The popularity of driving simulators has literally increased 10 fold with the ever-changing and advances in technology over the past few years and no, we’re not talking about your generic simulators such as Forza->ke3733 and Gran Turismo->ke3689. We are actually referring to full-on simulators which offer you the best possible experience you can get this side of actually driving a car.

There are literally dozens of these systems offered in the market, and the vast majority of them simply feature a seat, pedals, steering wheel and a gearstick with a standard flat-screen television. However, if Motion Simulation and the masterminds at Ariel->ke563 have their way, the face of racing simulators is set to change for the better, and we’re over the moon by the prospect.

In the brand new system offered by the pairing, you get a complete capsule to best replicate the feeling of driving a true sports car, such as the Ariel Atom->ke564 and features three high-definition projectors offering a screen no less than 2 meters wide and home to seven million pixels. All up, this new system offers an unmatched 180 degree driving experience and can also be used for a variety of other compatible gaming uses.

Hit the jump to read more about the Ariel Atom simulator.

The most intriguing thing about this system however, is the fact that it can be used in conjunction with an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 but only a select few games will be supported. And how much does this system set you back, we hear you ask? Well, you better make sure you’re sitting down for this as it’ll set you back $18,600.

Why someone would pay that much for a simulator rather than an actual cheap sports car and drive said sports car around a local track is beyond us, but it’s definitely a nice bit of kit to tell your mates down at the pub about.