The new Ariel Atom 4R is said to put its predecessors in the shade in terms of performance: a tuned Honda Civic Type-R four-cylinder engine with a displacement of two liters and a new cooling system are said to have around 25 percent more power than the standard Honda engine. According to the manufacturer, the sports car achieves 406 hp and a torque of 500 Newton meters.
The two-seater, weighing just 595 kilograms, should be able to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 2.7 seconds. After less than 6.5 seconds, the speedometer needle should show 160 km/h. The top speed is around 270 km/h.
According to the manufacturer, the clutch does not have to be operated to upshift the six-speed manual transmission at full throttle. And when you downshift, the car brakes automatically, which should bring control of the vehicle. Shifting down five gears takes less than a second.
But there is not much electronics on board the Atom 4R. In addition to a switchable ABS system with twelve positions for wet, dry and changing surfaces, which is available for the first time, the sports car also has a reversing camera. This should be particularly helpful if you are strapped in with a 6-point belt. Because it grips the driver’s body from several sides and restricts movement to a certain extent.
Atom 4R is said to be Ariel’s second most powerful sports car
“The 4R follows in the footsteps of the amazing Atom 3.5R and pushes the story forward once again,” said Henry Siebert-Saunders, director of Ariel, in a press release on the sports car unveiled in mid-July. Compared to the 3.5R, which was made ten years ago, the 4R has a new cooling system with additional coolers under the fairing, according to the manufacturer. The only thing more powerful than the 4R at Ariel was the Atom V8, which rolled off the assembly line 25 times in a limited edition in 2010 and had up to 500 hp.
In order to reduce the weight of the vehicle, which is just 1.12 meters high and 3.52 meters long, and ultimately improve driving performance, vehicle parts such as fenders, bonnet and brakes are made of carbon. The brake discs are said to be less than half the weight of the standard Atom brake discs. Together with the specially made carbon rims, the developers want to have saved 26 kilograms of vehicle weight compared to the production vehicle. In addition, unlike the buggy-like Nomad, the second sports car in Ariel’s fleet, the 4R does not have a steel framework that surrounds the occupants from above. Doors and a roof are also missing.
Visual highlights of the Formula 1-like runabout are said to be the new sidepods. An additional cooler is installed on the left side. Overall, engine cooling is to be increased by 55 percent. Two separately installed racing seats should provide further racing car feeling.
The purchase price is at least around 75,000 euros plus VAT
The British advertise that each Atom 4R is handcrafted by a single technician according to individual specifications. Each model should be unique. For example, the production of the engine, transmission and suspension should offer different options, whereby each vehicle should be built for its specific use and according to the wishes of the customer. Atom can also pay well for this. The price of the small sports car starts at the equivalent of around 75,000 euros plus VAT. It is not yet known when the vehicle will be available.