based on a modern engineered chassis, the FFR Cobra was designed to be built, flogged and thoroughly enjoyed.
Produced as a kit car, the FFR Cobra is completed to the builder’s specifications, commonly consisting of Ford Windsor V8 engines, Tremec manual transmissions, and three- or four-link rear axles. The open-top roadster design provides a true open-air feel, and the side-exit exhausts put the thunderous V8 engine note right next to you, providing a visceral, auditory experience.
The lack of modern electronic aids means the driver is in complete control, and the car’s raw power and direct steering demand a high level of skill and attention, much like riding a high-performance motorcycle. [Factory Five Racing]
5. 7Fifteen Motorworks Troy Indy Special
When you talk to someone who lived through the heyday of 1950s and ’60s collector cars, you’ll find that they remember them fondly, but they weren’t all that great to drive. Automotive technology has advanced by leaps and bounds since then, but what if you could build a car that had all the appeal of a bygone era with the latest advancements under its skin? That’s exactly the design ethos behind the 7fifteen Motorworks Troy Indy Special.
The Troy is a modern recreation of the one-off 1959 Troy Roadster, a groundbreaking show car built by Wally Troy. 7fifteen Motorworks honored the original by preserving its overall shape and dimensions, but upgrading its small-block Chevrolet engine, Corvette four-speed, and Ford 9-inch axle to the closest modern equivalents.
The engineered spaceframe chassis is loaded with modern LS3 engines to the tune of 525 hp, directed through a Tremec six-speed. Modern pushrod-operated coilover suspension offers an infinitely adjustable setup for hugging the road, and the car weighs just 2,200 pounds at the curb.
Finished with a curvaceous aluminum body and open cockpit, the Troy Indy Special is a driver’s machine with a raw, exhilarating and deeply connected driving experience. Like a high-end sportbike, it is a focused machine designed for performance and driver engagement above all else. [7fifteen Motorworks]
