Ariel Nomad mud slinger making a splash

UK-based low-volume high-performance car maker Ariel has revealed its latest model, the Nomad, a high-riding, mud-slinging, power-sliding offroad warrior.

Set to make its public debut at the Autosport motor racing show the UK on January 8, the Nomad is the antithesis of the riotously fast Atom – the track-biased car for which Ariel is best-known –designed to tackle rough offroad tracks and rally stages.

However the Nomad will retain the Atom's light weight and high power ethos, the company promising to deliver a compact, agile, and fun offroad buggy.

Tipping the scales at around 700kg, roughly 150kg more than the Atom, the Ariel Nomad will enter production early this year for UK deliveries by mid-year. Although Ariel has not confirmed the engine for the new model, it's understood it will be different from the Atom's 2.0-litre four-cylinder Civic Type R engine, which produces up to 261kW in supercharged form.

Expected to be paired with a larger displacement engine that belts out around 150kW, Ariel wants the Nomad to less peaky and have more mid-range torque for mud and gravel driving, but the British company insists the buggy will still be rapid.

Ariel has in the past built a V8-powered Atom with 373kW, but it's unlikely the Nomad will get this wild engine.

The Nomad's gearbox will be a six-speed manual Honda unit and a limited slip differential will also be offered.

Ariel says it has already conducted testing on and off-road, and claims that although the same basic body structure is shared between the Atom and Nomad, the latter can withstand much more punishment.

The Nomad is based on a slightly reworked version of the Atom's exposed tubular exoskeleton, but surrounded by a quartet of chunky tyres and raised suspension.

Ariel's preview sketches of the Nomad also reveal a windscreen, roof-mounted spot lights, spare tyres and improved roll-over protection.

Independent suspension is retained, although it's more robust to cope with forest trails, bumps, lumps and presumably getting airborne. As such there's significantly more suspension travel  and Ariel is promising a range of different wheel and tyre combinations to suit customers' requirements.

The interior is expected to be similar to the Atom, with the Nomad adopting similar controls and layout.