Ariel Officially Reveals the Nomad

Ariel Nomad

Just days ago we brought you the initial images and some light details on the Ariel Atom’s angrier and dirtier little brother, the Ariel Nomad. Well, now the veil of secrecy has been pulled all the way back, and the British automaker has officially revealed all of the details. As is typical with the crazy petrol-heads at Ariel, the Nomad easily meets my expectations, then blows them completely out of the water (or off the trail in the matter of the Nomad).

The Nomad gets its off-road chops by way of a heavy-duty suspension system on the front and rear that includes unequal-length, TIG welded wishbones, lightweight uprights, outboard Bilstein shocks, and alloy Eibach springs. Hanging off the corners are 7Jx15 wheels slathered in mud- and sand-flinging 235/75R15 Yokohama rubber, and stopping these rollers are 240-mm (9.45-inch) rotors on the front and rear. Twin master cylinders allow for the ability to adjust brake bias for better tuning for varying conditions.

Because it’s only 3,215 mm (126.6 inches) long and has a 2,348-mm (92.4-inch) wheelbase, the approach and departure angles of the Nomad are impressive at 71 and 82 degrees, respectively. At just 1,425 mm (56 inches) tall and 1,850 mm (72.8 inches) wide, the Nomad shouldn’t have many issues with clearance.

Ariel Nomad

Off-road insanity is unattainable without the proper engine powering the wheels. Ariel meets this challenge head-on with a Honda-sourced, 2.4-liter, K24, i-VTEC engine that is massaged to deliver a whopping 235 horsepower at 7,200 revs and 300 Nm (221 pound-feet) of twist at 4,300 rpm. This power hits the rear wheels by way of a six-speed, close-ratio gearbox.  That may not sound like much power, but when you’re moving just 670 kg (1,477 pounds) you don’t need gobs of power, especially when you’re key responsibility it to carve up muddy trails and sand dunes. Even at that, the Nomad is still one hell of a performer with 100 km/h (62 mph) blasting by in just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 125 mph.

On top of the awesomeness that comes standard with the Nomad, there is a slew of options that can make it even better. I can’t list them all, but some of the highlights include a cat-bypass pipe, 290-mm (11.4-inch) rotors with four-pot calipers, adjustable dampers with two-piece springs, a competition steering rack, a high-strength wishbone set, road tires (my personal favorite), up to 18-inch wheels, carbon-fiber seats, and so much more.

Best of all, this rig is built by Ariel; a company that knows a thing or two about purpose-built vehicles.

Unfortunately, there is no word on pricing yet, but I suspect the Nomad will start around the same $65,000 base price as the Atom here in the U.S.