I know you’ve been waiting a long time for this, Ariel enthusiasts, so let’s not beat around the bush and go straight to number one: £30,000 (€38,280 / $45,550 at current exchange rates), 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.4 seconds, 2.4-liter naturally aspirated Honda motor, 235 hp and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque.
First and foremost, the biggest difference between the all-new Nomad and the Ariel Atom lightweight bruiser is the oily bit in the middle. Swapping the turbo’d 2.0 Civic Type R powerhouse with the Accord-sourced K24 Honda 2.4 four-cylinder is rather radical. Nevertheless, the DOHC all-aluminium lump is able to rev to a screaming 7,200 rpm.
In terms of cog-swapping, a close-ratio six-speed manual with a hydraulic clutch is mated to the petrol-fed engine, while drive is sent to the rear wheels. Moving on to other essential oily bits, the steering is good ol’ rack and pinion, the brakes boast with 240 mm (9.4 inches) steel discs, while the 15-inch wheels are kept in check by wishbones, Bilstein dampers and alloy steel coil springs from specialist firm Eibach.
Weighing just 670 kilograms (1,477 pounds), the Ariel Nomad is also extremely fast despite the sizable exoskeleton which acts as an integrated roll cage. The 3.4-second acceleration to 60 mph (96 km/h) and 125 mph (201 km/h) top speed are proof of that. Heck, if Lotus' Colin Chapman was still alive, he would be proud of the light yet fast persona of the all-new for 2015 Ariel Nomad.
A number of options are available as well, including 18-inch road or off-road tires and wheels, a TomTom Rider Europe GPS navigation, a heated windscreen, as well as a WARN winch assembly and an instrument cluster made from carbon fiber. As for deliveries, look forward to mid-2015 for the first units be shipped.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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