FIRST DRIVE: Ariel Atom 4R - 400bhp, MIND-BENDING Performance | Top Gear

This is the new Atom 4R and you’re right, it features wings and carbon. And the small matter of a 25 per cent power boost, which, yes, can deliver a particularly gusty haymaker. As standard it hits 60mph in under 2.7 seconds, 100mph in less than 6.5s and should go on to a 170mph max. Rapid enough.
It costs £77,940, a substantial hike over the regular car which starts at - well, it doesn’t matter particularly, because Ariel’s waiting list is so long that the cars don’t lose any money. But it’s best to think of this one as a 4R+. It’s had everything thrown at it, from carbon wheels and brakes (saving 26kg), plus carbon panels and wings, to Ohlins exotic four-way adjustable dampers and a Quaife six-speed sequential gearbox with pneumatic activation. So, this one costs about £140,000 as tested.
Overall? It’s a bonkers loon of a device that never takes itself too seriously. It just wants to have fun, as Top gear Magazine’s Ollie Marriage finds out when he gets behind the wheel.
Subscribe to Top Gear for more videos: bit.ly/SubscribeToTopGear
WATCH MORE TOP GEAR:
First Looks: bit.ly/TGFirstLooks
First Drives: bit.ly/TGFirstDrives
American Tuned ft. Rob Dahm: bit.ly/TGAmericanTuned
LISTEN to the Top Gear Magazine Podcast: topgear.podlink.to/Podcast
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:46 Ariel Atom 4R An Overview
03:47 Let's Talk Power
06:03 Can It Grip
07:13 Gearbox
07:57 What's It Like To Drive
10:16 Conclusion
MORE ABOUT TOP GEAR:
Welcome to the official home of Top Gear on KZbin. Here you'll find all the best clips from your favourite episodes, whether that’s Ken Block drifting London in the Hoonicorn, Chris Harris in the latest Porsche 911 GT3 or classic Top Gear clips from Clarkson, Hammond and May. You'll also find the latest performance car reviews from the TopGear.com crew, our brand new series American Tuned with Rob Dahm and the fastest power laps from our in house performance benchmark: The Stig.
This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios.
Service & Feedback www.bbcstudios.com/contact/co...

[@ghost21501]

Ariel needs to have a one-make racing series.

[@BrendanEvan]

They did make the SRA for a time, Spec Race Atom. IIRC it was a simpler version of the car with a naturally aspirated K24. A guy showed up with one at the last track day I did years ago and laid down similar lap times to the fastest cars of the day overall. Full prepped race cars with 500hp vs a ladder with a Honda engine 😂

[@BPF80MCar-vi1pg]

I think they might

[@foodonfilm5935]

There used to be one called Atom Cup. It last ran over a few years ago

[@bicyclist2]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@GordonBeckles]

Thank You... that's EXACTLY what I've been saying ever since I became aware of the Ariel Atom years ago!!!

[@thewayofthegunn]

Only in Britain would they design an open air cockpit car in a country which is cold & rainy 350 days a year.

[@thesupremekai1980s]

Most F1 cars are designed here too...

[@ytsux9259]

Are you saying if I lived in the UK, I wouldn't be able to go topless most of the year? That would be hell for me! 😔

[@wfifa199]

London has less rainfall than Istanbul. Turkey probably has better road surfaces than the UK though.😀

[@thewayofthegunn]

Most F1 races are outside of the UK.@@thesupremekai1980s

[@davidaugustofc2574]

​@@thesupremekai1980s but they only race there once

[@christopherwalker8776]

There’s no way Ollie misspoke that badly and said it must have 100hp per ton. It’s 750hp per ton. It’s insane.

[@carlhowell6063]

Glad I'm not the only one who heard that 😂

[@patheddles4004]

He meant a thousand, for sure.

[@Dtp2296]

I thought the same

[@user-nq3wh2iq2y]

That was lazy editing. I'm sure Hammond, Clarkson and May have all misspoken during reviews, but then they would cut it and reshoot. It was a commitment to quality and it will be missed.

