New Ariel Nomad 2 gets Ford Focus ST power

Ariel Motor Company has pulled the drapes off the all-new 2024 Ariel Nomad 2 – the niche British car-maker’s skeletal alternative to fast all-terrain sports cars like the Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato.

Despite looking almost identical to the original Nomad (2015-2024), the Ariel Nomad 2 is said to be all-new, resting on a 48mm-longer wheelbase and a 50mm-wider front and rear track.

Switching from Honda to Ford power, the Nomad now gets a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s related to the one that powers the previous Ford Focus ST.

Mounted midship, the new 2.3T pumps out an impressive 227kW and 518Nm of torque, and comes with a three-stage engine map controller.

There’s also driver-adjustable launch and traction control, and an adjustable ABS system for on- and off-road driving.

In its most fearsome setting, the Nomad 2 can launch from 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in just 3.4 seconds, on its way to a 216km/h top speed.

Owners also have the choice of either a six-speed manual or a six-speed sequential transmission sourced from Quaife.

Ariel’s engineers have installed a new air intake system, larger radiator and dual air filtration for the intercooler to stop debris entering the engine.

They’ve also increased the fuel tank capacity by 40 per cent to 70 litres, claiming a range of up to 885km between refills.

Enhancing safety, there’s now a thicker tubular chassis than before that’s said to increase torsional stiffness by up to 60 per cent.

Double wishbone suspension with K-Tech coil-over dampers and Eibach dual-rate springs are standard, with the option of either adjustable Ohlin TTX dampers or remote-reservoir two-stage Bilstein dampers.

To cope with the increase in performance, the brakes are 40 per cent bigger, with adjustable bias front-to-rear. A hydraulic handbrake is also standard.

Wheels range from 16- to 18-inch, combining with different tyres depending on what surfaces you drive on.

“The Nomad 2 is, even to us, a truly remarkable car. As ever, we’ve captured all the elements customers want – road car refinement and reliability, rally car performance and dynamics, plus beach buggy fun,” said Ariel founder and director, Simon Saunders.

“It’s a car that can be driven to the shops, and then around a WRC rally stage. But most importantly, whatever the journey, our guiding principle is that it will put a smile on your face.”

In the UK, Ariel offers more than 100 options for the latest Nomad 2, with pricing to kick off at £67,992 ($A129,500).

After a five-year delay, the small Somerset-based car-maker finally exported its wild 2024 Ariel Atom 4 to Australia last year, limited to 50 cars with each priced from $179,990 plus on-road costs.

It’s not known if local importer Road and Track plans to bring a small batch of the Nomad 2 to our market, but the company has previously warned that “a number of certification issues” stood in the way of it importing the Atom 4, which could hinder the chances of the Nomad 2.

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