Anniversary Ariel Atom 4RR Is Most Extreme Version to Date

Ariel is one of those brands that car enthusiasts know about, but few have probably seen any of its products. Well, it’s latest creation is going to be even more rare than any other model produced by the company. Say hello to the extreme the Ariel Atom 4RR.

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The Atom 4RR is the most focused vehicle we’ve ever built – a car that captures everything we’ve learned over 25 years of pure driver-focused engineering. It is the fastest and most powerful Atom to date, yet it stays true to our founding principles of lightweight, minimalism, and delivering very serious fun. It is the most direct connection between car, driver, and track or road, that we have ever made
– Simon Saunders, Ariel Motor Company founder

Buy now and take advantage of free delivery in South Africa on orders over R349.

An Anniversary Present

It may seem hard to believe, but the UK-based manufacturer of lightweight road, track, and off-road vehicles has just turned 25. For that time the company has built some truly crazy machines, starting with the Atom. The most recent iteration is the Atom 4. Track specials aren’t its only focus as the company has also created the bonkers off-roading Nomad.

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Staying True

The Ariel Atom 4RR maintains the ethos of the brand, with lightweight construction and a powerful engine. Furthermore, the race-y looking 4RR is road legal. The car features a motorsport-spec Honda engine that revs to over 8 000 r/min. The turbocharged unit produces 329 kW (525 bhp) along with 550 N.m on the wildest of its three power maps. A six-speed sequential transmission sends power to an LSD that sits between the rear wheels. Ariel says it tips the scales at under 700 kg.

Performance stats are suitably impressive. The 0-100 km/h blast takes 2,4 seconds, from 0-160 km/h (100 mph) takes 5,1 and it has a top speed of 282 km/h. But those numbers will be secondary to the lap time that the 4RR will be able to achieve. The 4RR’s aerodynamic package was designed to increase downforce without introducing unnecessary drag. As a result it is said to be both devastatingly fast in corners and exceptionally stable at higher speeds. Carbon fibre side pods incorporate additional cooling for the engine and gearbox.

Race-Spec Suspension

The suspension is full-on racecar-spec. The Ariel Atom 4RR features fully adjustable twin-tube Öhlins dampers, adjustable for compression and rebound, machined aluminium uprights, aerofoil section adjustable chromoly wishbones and pushrods. 310 mm AP Racing discs clamped by four-piston calipers take care of braking duties. In addition there is an 11-step ABS system for experienced drivers to take advantage of. Oh, it also has adjustable traction control.

And the price of all this track-focused goodness, we hear you ask? It’s about R4,6m (GBP208 000) before taxes and import duties. So it may seem like a performance bargain, but only if you are reading this outside of South Africa.