Ariel Motor Company, the UK-based low-volume manufacturer of ultra-lightweight road, track, and off-road vehicles, has launched the ultimate go-anywhere sportscar – the all-new Ariel Nomad 2.
Ariel’s launch of its second-generation Ariel Nomad is aptly named ‘Nomad 2’. As with the Atom sports car, now in its fourth generation, the Nomad evolves and maintains Ariel’s core value of SERIOUS FUN, epitomising the company’s philosophy of form following function.
Known as the Atom’s ‘Mucky Brother’ the Nomad’s off-road capability is immediately evident with exposed outboard suspension, long travel dampers, damage resistant body panels, raised air intake and a hose out interior.
The Nomad 2 is an instantly recognisable development of the original, yet the evolved design language is clear when comparing both vehicles. The Nomad 2 is an all-new design from the ground up – featuring only three carry-over parts – that builds on learnings from the original car, integrates customer feedback, and benefits from significant Ariel R&D.
The basis of Nomad 2 is an all-new tubular chassis, designed in-house by the Ariel engineering and design team, with much learning coming from the first Nomad and more recently from the Atom 4. Featuring larger (63.5mm and 51mm) diameter main and diagonal tubes than the previous Nomad, each tube has been analysed and optimised to give a light but extraordinarily strong structure. The torsional stiffness of the chassis has been increased by more than 60% compared to the original Nomad delivering enormous structural rigidity. With built-in roll-over protection, the chassis offers a full safety cage for very high levels of occupant safety and exceeds the demands of a full frontal 50kph barrier impact, seat belt pull, and rear impact test.
At the heart of the Nomad 2 is the new Ford 2.3-litre, 4-cylinder, direct injection, 16-valve, twin spool turbocharged engine. Derived from the Focus ST the engine has been tuned by Ariel to give up to 305bhp with an astonishing 518Nm of torque. Mapped by Ariel to on and off-road requirements, the Nomad 2 has the option of a switchable ECU allowing drivers to choose from three different engine maps, giving 260bhp / 385Nm, 302bhp / 451Nm, or 305bhp / 518Nm. To achieve ultimate performance off-road, as well as on it, the highest setting delivers considerably more torque throughout the rev range.
The interior / cockpit of the Nomad is designed to be washed out, with drain holes in the floor to let water out, and no material trim. The two lightweight seats are a version of those first seen in the Atom 4, with supportive wings and the potential to accommodate full race harnesses with crutch straps for competition or serious off-road use. Two widths of seats and carbon-fibre options are available.
New switchgear is all within reach of the 305mm diameter steering wheel, with two turns lock to lock, while instrumentation is via a full colour TFT display unit made for the Nomad by AIM Technologies. Incorporating multiple scrollable menus, the instruments feature gear shift lights and indicate gear position, while there’s also provision for real time data logging and recording to a Compact Flash Card. When reverse is selected, a rear camera automatically engages, showing the rearward view on the TFT display.
As part of the new electrical layout a PDM (Power Distribution Management) system has been used in Nomad 2, eliminating the need for multiple fuses, relays and a large fuse box. Using programmable limit channels, the PDM system continually monitors the entire car’s electrical system, powering individual circuits off and back on if necessary. This feature is particularly useful when operating in very harsh and adverse conditions.
UK prices start at £67,992 inc. VAT
AutoBrief Snippets
- Second generation of the iconic Ariel Nomad
- Complete re-design from the ground up with only three carry-over parts from first Nomad
- New, larger diameter tube chassis increases torsional stiffness by more than 60%
- Totally revised suspension with anti-dive and anti-squat
- Ford ST 2.3L turbo engine with up to 305bhp and 518Nm torque
- Tuned for ultra-quick in-gear performance, with a broad and predictable torque range
- 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 134mph
- Three-stage driver-adjustable ECU map
- Adjustable launch and traction control
- Raised aerodynamic ram-air intake
- Dual off-road filtration system
- Larger cooling, fuel, and brake system with adjustable ABS
- Significant aerodynamic improvements to bodywork
- New seats, revised ergonomics, and more cockpit space
- Full colour TFT instrumentation
- PDM (Power Distribution Module) electronics system removes multiple fuses and relays