Apocalypse Now

MORE THAN JUST A DUNE BUGGY WITH VIPER-RIVALING ACCELERATION.

- Bob Sorokanich

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.