Official: New Ariel Atom 4 for Australia
Insane open-top road car designated for Australian roads in 2019The 2019 Ariel Atom 4 has broken cover overnight, debuting with the same turbocharged petrol engine as the Honda Civic Type R.
Tipping the scales at a feather-weight 595kg, the Ariel Atom 4 promises one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any road-registrable car. It is also Ariel’s first turbocharged release and its fastest car to-date.
Following its international debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, motoring.com.au can confirm the Atom 4 is officially coming to Australia.
Ariel’s Australian distributor, Sydney-based Road and Track, says the new model will be available and fully registrable for local roads in the second half of 2019.
Unlike the predecessor Ariel Atom 3 and Atom 3.5, which were only sold for track use in Australia, the Atom 4 has been wholly designed in compliance with international design rule standards.
“The previous model we had hoped to get approved in Australia but the car had never been through an EC-type (European) approval process. Going through that approval process means the Atom 4 would work in Australia,” explained Road and Track director Ross Pendergast.
With UK production of the hand-built Ariel Atom 4 limited to about 100 units annually, Pendergast was hopeful of an Australian allocation of “around 25” cars.
It is understood each will retail for about $100,000 plus on-road costs. That will allow it to undercut the KTM X-Bow R with which it competes.
“We’d be aiming to sell around 25 in Australia and a handful more in New Zealand,” Pendergast said. “I don’t think we’ll have pricing until 2019.”
Fitted with the Type R’s 2.0-litre turbo-four engine, the Ariel Atom 4 cranks out 239kW and 420Nm. It sends drive to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential, translating to a 0-100km/h time of about 2.8 seconds and top speed of 261km/h.
Lightweight 16-inch wheels are wrapped in Avon semi-slick tyres, while inside there is a digital dashboard and improved crash safety.
The firepower is also matched by a new chassis, upgraded double wishbone suspension, revised steering and brakes.
During the overall transformation, Ariel executives said only clutch, brake pedal and fuel cap made it through to the new model.
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