It's a more hardcore version of the already bonkers Atom 4.
- 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder from Honda Civic Type R (400 horsepower/369 lb-ft of torque)
- Six-speed sequential gearbox
- 0-62 mph in 2.7 seconds, 0-100 mph in under 6.5, top speed of 170 mph
- Carbon fiber wheels
- Pricing starts at equivalent of $85,000
Ariel has unveiled its latest stripped-down masterpiece at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It's called the Ariel Atom 4R, and it's the latest evolution of a car that has become a favorite of track day enthusiasts.
These fans will be happy to learn that the 4R is focused on “ultimate road and track performance.” The 4R is once again powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder borrowed from the Honda Civic Type R. While the power-to-weight ratio would have been impressive with the standard engine, Ariel nevertheless decided that it needed to be boosted to 400 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Ariel developed new cooling and intercooler systems for the engine to achieve this power output.
Ariel claims this gnarly skeleton car can reach 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, 0-100 mph in less than 6.5 seconds, while the top speed is 170 mph. The latter hardly matters, and we're more interested to see the claimed in-gear acceleration times.
“We continue to strive to evolve the Atom as the ultimate driver's car, whether on road or track,” said Henry Siebert-Saunders, Director of Ariel. “The 4R follows in the footsteps of the amazing Atom 3.5R and yet again moves the story on. This really is an astonishing car of which we're justifiably proud.”
The power provided by the Honda engine is sent to the rear wheels via a Quaife six-speed sequential gearbox operated by pneumatic paddle shifters. Ariel says it can complete five downshifts in less than a second. The car will blip the throttle on downshifts, and upshifts can be made at full throttle (without using the clutch) to ensure uninterrupted forward momentum.
For the 4R, Ariel retained the standard pushrod suspension setup but upgraded to Ohlins TTX36 dampers, designed and valved specifically for this car. Ariel also gives its customers a choice between Ohlins springs for road or track use. The uprights are made from machined aluminum to reduce unsprung weight. The carbon wheels also reduce the unsprung mass, with a total of 62 lbs of unsprung mass removed from the car, which now weighs only 1,250 lbs.
While the 4R may look intimidating, Ariel included several features to make it more approachable. The turbo boost is selectable between three positions, most likely so amateur drivers can work up to the full 400 hp instead of just diving in the deep end. Adjustable traction and launch control are also standard, while all four wheels are equipped with lightweight carbon brakes and carbon ceramic discs. Even the ABS system has 12 different settings and can be turned off entirely. We wouldn't recommend this for road driving. Not even racing drivers can beat modern ABS systems.
The aerodynamic components were designed with TotalSim using Computational Fluid Dynamics and a new cloud-based system called Bramble. This allowed Ariel to run multiple simulations before settling on the current setup. The large rear wing works evenly across the entire car, while the raised section on the mudguards prevents lift.
Each Ariel is hand-built to its owner's exact specifications. Ariel also says a wide variety of options supports the engine, gearbox, and suspension so that each customer can tailor the car to their driving style.
A track timing system with video can also be incorporated into the dashboard with a reverse camera. Although visibility is quite good when there's almost no car around you, you'll love that reverse camera once strapped into the six-point harness.
The starting price of the Atom 4R is 64,950 pounds, roughly $85,000.
Keyword: Ariel Atom 4R Revealed As 400-HP Track Weapon Weighing Only 1,250 LBS