England’s Ariel Motor Company has published two teaser sketches that preview a new off-roader called Nomad. Billed as the Atom’s mucky brother, the Nomad will greet the public for the first time at the Autosport International show that will open its doors in Birmingham, England, next month. The Nomad takes the form of a buggy-like open-top two-seater that looks ready to hit the dunes. It rides on a reinforced evolution of the Atom’s frame that is bronze-welded by hand. The basic mechanical layout is carried over from the Atom with only minor modifications but the Nomad stands out thanks to a long-travel suspension, a noticeably increased ground clearance, a full roll cage and high-profile tires.
Power for the 1,500-pound Nomad comes from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that is borrowed from the Honda parts bin. Mounted transversally behind the passenger compartment, the four-banger sends 200 horsepower to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and a mechanical limited-slip differential. Additional differential options will be available at an extra cost.
Performance specifications have not been released but company executives promise that the Nomad will offer the handling and acceleration that buyers have come to expect from an Ariel.
“The car should still be very quick on road. Not quite as quick as an Atom, maybe, but it will be able to do many things an Atom never could,” explained Henry Siebert-Saunders, the man behind the Nomad.
Ariel estimates that the Nomad will cost about £30,000, a sum that converts to roughly $46,700. The company will begin taking orders next January and it expects to deliver the first Nomads in mid-2015.
December 28, 2014December 28, 2014
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