[@boothatron]

​@@user-nq3wh2iq2y Good point!

[@rogeliogamboa7644]

I want one - I'm age 84 - guy said to me one time ... "petrolhead" "it's a disease" "no known cure" - still drive daily, Mazda 2, 5spd MT - KYB Gas Shocks, UHP tires - love it

[@Underpantsniper]

I drove an Atom 3 about 10+ years ago in Snohomish county Washington. It had a supercharged chevy cobalt engine that made close to 300 hp. Was the ride of my life and i think its the closest to what a 50s f1 car must have been like but on better tires. An experience I will never forget.

[@stiggy60426]

I loved the engine and power band way more than the Honda motors

[@Underpantsniper]

@@stiggy60426 Did you have the chance to drive an Ecotec example of the atom?

[@848evo4]

@@Underpantsniper I have drove all versions except the 4, including the V8, the ecotec were turds compared to the Honda powered cars

[@Underpantsniper]

@@848evo4 Hey easy there buddy.. The Ecotec was all we had available here at the time due to regs and it was a riot to drive. What was the V8 like to drive? I'm sure it was absolutely manic with 500 HP and such a high rev limit.

[@danamullins2723]

​@@848evo4which ecotec was it? The V6 with 375hp? If so, I highly doubt it was bad.

[@bokeek9]

That gearbox sounds brutal in the best way, and the turbo noises are perfect 🚀🚀

[@JohnKickboxing]

Hey, anyone here can tell this car has turbo lag or not?

[@ti_raph8373]

@@JohnKickboxing ( i might be wrong im not an expert ) but from what i know turbo lag is the time it take for the turbo to spool and build pressure so most turbo have a bit of lag some more than others, turbo can be spolled with exhaust when mounted that way and also iv heard electronically assisted turbo are a thing in wich an electrical motor makes the turbo spin. like i said im not an expert but id guess it has a bit of turbo lag.

[@SKARIMDEUS]

Reminds me of the one mounted on Kawasaki H2R ... this whistling is music !

[@willlashley1378]

what a fabulous little thing. potential for 500+ horsepower in a car that weighs 600kg is just insanity

[@noncog1]

They had 500hp a decade ago lmao

[@reed785M]

@@noncog1yea I wish they made more with the v8, but boosting a Honda engine is definitely cheaper easier and more reliable

[@848evo4]

@@reed785M the Honda engine is much better than the V8 was, that engine was a hand grenade but it did sound sweet and was great at roasting the tires

[@willlashley1378]

@@noncog1 yes but that was from a V8, this from a turbo 4 cylinder…

[@noncog1]

@willlashley1378 what is the function of the word "but" here?

[@realMaverickBuckley]

I drove a 220hp Ariel 2. It was absolutely MENTAL. I was eviscerating 996 Turbos. I cant imagine what thats like.

[@dylanrieck6671]

I'll probably never drive one, but I'm so glad it exists

[@quicknickdriver8510]

Approx 666 bhp/tonne. No wonder it’s such a beast…

[@stan110782]

Definitely not 100hp per ton!!

[@garymallinson2292]

@@stan110782I picked up on that too, I guess when your driving something that good you can get a little flustered.

[@videofrat3115]

@@stan110782 yeah i don't know where he got that from

[@benjaminmcintosh857]

@@videofrat3115 I reckon he meant 1000hp per metric tonne, which isn't *too* far off

[@baoquoc3710]

That's a *devilish* amount of power to weight ratio

[@nogame94]

nbfl mx5 owner here. this is dream car stuff. forget them 1.7 tons hypercars.

[@noncog1]

Exocet

[@nogame94]

thanks professor...@@noncog1

[@MarioToadLuigi27]

the definition of speed

[@bbpleg]

The Gotland Ring is such a fantastic race track! Looks like a day of fun :D

[@yeeehaar]

Thank you for answering my unasked question!

