Ariel Atom 4 Goes Next Level with Civic Type R Heart
Ultimate Ariel Atom comes with a matching price tag of around $75,000, first U.S. delivers scheduled for December 2020.
What makes a Civic a Type R? None other than the 2.0-liter turbo-four, of course. From that tiny motor come 306 horses and 295 lb-ft of torque, all emptied upon the tarmac through the front wheels. To say it’s a wild ride would be an understatement; its appearance, on the other hand, knows no subtlety. Ariel, too, doesn’t know the meaning of subtlety.
Their Atom line is a bare-bones track terror with nothing but you keeping it in check. And the job just got harder. According to Motor Authority, the fourth-gen machine’s heart comes courtesy of the Civic Type R.
Now powering the rear wheels via a six-speed, the Type R’s heart slams down 320 horses to the ground. The resulting tire smoke leads to a zero to 60 time of just 2.8 seconds, 100 in 6.8 seconds, and a top speed of 162 mph. Since it weighs hardly anything, the Atom 4 is an uncontrolled missile besting some of the best supercars around.
However, if you’re mad enough, you check off an $8,000 option which boosts the 2.0-liter turbo-four to 350 horsepower. At that rate, you may as well check off a few more boxes, including upgraded braking, suspension, and aero. Maybe hit up your nearest race shop for a HANS device, too.
The Atom 4 receives some updates inside the tubular frame, too. Like the (street-legal) race car that it is, the Ariel comes equipped with an instrument cluster straight out of a Red Bull F1 car. The digital display also links up with the rear camera for backing out of the trailer prior to the grid. And should things get really hairy, the new frame is built better than ever for greater safety.
As for how much it’ll cost to bring an Atom 4 from South Boston, Virginia, the starting price is $74,750. Check off all the right boxes, though, and you can easily build this beast up to over six figures. The Civic Type R, meanwhile, starts at $37,495, offers room for five, and tons of utility.
That said, it’s great to know there’s another machine out there with the Type R’s secret sauce. Deliveries of the Atom 4 begin in the U.S. in December.
Photos: Ariel
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