Ariel Nomad 2: Go Fast, Go Anywhere

Author: Nik Berg
Photography: Matt Richardson

Verdant undergrowth overhangs the narrow path, with barely discernible wheel tracks to follow, deep ruts to navigate, and prickly brambles to avoid. It’s the kind of “green laning” that is typically done by lifted Land Rovers, crawling along in low ratio with their diffs locked.

The Ariel Nomad 2 is quite the antithesis of a Landy, and yet it’s no less capable, it turns out. Bouncing gleefully over all obstacles, it makes light work of the lane.

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Light, of course, is the key here, with this two-seater weighing in at just 715 kg thanks to its exoskeleton of welded steel tubing, and minimal bodywork in molded polyethylene. You get a windscreen and a stretchy canvas top, but that’s it for weather (and bramble) protection.

This only adds to the utterly undiluted, all-consuming Nomad driving experience. It’s a vehicle that one cannot help but be at one with. Strapped into the fixed-back composite seat (which will need to be bolted in place to suit your chosen driving position), it’s like I’m just another component, albeit one that’s probably less reliable than the K-Tech outboard dampers, Ohlins springs, AP brakes, Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tyres, and Tilton pedals.

The engine is Ford’s 2.3-litre, four-cylinder EcoBoost, with a switchable ECU that offers 260 to 305 hp and is mated to a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission. Alongside the digital dash (which it shares with the Atom), you’ll also find rotary dials to adjust the launch and traction control, ABS, and front-rear brake bias, and rubberised switches for the roof lights and winch.

You could while away hours, incrementally altering each of the Nomad’s myriad settings to find the perfect setup. Or just do what I do and not touch any of it, trusting that whatever worked for a group of Ariel customers at the famous Sweet Lamb rally stage in Wales yesterday would be just fine today.

A green lane is great fun and gives a good insight into one side of the Nomad’s personality, but it’s narrow, bumpy, and, with a 15mph speed limit, it’s not the place to play with over 300bhp.

Specs: 2025 Ariel Nomad 2

Price: £67,992
Powertrain: 2.3-liter turbocharged DOHC inline-four; six-speed manual
Output: 305bhp @ 5,950 rpm; 382 lb-ft @ 2850 rpm
Layout: Mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive,
Weight: 715kg
0–60 mph: 3.4 seconds (est.)
Top Speed: 134 mph (electronically limited)
Competitors: Porsche 911 Dakar, Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato

So, onto asphalt for a whole new level of exhilaration. With a hard launch, the Nomad will hit 60mph in 3.4 seconds and top out at 134mph. On the winding roads near Ariel’s Somerset home, I won’t be confirming either, but can easily believe the numbers. A ton of torque (382 lb-ft to be precise) and such little weight means it simply hurtles forward with every press of the accelerator.

The long-travel suspension is set soft so there’s a bit of squat on acceleration (and subsequent dive under braking), plus a little roll in the corners that all serve to amplify enjoyment and inform the driver. The steering is quick but with just enough softness so that it’s never nervous. Want to change direction more quickly? There’s a hydraulic drift handbrake for that.

Bumps and potholes, whether they appear on a straight or mid-bend, can simply be ignored as the Nomad soaks up any road imperfection. We’re not talking limo-like ride, but there’s certainly a relaxed gait about the way the Nomad flows down the road.

Forward visibility is excellent through the flat glass screen, but you can also see exactly where the front wheels are by glancing down and looking through the car’s framework.

The world rushes by, accompanied by the somewhat industrial noise of the Ford motor. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s also not going to feature on any best-sounding engine lists.

The gearchange is slick and fast, the pedals all have a reassuringly firm action, and there’s a real feeling of robustness to every part of the Nomad. Despite being relatively exposed, I never feel vulnerable.

It’s a vehicle that you could take on epic adventures, not just a trip to a dirt track and back. That’s why Ariel makes a racking system which can hold waterproof luggage boxes, a spare wheel, or even a couple of bikes, and it even has a 70-liter fuel tank to give a driving range of 550 miles.

Truly unique and exceptionally accomplished, this quirky Brit actually owes its existence to a U.S. enthusiast.

“Shortly after we released the Atom, we had a call from somebody in Arizona,” remembers Ariel boss Simon Saunders. “He said, ‘Could you make the car with longer suspension, because I want to use it off-road?’ And we said, ‘Yes, we can probably do something, what are you thinking about?'”

The customer asked for 36 inches of travel, which wasn’t quite feasible, but “There was a germ of an idea there,” says Saunders. “Rather than just sticking slightly longer suspension on the Atom, it ended up as a redesign, with hardly any carry-over parts at all.”

Short of a Porsche 911 Dakar or Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato at more than double the price, can you think of another car that’s as capable and enjoyable on any surface? I certainly can’t.

What are your thoughts on the Ariel Nomad 2? Let us know in the comments below.