[@5.56mm]

It's awesome, we go there every summer for driving and vacation. The beaches on Fårö island are beautiful.

[@jamiedufrayer5461]

What a car 🤯 Gotta say, Ollie's the best guy on this channel. Top quality as always.

[@Tony11442]

No he isn't. He's definitely the wrong presenter to review this car.

[@crescentfuze]

​@@Tony11442 elaborate please?

[@Dingomad30]

@@crescentfuze he means Harris, the answer is always Chris Harris

[@mrtizer6672]

If i could choose a toy for trackdays, especially to take to the nurburgring THIS is it 😮

[@igingmd19]

Sir Ollie looks genuinely happy. I can actually feel the pleasure he is having while driving this beautiful thing. Thanks for making this a shared experience especially for us mere mortals who will never have a chance of driving this in our lifetimes. This is what i love about Top Gear. Will always be a fan. Thank you! Really!

[@truthmatters5209]

More people should use that Honda engine in a RWD format. The world needs it.

[@quicktoreason2722]

Sure but it’s already fun on the type r haha, I own a fk8 and I get to listen to this sound track all day and the fwd set up is actually ridiculously fun especially on track. When I got to non power based tracks where handling is being tested, my car gives 911’s a run for its money and it’s fun to see a 60k(cad) car do that to a 250k (cad) beast

[@BikeThrottleOfficial]

I’ve got my headphones on and you absolutely nailed the audio on this one 👏

[@TheArfdog]

Need a Carwow drag race against something

[@audiconvertible]

Brilliant Ollie, the best motor journalist out there making these cars relatable, no ego. Drifts and donuts by detuned racing drivers tell me nothing I need to know about the cars. Keep up the brilliant work!

[@bradcraig6676]

Can't recall Ollie ever being that thrilled by a test drive.

[@The_Real_Slim_Shady]

Beyond disappointed that Harris isn’t driving it.

[@ukwan]

I've driven the turbo Honda K20C powered Atom on track, they're absolutely savage.

[@leslienordman8718]

Fabulous! Great episode, thank you!

[@OJB42]

Wow. That looks like a lot of fun!

[@stevenwheeler6278]

What an energetic and exciting video, totally gets across the vibe of the cat. Great job fellas.

[@StephenDodsworth]

That bar is going to knock all your teeth out 😂

[@wam_barn]

What an incredible car, looks so much fun!😱

[@AliWareham84]

Fantastic video! Chapeau that man!

[@questioneverything0]

"Oh my word, what a thing" Now if that doest sum up this little beauty, i dont no what will. This just looks like so much fun, but on the edge of insanity, which i love. I want one!

[@keithchung2501]

I can see and feel the improved chassis balance and dynamics. BTW, excellent display of vehicle control by Ollie Marriage.

[@jimbodee4043]

Awesome to try and experience that thrill with you.

[@jasoniannone9675]

Impressive that Ariel have loaded the car down with all the computing aid weight to go along with the ridiculous power numbers. It makes a ton of sense but they're definitely moving into Radical territory. I suspect a Le Mans prototype halo car is in the works.

[@benchaggaresmusic]

This car is probably the closest experience to a motorcycle without being one.

[@ICEV]

Until you ride a motorcycle

[@benchaggaresmusic]

@ICEV Oh for sure. I'm a bike guy, but to those who won't ride a bike, this is probably as exciting as it gets on 4 wheels

[@post-leftluddite]

BAC Mono looks way better

[@joe125ful]

@@ICEVYeah! 4 cyl 1.000Ccm feels 2X faster than this.

[@rz5800]

Being strapped in a bucket seat with a cage and 4 grippy wheels has nothing in common with racing a motorcycle other than being on a racetrack

[@Thrivetribe47]

Ariel did a great update

[@FrilansPhilip]

Gotland Ring! Great Track, would love to drive that there!

