Ariel

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

Customer-Owned Ariel Nomad Completes The 2026 Morocco Desert Challenge

By Tyler Rampersaud – September 10, 2026

Ariel Nomad Completes Morocco Desert Challenge

Ariel Motor Company rose at the dawn of the millennium with the Atom, an ultra-lightweight and powerful performance car that demonstrates one of the world’s most extreme power-to-weight ratios and track-focused engineering masterpieces. Over the years, the Atom has evolved to feature more power, further engineering advancements, and further elevated performance. However, Ariel’s extreme performance engineering isn’t only relegated to the asphalt, as the manufacturer created the Nomad, an all-terrain counterpart to the Atom, combining the same lightweight construction ethos with increased visibility, suspension travel, and rugged versatility on various terrains. The Nomad is Ariel’s exploration of a new frontier of performance, after the manufacturer already demonstrated high-performance excellence and engineering prowess with the Atom. Now, the Nomad has a new feather in its cap, as one customer-owned example of the performance car has completed the 2026 Morocco Desert Challenge. One of the world’s toughest rally-raid events, the Morocco Desert Challenge consists of over 1,700 miles of driving across eight days. The terrain includes desert dunes, salt flats, and rocky surfaces in its eight stages, and each stage consists of hundreds of miles of distance. <- Gallery -> Long-term Ariel customers Gavin Kirby and Kevin Henderson decided to bring the Nomad, a road-legal vehicle, to the rally-raid event, and they were helped by the guidance of Henry Siebert-Saunders, Ariel’s Managing Director and an experienced off-road racer. Ariel’s engineering, service, and fabrication specialists created a dedicated off-road package for the Nomad to take on the challenge. Siebert-Saunders commented, The Nomad was designed to be a genuinely capable off-road performance car, but the Morocco Desert Challenge takes things to another level. Working with Gavin and Kevin gave us the opportunity to apply our engineering expertise to a very specific challenge and develop a bespoke package capable of handling conditions far beyond those encountered in normal use.” The package’s most important component was a new suspension system, with a higher ride and a wider track, designed to absorb the intense impacts seen in the event. With the existing engineering seen in the Nomad, the off-road package, and the support of the manufacturer, the Nomad managed to complete the 2026 Morocco Desert Challenge with few issues. Gavin Kirby, owner and driver of the Ariel Nomad, said, “There were some sections of the course that, had we come across them under different circumstances, we would have turned around and found a different route. However, to complete the MDC, we either tackled what was in front of us or admit defeat. Not only did the Nomad get us through these sections, but it tackled them with style and grace.” With lightweight construction, off-road capability, and robust power, the Ariel Nomad proved its engineering excellence with its completion of the 2026 Morocco Desert Challenge. View All Exotic Cars For Sale Image Source: Ariel Motor Company

By Jordan Aquistapace – June 30, 2026

Ariel Atom 4RR Sets New Road Car Lap Record at Anglesey

First launched in 1999, the Ariel Atom offered drivers something completely out of the ordinary: a road-legal race car famously built without doors, a roof, or a full windshield, revealing its lightweight exoskeleton. Nonetheless, it's one of those four-wheel creations designed to take you directly from your garage to the track, no trailer necessary. And while Ariel Motor Company’s foundation for the Atom remains the same, with nearly three decades of expertise baked into its DNA, the team of engineers continues to discover new ways to shed weight and add power for faster lap times. That evolution has culminated in Ariel’s most recent track weapon of choice, the Atom 4RR, which has set a new road-car lap record at the Anglesey International (GP) Circuit in Wales, in full road-legal trim on road tires. The record-breaking lap comes courtesy of Ariel test driver Phil Keen, who piloted the Atom 4RR to a fastest lap time of 1:27.77, outpacing the previous record of 1:29.35 set by a Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT2 RS. While the Ariel Atom starts under $65,000, the Atom 4RR represents the pinnacle of the series, often utilizing the latest and greatest performance and tech that eventually trickle down to the lower-level trims. The 4RR finds its comfort on the track thanks to a near-perfect power-to-weight ratio that separates it from nearly anything else in the paddock, weighing in under 1,550lbs with an output of 525 brake horsepower. All the power is generated from a 2.0L turbocharged Honda K20C Type R engine, tuned with three performance maps, which revs to an impressive 8,200rpm at its highest Map 3 setting.The Ariel Atom 4RR tops out the range, starting at $275,000, built-to-order with a clear focus on track intent, with its hand-built engine, 6-speed sequential gearbox, optimised chassis, bespoke suspension, and aero package. Having checked off a monumental feat on home soil, Ariel Motor Company’s next stop with the Atom 4RR will be the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Source: Ariel Motor Company

