I usually am here to tell you about a cool car coming to China or the UK that U.S. car enthusiasts will never get. But I actually have the opposite news to report today!
Ariel’s full range of British performance cars is now available to American customers for the first time. This includes the Atom 4, Atom 4R, Atom 4RR, and the Nomad 2. This was made possible thanks to a partnership with Forman Motorworks of Arizona,. They will now be the exclusive customer contact if you want one of these crazy things.
Simon Saunders, Founder of Ariel Motor Company, said of the groundbreaking decision: “We want to ensure customers in the U.S. have a much closer connection to the cars we design and build here in England. Supplying directly from our factory means American buyers can choose from the full model range, while also enjoying the same total specification flexibility as UK customers.”
The Ariel lineup comes to the U.S.
You may have never heard of Ariel. It’s not exactly a super well-known name compared to Porsche or even Lotus. However, these are the exact vehicles we need.
The future of American autos seems a bit uninspired. To keep up with China’s pricing and production speed, many automakers are going back to basics, like the bare-bones Slate and Ford’s electric Fathom. That seemed to be the only way we’d get fairly priced vehicles. We also have plenty of SUVs everywhere, and that isn’t slowing down. It has left Americans fantasizing about the cheap, interesting vehicles available overseas (and Canada).
Well, now we’re finally getting something that isn’t so cookie-cutter. I mean, I gotta respect a brand that has this tagline on the website: “It’s unique, it’s original, and nothing else comes close.”
Instead of hearing about more three-prong production systems and gigacasting, Ariel boasts having no production line. No robots. Everything is done with “British skill and hand-built craftsmanship.” For this reason, Ariel vehicles are very customizable, meant to fit your performance needs and style.
Ariel focuses on lightweight performance cars that look a bit skeletal at a glance but pack plenty of handling and aerodynamic features. They naturally have plenty of power, a stiffer chassis, and refined suspension. But drivers can really customize their Ariel to fit their driving style and performance needs.
The Ariel Atom 4 is 1,350 pounds yet has up to 350 horsepower thanks to a turbocharged engine. The power-to-weight ratio is crazy here. For comparison, the 2006 Lotus Elise is just under 2,000 pounds (1,984 lbs) and 190 hp. So yeah, the Atom 4 is crazy.
The Ariel 4R is a bit heavier at 1,550 pounds, but also has more horsepower: 400 hp. Ariel claims it has “supercar-rivaling performance.” They are not too far off. The 0 to 60 mph sprint is under 2.7 seconds and the top speed is 170 mph. This car is meant for the track.
Then we have the Ariel 4RR (not to be confused with the 4R… Notice the extra “R”). This one is also 1,550 pounds, but now the horsepower has been bumped up to 525 hp. With a bespoke motorsport-spec engine and race-grade components, this performance car is Ariel’s fastest. The 0-60 has been reduced to 2.4 seconds, and the top speed goes up to 175 mph.
Lastly, we have the Nomad 2. This is Ariel’s off-roading option, an all-terrain car that can handle mud, sand, and rain. While this is probably not the most technical off-roading option, it has rear-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and a lightweight chassis, making it perfect for some weekend adventures. Said Top Gear (remember, it was only available in the UK until now): “Yeah, you can think of it like a yacht or horse; something that’s recreation but not really transport. It does serve that function brilliantly, etching a grin deep in your face because it’s so wonderfully alive.”
How much are Ariel sports cars?
Ariel expects to deliver the Atom 4 and Atom 4R in the first quarter of 2027. U.S. customer deliveries will start in summer 2027. You can check out all the model specs and pricing here. But I can tell you now: they’re not cheap. That’s the catch.
We said we wanted cool and cheap cars, but it seems we can really only have one or the other in the country’s current state. The Ariel lineup is cool as hell, but the Ariel R starts at $117,000, and it only goes way up from there. The 4R starts at $166,500, the 4RR makes you “inquire for pricing,” which is never a good sign. The Nomad 2 starts at $124,000.
I mean… That’s well above the $50,000 new-car average that we were already complaining about.
The Canyon Carver, a Lotus Elise enthusiast, recently questioned: “2,000 lbs, 250 hp, manual, $40k? Who’s building it?”
He lamented: “I don’t need 700 horsepower to have fun. Give me a lightweight chassis, a manual transmission, great steering, and a twisty road. That’s driving nirvana.”
Well, the Ariel lineup checks all of these boxes except the $40K price tag. You can’t have everything, I guess. But if you want a lightweight manual sports car with great handling and aerodynamics (and have no budget), this is still a super exciting update. At least it’s not another ugly BMW SUV.