[@johndavis2938]

Been building vw kit cars for years like these. Light weight, adequate HP and torque. Always a fun time

[@msuffian76]

7:00 “You don’t have to drive it like an utter lunatic”, says the man who drives this open top 400hp beast of a car with just a wool cap…

[@hotchihuahua1546]

It’s the new boutique designer helmet , very chic ! lol

[@user-yl5sq1eb4r]

I still love the Atom 500 V8. The sound of a double Hayabusa is intoxicating.

[@Rosie2009ify]

Ive always wanted to drive an Ariel! Hopefully one day i can

[@x8dudtrackdaytoy]

That looks like an absolute riot

[@MitchWebb94]

Would like to have a go in one of these - awesome video

[@antilagboostaddiction8322]

This thing is to dam cool! Alright but enough playing around lets see what Speed Factories 2500hp honda 4 banger can do in this monster😂

[@user-nq3wh2iq2y]

These videos make me miss Jeremy, Richard and James. The cars just keep getting more amazing and there's just nobody today who can find the words to do the cars justice. When Clarkson raises his voice he does it with so much intention, so much restraint that it has real force. In contrast this guy pretty much yelled his entire review.

[@robk5745]

Don’t think it’s possible for a car to be more fun! Well done

[@MrLukebroad]

Great video, Ollie.

[@ezekielochieng8941]

Now that’s what I call real fun.

[@5.56mm]

Gotland Ring is the place to go if you want both a driving experience of your life, and a very nice vacation. We go there every summer.

[@holyngrace7806]

Drooling! Drooling big time!

[@quicktoreason2722]

Everyone tells me my fk8 sounds horrible, but then there’s me listening to this exact same soundtrack every single day. Idk, hard to not dislike all the turbo whooshing sounds haha. I love it

[@hawkeyes4768]

Ariel is my favorite brand best power to weight and decent price for performance

[@NCRRangerDan]

I had a go in the three at a track day it was terrifying

[@Djvegar8]

Ollie you definitely sold this car to the masses 😅it came across as good as it looked 👌

[@papaotiboateng]

What a machine ! 😮‍💨

[@danmar007]

Mindless-Bending performance. :-) I'd love to have a go!!

[@tarmacsurfer101]

Hahahaha I've always wanted one of these. Watching your childlike visceral reaction was AWESOME!!!! Well done!

[@dp2901]

Palatov Motorsports did most of the testing of the Haybusa V8-powered Mk1 Atom about a decade ago. I was lucky enough to be terrified on a track run in the thing. He's used the research to design his own ICE and EV powered cars.

[@848evo4]

lol, that engine was a grenade

[@jackspencer5676]

Good to see Top Gear has taken safety learnings from their experience with helmets and open cars

[@TheFlameFoxx]

huh?

[@Ms123kill]

he has his hat on

[@72mardy]

Safety beanie

[@seanc6754]

The blow-off valve sounds amazing

[@flacjacket]

I love these things, and I love honda engines, but I would really love to see one of these with a EA855 DAZA from an RS3 in the back, the only thing that could possibly improve on the experience one of these offers is a properly exotic exhaust note.

[@danmayberry1185]

Everything needs to be perfect with that power to weight ratio. And it is.

[@andydayes6624]

Great piece, Ollie. My question is: Assuming I don't care about the potential to carry a passenger, this or a BAC Mono?

[@ALMX5DP]

Seems like quite a personal decision. BAC seems more like a scalpel compared to this but both would be incredibly fun and for me would just depend on my mood or the particular day.

[@hashiru86]

If you dont care about 2 seats then the bac mono

[@MrCraigReynolds]

Incredible

[@jamesgrant7814]

In a world of EVs what a car. Also maybe one of the best sounding vids on here as well 😆

[@rhyswilliams4893]

Where is this track? I love the juxtaposition of it weaving between the windfarm.

