Latest news with #ArielMotorCompany
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ariel Celebrates 25 Years of the Atom With Its Most Powerful Model Yet
Ariel Motor Company, the renowned British manufacturer of ultra-lightweight, no-compromise sports cars, is marking the 25th anniversary of the Ariel Atom with its most potent and exclusive variant yet: the Atom 4RR. Limited to just 25 individually tailored examples, this road-legal, track-focused machine will deliver an astonishing 525 bhp and 550 Nm of torque from a heavily reworked turbocharged Honda 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Built on the proven Atom 4R platform, the new 4RR features a host of internal engine changes, along with revised oil and fuel systems, to maximize performance. Ariel describes it as the ultimate expression of its 'serious fun' philosophy, aimed at drivers who want to push their skills and the Atom's engineering to the absolute limit. Pricing and full technical details will follow later this year. The new model not only celebrates 25 years of the Atom, but also underlines Ariel's heritage as a company dating back to 1871, when it produced the pioneering Ordinary, or 'Penny Farthing,' bicycle, the world's first series-production vehicle. As Ariel writes a new chapter with the Atom 4RR, here's a look back at the evolution of one of Britain's most radical sports cars: Launched at the turn of the millennium, the original Atom shocked the performance-car world. With a 120bhp Rover engine and Ariel's now-iconic exposed tubular space frame, it embodied an entirely fresh vision: extreme lightness, ultra-minimalist design, and a thrilling, highly configurable driving experience. The 'No Doors, No Windscreen, No Roof' ethos made the Atom a true driver's machine and helped cement its legend among purists. The second-generation Atom switched to Honda power, adopting the high-revving 220bhp Civic Type R K20 engine. From 2005, Ariel offered an optional supercharger pushing power to 275bhp, adding another level of performance, and introducing that unforgettable supercharger whine. Engineering and design updates further refined what was already a visceral driving experience. The Atom 3 brought a significant overhaul. A revised chassis, upgraded suspension, and updated bodywork made the car even more capable. Standard output rose to 245bhp, while a supercharged option lifted power to 300bhp. In 2010, Ariel built a very special edition: the Atom V8. This 25-car limited run boasted up to 500bhp and a spine-tingling 10,000rpm redline, taking the Atom philosophy to the extreme. Refining the Atom 3 platform, the Atom 3.5 improved engine management, steering, suspension, and bodywork, while retaining the same fundamental chassis. A year later, the even more hardcore 3.5R arrived with 367bhp, a sequential gearbox, and further suspension upgrades, cementing the Atom's place as a benchmark for raw, lightweight performance. Every part of the Atom was reimagined for the Atom 4, apart from the fuel filler cap, steering wheel, and pedals. As the first turbocharged Atom, it utilized a 2.0-liter Honda Civic Type R engine, producing 320bhp with switchable boost, and was backed by a stiffer chassis, advanced geometry, and adjustable driver aids, including traction control and launch control. With a stunning power-to-weight ratio and exceptional handling, the Atom 4 raised the bar for lightweight, road- and track-oriented sports cars. In 2023, Ariel further advanced the Atom 4 platform with the introduction of the 4R. This time, the same Honda turbo engine was tuned to 400bhp and 500Nm, resulting in the 4R achieving an extraordinary power-to-weight ratio of nearly 600bhp per tonne. Designed for the most dedicated drivers, the Atom 4R delivered electrifying track performance while remaining road-legal. As Ariel gears up to celebrate the Atom's 25th birthday, the 525bhp Atom 4RR stands as a fitting tribute to a quarter-century of engineering passion, fearless innovation, and that uniquely analog driving experience. With just 25 bespoke cars to be built, the 4RR will be among the rarest and most potent Ariels ever made. For those lucky enough to secure one, it promises a driving experience unlike anything else on the road or the track.
Auto Blog
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
BMW M4 Power And Half A Miata's Weight: Meet The Ariel Atom 4RR
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. New 4RR will have an outrageous power-to-weight ratio In a world where too many new cars try to be all things to all people, Ariel Motor Company and its lightweight, hopelessly impractical yet hyper-focused Atom sports car is a refreshing change. Conceived for no other reason than the unadulterated joy of driving, the Atom has found many fans over the last quarter of a century. Now, to celebrate 25 years of the Atom, the UK-based manufacturer has revealed the Atom 4RR. This ultimate edition is the most powerful Atom ever and is sure to turn every track day into a heart-pounding, sweaty-palmed experience. Even More Power Than Atom V8 Ariel Atom 4RR — Source: Ariel The 4RR uses a special version of Honda's 2.0-liter turbocharged VTEC four-cylinder engine found in the Civic Type R. In this form, it delivers a raucous 525 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Improved oil and fuel systems, along with an array of internal alterations, have resulted in these extreme outputs. To put 525 horsepower into perspective, that's 2 hp more than the BMW M4 Competition xDrive, and the Bimmer has an extra liter of capacity and two more cylinders. Source: Ariel Built on the platform of the 4R, the 4RR will still adhere to the brand's lightweight philosophy. Further technical specifications, such as the 4RR's weight, will only be announced later in the year. However, we do know that the 4R weighs around 1,250 pounds, and there's no reason to assume the 4RR will be significantly heavier. For some perspective, that's roughly half the weight of a Mazda MX-5 Miata with the automatic transmission. A picture released of the new 4R shows off a cool yellow and black color scheme, along with the open cockpit, open wheels, and exposed suspension components we're used to seeing from the Atom. The front splitter looks straight off an F1 car, and there's also a tall rear wing to help with aerodynamics. 4RR Builds On Impressive Atom Lineage Ariel Atom 1 Ariel Atom 2 Ariel Atom 3 Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The original Atom and its legendary tubular space frame chassis arrived in 2000. It used a Rover engine that made just 120 hp, a long way off the new 4RR's 525 horses. But the car's incredibly lithe body didn't require much power at all. Between 2003 and 2007, the Atom 2 used Honda power for the first time, with a supercharged version eventually producing 275 hp – and a distinctive whine. For 2007, the Atom 3 got a completely new chassis, body, and suspension, while its Honda engine made 300 hp in supercharged form. It was here that the limited Atom V8 arrived, too; it revved to 10,000 rpm and made 500 hp. Between 2012 and 2018, the Atom 3.5 received a new engine from the Type R, and the suspension was overhauled once more. The 3.5R made 367 hp and used a sequential gearbox. Ariel Atom 4 Ariel Atom 4R Ariel Atom V8 This set the scene for 2018's Atom 4. Still around now, every aspect of it was redesigned besides the pedals, steering wheel, and fuel filler cap. This model also received the latest Type R engine, and in so doing, became the first turbocharged Atom. Switchable ABS, traction, and launch control were added, but all driver aids could be disabled. In 2023, the Atom 4R raised the bar once more, this time with a 400-hp version of the Honda engine and a power-to-weight ratio of 600 hp per tonne. The 4RR makes one wonder how much power the little track monster can handle, but we're sure Atom isn't done with the Ariel yet. Source: Ariel About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
Auto Car
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep.147)
Close This week finds Steve Cropley and Matt Prior in the back of Cropley's Ford Ranger outside Ariel Motor Company as they discuss their respective weekly columns. They talk Ian Callum's new classic Mini, the Autocar Awards, Steve Rider's retirement, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class, the stress of having a car MOT tested and much more including your correspondence. Make sure you never miss an Autocar podcast. Subscribe to our podcasts via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Podcasts or via your preferred podcast platform. And if you subscribe, rate and review the pod, we'd really appreciate that too.
