When Ariel entered the track-toy market in 2000, few would have anticipated that its pointy, tubular-framed Atom would outdo the competition so conclusively.
Success brings expectation, which weighed heavy on its latest project: an off-road version capable of the same roadgoing thrills while also handling its business in the rough stuff.
It speaks to Ariel’s attention to detail and slavish commitment to driver involvement that the Nomad doesn’t. just meet those criteria: it blows them into the weeds.
While the Nomad might look similar, the differences run deeper than its desert beige paint.
That intricate exposed chassis is stiffer and heavier, built to cope off-road. The wishbone suspension is of a heavier grade, with a trio of damper options including a sublime set of range-topping rally-derived units from Ohlins.
Mounted in the back is a bigger, torquier Honda engine – the K24 2354cc ‘four’ borrowed from the US Civic Type S rather than the R – mated to a slick, short-geared six-speed manual ’box.