The New 525HP Ariel Atom 4RR Is The Quickest Atom Yet

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 09, 2026

New 525HP Ariel Atom 4RR Revealed

The turn of the millennium saw the introduction of the Ariel Atom, a track-focused car that explored the idea of combining the most extreme lightweight construction possible with the robust power to create an unequivocally thrilling performance machine. The result was nothing short of iconic, and the Atom quickly gained a reputation for its incredible dynamics and virtually unparalleled acceleration. Since then, 25 years have passed, and the Atom has continued to evolve, including a ludicrous V8-powered variant, and other takes on Ariel’s extreme approach to performance. However, the latest Atom, the new Ariel Atom 4RR created to celebrate the model’s 25th anniversary, is the quickest one yet. It's road-legal, and features a hand-built, bespoke engine based on Honda’s reputable 2.0-liter K20C Type-R engine with an immense 525 horsepower and a rev limit of 8,200 rpm. The engine is hand-built over 100 hours, and it helps the new Atom 4RR get from 0-60 in less than 2.4 seconds, reaching 100 mph in only 5.1 seconds. That makes it the quickest Ariel Atom yet. Weighing less than 700 kilograms, its power-to-weight ratio is an incredible 780 brake horsepower per ton, and with motorsport-focused engineering and components throughout, it’s a formidable track weapon despite its street-legal status. <- Gallery -> In the UK, the new Ariel Atom 4RR is available to order in extremely limited quantities, and carries a price that equates to over $278,000. However, with incredible power and the most extreme rendition of Ariel’s ultra-lightweight racing engineering, the new Ariel Atom 4RR is a celebration of 25 years of a performance icon, and an unprecedented machine in its own right. View All Exotic Cars For Sale Image Source: Ariel Motor Company

A black and yellow Ariel Atom 4RR with 525HP and an exposed frame speeds along a racetrack, steered by a helmeted driver.

By Tyler Rampersaud – July 03, 2025

New 525HP Ariel Atom 4RR Is The Most Powerful Atom Yet

The latest Ariel brandishes atomic power. Automotive enthusiasts with a passion for racing-focused ultralight cars will know the name Ariel, and even those who don’t might remember the image of Jeremy Clarkson’s face hilariously disfigured by the speed of a completely open-air barchetta, which just so happens to be the Ariel Atom. Even years ago, the Ariel Atom was a performance marvel that combined a robust Rover or Honda four-cylinder engine with incredible aerodynamics and lightweight construction for an unfathomable power-to-weight ratio. That ratio makes the Atom an incredible performance machine, and over the years, Ariel has made versions of the Atom that continue to up the ante, using engines derived from the Honda Civic Type R over the years, eventually turbocharging the car, and even creating a limited edition with immense power from a V8 engine. This year, Ariel is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a manufacturer since the first Ariel Atom emerged in 2000, and to celebrate the anniversary, a new variant of the Atom has been unveiled, and it’s the most powerful one yet: the Ariel Atom 4RR. It features a bespoke version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine from Honda with an incredible 525 horsepower. Combined with its ultra-light construction, the new Ariel Atom 4RR is an undeniably thrilling racing machine. Only 25 units will be made to order, helping commemorate the landmark anniversary of today’s Ariel Motor Company, despite the original roots of Ariel tracing all the way back to the first ‘Penny Farthing’ bicycle in 1874, 154 years ago. With more power than ever before, even more than the exclusive V8-powered version, the new 1-of-25 Ariel Atom 4RR is the most ludicrous iteration of the thrilling ultra-light performance machine. Image Source: Ariel Motor Company

