The UK debut of the all-electric Atomik 500 will take place at Salon Privé next month; it is a ground-breaking new vehicle that promises supercar performance combined with city-car size. Paris-based maker, Atomik Cars, will bring two of its new Atomik 500s, an all-wheel-drive electric-powered version of Fiat's hugely popular 500 city car, to Salon Privé which takes place at the Hurlingham Club in middle of London, showing potential customers a tantalising combination of exclusivity and zero-emission performance.

Launched in public just last month at the prestigious Top Marques Monaco show, the Atomik 500 claims 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, 0-400 metres in 14 seconds, 0-1,000 metres in 26 seconds, and a battery range of up to 200 km thanks to dual brushless synchronous electric motors which the firm claims provides the equivalent of 300 bhp while it features a lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) battery pack. It also has direct-drive transmission, an internal heater that uses ceramics and air-conditioning. While it clearly retains the distinctive styling of the Car of the Year award-winning Fiat 500, it has been significantly modified to give it a much more lavish appearance, including a rising slab-front, bulbous wheel arches and chunky air-intakes cutout in front of all four wheels. Atomik says it plans a total production run of 50 units.

“Atomik Cars offer a preview of tomorrow’s technology, in cars you can buy and use today.  Our cars offer avant-garde design, ambition and technological skill and Salon Privé gives us the perfect platform to reach customers looking for just that exclusivity,” said Jerome Griffart the engineer plotting the rise of Atomik Cars.

The startling new vehicle is a perfect example of the fascinating collection of independent sports cars that are presented at Salon Privé each year, their makers acutely aware that the event delivers a an audience of genuine customers, at a fraction of the resources required for a mainstream auto show. Also expected to return to this year’s event will be German marque, Veritas, which is expected to unveil a brand new model, following the success of its RSIII Spyder at last year’s event.

The Salon Privé show's co-founder David Bagley comments that:  “Our philosophy has always been that Salon Privé should be a showcase for the exotic, unusual and exclusive supercars, alongside their more recognisable contemporaries.  With Atomik and Veritas this year, we are continuing that proud tradition.” Salon Privé, which runs from July 21-23 this year, brings together a social and motoring occasion, on the famous lawns of London’s Hurlingham Club, offering Europe’s largest single display of luxury cars, supercars and some of the finest classic cars, in the stylish surroundings of a British Summer Season event.