MORE THAN JUST A DUNE BUGGY WITH VIPER-RIVALING ACCELERATION.
ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE. It’s not only a cliché, it’s almost the default starting point when writing about a vehicle like this. The Ariel Nomad, with its armadillo profile, looks like the creation of a survivalist scrapper in humanity’s last outpost.
It’s my goal, then, to explain the Nomad without mentioning the Z-word again.
Perhaps you’ve heard of the Ariel Atom 3S, a 365-hp British go-kart with just enough structure to carry an engine, two passengers, and, astonishingly, a license plate. It’s raw and amazing, the perfect antidote to the typical modern automobile. Imagine an alternative. Like an Atom, but built sturdier, sprung softer, and suited to the kind of terrain that would leave the pavement-oriented Ariel sitting in its own crankcase puddle.
That’s the Ariel Nomad.
Like the Atom, the Nomad sports the 2.4-liter inline-four from the 2012–2015 Civic Si. That engine, Honda’s excellent six-speed manual transaxle, and a limited-slip differential all get snugged up behind the Nomad’s seats, driving the rear wheels. In naturally aspirated trim, the engine puts out 230 horses at 7200 rpm and 200 lb-ft of torque at 4300 rpm, enough to move the Nomad from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 3.4 seconds and on to a 125-mph top speed. With an optional supercharger, the Ariel nets 300 hp and acceleration to rival a sport bike’s.
Denne historien er fra June 2017-utgaven av Road & Track.
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Denne historien er fra June 2017-utgaven av Road & Track.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
MR. CALIFORNIA
MEET THE MAN WHO PUT THE STATE ON THE MAP AS THE LEADER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST VEHICLE EMISSIONS.
RESIDENT ALIEN
THE CZINGER 21C LOOKS LIKE IT ARRIVED FROM A DISTANT PLANET. INSTEAD, IT COMES FROM CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS KIND OF THE SAME THING.
FUNNY FACE
THE CURIOUS CASE OF CALIFORNIA-DIAL WATCHES.
THE PROBLEM WITH ROBERT WILLIAMS
TOWARD THE END of our third interview, Robert Williams gives me some advice about overcoming creative blocks. “Phrase it as a problem,” he says. “
Quiet Riot
In the Ioniq 5 N, Hyundai makes the case that an EV can tamp down racetrack noise without sacrificing capability.
The Sound and the Fury
A legal feud over booming decibels put California's most historic roadracing circuit in jeopardy.
HOLLYWOOD'S GREATEST STUNT DRIVER
CAREY LOFTIN WAS THE KING OF THE SCIENTIFIC WILD-ASS GUESS
OFFLINE
THIS BURBANK BOOKSTORE IS A REPOSITORY FOR THE WORLD OF AUTOMOTIVE INFORMATION NOT ON YOUR PHONE.
THE COURSE OF HISTORY
The West Coast tracks where modern racing was born.
TANK WARFARE
WHAT IF THE WHOLE CAR WERE A GAS TANK?