By Tyler Rampersaud – August 28, 2024

Ariel Reveals The New Electric 'E-Nomad' Off-Road Concept

Ariel makes its off-road sensation electric. Ariel is known for its racing-derived cars with unfathomable power-to-weight ratios. The famous, hilarious image of Jeremy Clarkson’s face uncontrollably contorted by the wind is of him driving the famous Ariel Atom. This ultra-lightweight sports car uses its compact size to deliver undeniably thrilling performance. The Ariel Nomad is the off-road version of Ariel’s ultralight performance, and Ariel has now revealed a concept called the E-Nomad, electrifying the iconic Ariel Nomad. Powered by a 41kWh 450-volt battery, the E-Nomad Concept boasts 281 horsepower and 361 lbf/t of torque and matches the acceleration ability of its gasoline-powered counterpart, getting from 0-60 in just 3.4 seconds. It weighs under a ton at 1,975 pounds, giving the E-Nomad an advantage over many electric performance cars, which tend to be heavier than combustion-powered ones. Its lightweight construction is thanks partly to natural fiber bio-composite, recyclable bodywork, which aerodynamically enhances the E-Nomad to give it a range of up to 150 miles. With its electric power, sustainable bodywork, and innovative lightweight construction contributing to thrilling off-road performance, the new Ariel E-Nomad Concept is contributing to the future of off-road performance. The reception of the E-Nomad Concept and testing of the prototype will help inform the future of the iconic manufacturer, and electrification will possibly be part of the future of Ariel's ultra-lightweight high-performance machines. Finance A Luxury or Exotic Car For Sale Image Source: Ariel Motor Co

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 10, 2024

Ariel Motor Company Debuts The Nomad 2 As Its New All-Ter...

Discover the Ariel Nomad 2, the ultimate all-terrain sports car. Ariel Motor Company has once again pushed the boundaries of traditional sports car engineering with the launch of the all-new Ariel Nomad 2. The second-generation model, aptly named 'Nomad 2,' maintains the company's philosophy of blending form with function while offering a serious dose of fun. As the rugged sibling to the Atom, the Nomad 2 retains its outstanding off-road expertise with features like exposed outboard suspension, long-travel dampers, and damage-resistant body panels. The raised air intake and easily washable interior are practical touches that highlight its go-anywhere DNA. The Nomad 2 is a complete redesign from the ground up, incorporating only three parts from its predecessor. This new iteration exemplifies Ariel's dedication to evolution and customer feedback, showcasing an all-new chassis, suspension, steering, and brakes. The design improvements and significant aerodynamic refinements reflect Ariel's R&D efforts. The Nomad 2 is built for those who seek to explore its full potential, with options like fully selectable driver aids, a three-stage engine map controller, adjustable launch and traction control, and an ABS system tailored for both on- and off-road driving. At the heart of the Nomad 2 is a turbocharged 2.3L Ford engine, delivering up to 305 brake horsepower and an impressive 382 lb-ft of torque. The powertrain, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional paddle-shift sequential transmission, guarantees potent performance whether you're on the tarmac or racing rough terrain. Ariel's extensive testing regime, from racetracks to rally stages and extreme weather conditions, ensures that the Nomad 2 can handle whatever you throw at it. Starting at $75,000, each Nomad 2 is a bespoke masterpiece crafted by a single technician to meet the exacting standards and preferences of its owner. View All Exotic Cars For Sale Source: Ariel Motor Company

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By Andrew Nabors – July 20, 2020

Ariel Nomad R Limited to 5 Examples

Nothing beats the feeling of a street-legal rocketship. Ariel Motor Company builds fast & light cars with exposed tube frames and not much more. For their latest endeavor, they want us to forego the pavement and get dirty. Pulling out all the stops to build a capable rally machine, the Ariel Nomad R is limited to 5 examples. Starting with a supercharged Honda Type R engine, a Tarmac 6-speed sequential drives the rear wheels. An aggressive 4.42 differential sends 335 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque to the ground. Browse Exotic Cars For Sale The preload on the differential is easily changed while stopped, and it allows for perfect drifting in any condition. Other goodies include Eibach springs, Bilstein shocks, and a top speed of 121 mph. At current exchange ratios, pricing starts close to $82,000. Each car will be built by one technician from start to finish, as all 5 cars will be built-to-order. Click the button below to learn more and stay with us for all your Ariel news. Learn More

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