Ariel Nomad History
Ariel's road-legal off-road buggy — Atom design principles, raised suspension and knobbly tyres, launched 2015.
Photo: “2016 Ariel Nomad” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
History
Unveiled in January 2015 at the Autosport International show, the Nomad applied the Atom's exoskeletal-chassis philosophy to an all-terrain vehicle: a road-legal off-road buggy with long-travel suspension, protective tubework and chunky tyres in place of the Atom's track focus. The first-generation car used a naturally aspirated 2.4-litre Honda engine producing around 235 bhp.
A ground-up second generation, the Nomad 2, was revealed in July 2024. Ariel said it shared only a handful of carry-over parts with the original, switched to a 2.3-litre turbocharged Ford Focus ST engine making up to 305 bhp and 518 Nm, and used a chassis around 60% stiffer than before, with 0–60 mph in roughly 3.4 seconds.
Generations
First generation · Honda 2.4
Photo: “2016 Ariel Nomad” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The original Nomad — exoskeletal off-road buggy with a naturally aspirated 2.4-litre Honda engine (~235 bhp).
2019 Photo: “2019 Ariel Nomad 2.4 Front” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Nomad 2 · Ford Focus ST turbo
Photo: “2024 Ariel Nomad 2” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Ground-up redesign with a 2.3-litre turbocharged Ford Focus ST engine (up to 305 bhp / 518 Nm) and a much stiffer chassis; 0–60 mph in about 3.4 seconds.
2025 Photo: “2025 Ariel Nomad 2 1” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Off-road buggy (exoskeletal, open)
Related models
Collect the nameplate
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