This is the new Atom 4R and you’re right, it features wings and carbon. And the small matter of a 25 per cent power boost, which, yes, can deliver a particularly gusty haymaker. Now it only seems like yesterday that the Atom 4 arrived, but actually it was almost five years ago. Time, like the Atom 4R, flies.
The Atom 4 was the biggest step forward in Ariel’s near 25-year history. It was longer, wider, designed using CAD and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the only part carried over from the previous version were the steering wheel and top section of the column, pedal box and fuel cap. Not only was it stronger (and yes, a little heavier) it was also aerodynamically much better.
Er, no. But for a car less than half the weight, 110kg of downforce at only 70mph is impressive. And noticeable. Initially for the extra drag above 120mph (and just how vicious the deceleration is when you lift off before you go near the brakes), and once you’ve summoned up more courage, just how planted and stable it is through quick corners. The thing to remember at this stage is that the wings don’t come as standard with the 4R.
An additional cooling radiator in the left pod has increased engine cooling by 55 per cent, while the right one houses a larger air-to-air intercooler (a 75 per cent increase in intercooling area). This, plus new intake geometry is the chief reason for the extra power, up from 320bhp to 400bhp from the Honda Civic Type R’s 2.0-litre turbo. Torque stands at 369lb ft.
t is. Even as standard it hits 60mph in under 2.7 seconds, 100mph in less than 6.5s and should go on to a 170mph max. Rapid enough.
So let’s wind back a bit. Here’s what you get as standard with the 4R. No wings, no carbon panels, carbon wheels or brakes, Bilstein two-way adjustable dampers and Honda’s six-speed manual gearbox. It’s a bit of a hot rod really. Big power, less control over it. And it costs £77,940, a substantial hike over the regular car which starts at – well, it doesn’t matter particularly, because Ariel’s waiting list is so long that the cars don’t lose any money.
It’s best to think of this one as a 4R+. It’s had everything thrown at it, from carbon wheels and brakes (saving 26kg), plus carbon panels and wings, to Ohlins exotic four-way adjustable dampers and a Quaife six-speed sequential gearbox with pneumatic activation.
The Atom 4 was the biggest step forward in Ariel’s near 25-year history. It was longer, wider, designed using CAD and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the only part carried over from the previous version were the steering wheel and top section of the column, pedal box and fuel cap. Not only was it stronger (and yes, a little heavier) it was also aerodynamically much better.
Er, no. But for a car less than half the weight, 110kg of downforce at only 70mph is impressive. And noticeable. Initially for the extra drag above 120mph (and just how vicious the deceleration is when you lift off before you go near the brakes), and once you’ve summoned up more courage, just how planted and stable it is through quick corners. The thing to remember at this stage is that the wings don’t come as standard with the 4R.
An additional cooling radiator in the left pod has increased engine cooling by 55 per cent, while the right one houses a larger air-to-air intercooler (a 75 per cent increase in intercooling area). This, plus new intake geometry is the chief reason for the extra power, up from 320bhp to 400bhp from the Honda Civic Type R’s 2.0-litre turbo. Torque stands at 369lb ft.
t is. Even as standard it hits 60mph in under 2.7 seconds, 100mph in less than 6.5s and should go on to a 170mph max. Rapid enough.
So let’s wind back a bit. Here’s what you get as standard with the 4R. No wings, no carbon panels, carbon wheels or brakes, Bilstein two-way adjustable dampers and Honda’s six-speed manual gearbox. It’s a bit of a hot rod really. Big power, less control over it. And it costs £77,940, a substantial hike over the regular car which starts at – well, it doesn’t matter particularly, because Ariel’s waiting list is so long that the cars don’t lose any money.
It’s best to think of this one as a 4R+. It’s had everything thrown at it, from carbon wheels and brakes (saving 26kg), plus carbon panels and wings, to Ohlins exotic four-way adjustable dampers and a Quaife six-speed sequential gearbox with pneumatic activation.