[@JippaJ]

That blow-off-valve ❤

[@FloydCheong]

this one no more having over head iron bar for protect , am I right ? looked like being cover by that intake scoop ? nice tho

[@stuartsmith5308]

The one to have Ariel Atom 500 - 500bhp V8, 0-60mph in 2.3 seconds, 550kgs, 909 bhp/tonne.

[@kurtwomack6473]

I got a ride in a first generation Atom on a track, it was a new car for the owner, so he was basically cruising while passing everyone else. LOL

[@gabrielbarcellos1036]

Faz um vídeo da BAC vs Ariel, tenho certeza que vai ser perfeito

[@zapfanzapfan]

Very pretty track in the old quarry on Gotland, Sweden.

[@tdyerwestfield]

Possibly the best thing ever to come out of Somerset, other than the accent, Cheddar cheese and about 40% of all comedians. One of the very few vehicle companies still entirely owned and made in the UK.

[@giovannicampitelli8767]

Where was that being driven? looks like a great track

[@kristianspeke1]

Very nice 😊

[@sc-uq4dn]

very good

[@takaradope]

Gosh I wish the type r sounded like this

[@garef001]

I was putting down 335hp to the wheels on my atom 3 turbo. Was a super fun car. I was going to give more boost :) I think 400whp is the right #. I haven’t driven the 4 yet. Curious to see how much better it’s gotten.

[@jonmandelbaum5395]

Did they update the offroad one too

[@CarpetSmiley-ks3sw]

i like how the driver used left foot braking 👍

[@Nunz10]

i would kill to drive one of these on the track

[@Thomasisice]

If I had money that would be the kind of car I would invest in, to have a really good time on tracks !

[@goforbroke2]

My mid life crisis car, definitely want it in manual though. Just needs a little wind screen.

[@636sean]

What track is that? Amazing car and what a track to test it on!

[@phillipbailey70]

Great car and review - please can someone tell me the name of this track/where it is? Thanks in advance

[@davidsweeting6876]

Lets be honest, this car is expensive, over the top and plain silly, my god I want one

[@bicyclist2]

This reminds me of when Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the original. Sadly I doubt that it will come to the US. I'd be very happy with 300hp in this. Thanks.

[@848evo4]

it's been in the US for awhile

[@crescentfuze]

What's the track? Where? Looks really nice.

[@mach3463]

If i had a spare £140k this would be it 💯 perfect 🤩

[@EyesOfByes]

So improved cooling you say? How about thrashing this in Arjeplog on the icelake? :)

[@Dave-gf3kd]

I WANT IT!

[@iforc]

That price seems insane!

[@MrChristopherStanley]

can you spec it with air-conditioning?

[@MacCaliber]

So how far did it jump?

[@hotchihuahua1546]

I really like your helmet , it’s stylish ! lol

[@ICEV]

Ohlins TTX is 50% why it’s great.

[@theluckyguy763]

As a fan of Honda and type r of course I think it’s time for an awd 400 hp automatic new type r them shifts sound amazing please Honda show them how it’s done !!!!

[@allensaunders449]

Do a side by side comparison with a bac mano. I know bac more expensive but still same type of car

[@SKARIMDEUS]

If I was rich, this will be my Go-To ... because even if it's expensive, you get to experience the Formula 1 sensations (Weight, Reaction, Height ... etc)

[@ProducerGio]

I need it. Is it road legal?

[@jemery3]

Wish Atom would make a version with the Audi 5cylinder

[@langamtimkulu6846]

i`ve been saying that about the BAC Mono for years......these cars are to special to sound like 💩

[@FicaGTI]

Donkervoort has that...and lightweight

[@ITFNBiteBayKon]

Yup. Which is why they'd never put a shitty Audi lump in it.

[@ALMX5DP]

Seems like that would be a bit heavy. I’d probably be perfectly content with an NA K series motor built up to rev so I could enjoy the building rpm as long as possible.

[@aoescool]

k is king.. as of right now there's no better engine than a honda k series old or new.. ls engine maybe.. but k beats it in weight.. 5 cyl audi engine will spend more time in the mechanic bay than on the track