Ariel Nomad Off-Roader Now Available in the US for $78,200

BOLD RIDE

Copyright © 2016 Bold Ride LLC.

 

Posted onby Zach Doell

                                  

When it comes to the world of sports cars, few vehicles can compete with the legendary and supremely lightweight Ariel Atom, in terms of pound-for-pound performance. The barebones sports car utterly changed the game upon its introduction in 2000, and debut on US shores in 2006. 

 

Now its all-new off-road sibling is poised to make the jump to American shores too, though admittedly it won’t be cheap. TMI Autotech, the Ariel Motor Company’s exclusive US manufacturer, recently unveiled pricing for the new US-built Ariel Nomads, which start at $78,200 for “Sport” versions and $90,450 for “Tactical” variants.

Pricing considered, there’s plenty to love about the Ariel Nomad; in fact, we even crowned it our 2015 Bold Ride of the Year.

Like its Atom sibling, the Ariel Nomad off-road buggy features a tubular exoskeleton chassis, both for optimum structural rigidity and driver safety, as well as a familiar Honda powerplant mounted in the rear. In the Nomad, the 2.4-liter Honda K24 four-cylinder summons 230 horsepower and 220 lb.-ft. of torque, put to the ground through a six-speed close ratio manual gearbox.

 

Weighing in at just 1,480 pounds (850 pounds lighter than the all-new Mazda MX-5), the off-road Nomad is capable of launching to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, 100 mph just five seconds later, and reaching a top speed of 125 mph. No, this is not a machine for the faint of heart.

As standard, the Ariel Nomad Sport gives US customers a capable out-of-the-box buggy. Those looking for more can either upgrade through an extensive list of optional extras, or opt for the fuller equipped Tactical model.

Springing for the Ariel Nomad Tactical makes the following options standard: Alcon brakes (including handbrake), higher strength suspension wishbones, six-point racing harnesses, 15-inch wheels with Yokohama tires, a spare tire carrier, front-mounted Warn winch, coolant pipe and sump guards, a roof light bar, and adjustable dampers (whereas the “Sport” Nomad’s are non-adjustable).

Like the sound of that? The firm is now accepting orders for the first US-built versions.



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