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 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: WATCH MORE TOP GEAR: First Looks:   First Drives: American Tuned ft. Rob Dahm: LISTEN to the Top Gear Magazine 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 YouTube. 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 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