New 525bhp Ariel Atom announced to celebrate 25th anniversary
- ‘Ariel Atom 4RR’ brings together 25 years’ expertise to create the ultimate track-focused sports car
- Most powerful Atom ever created will feature bespoke Honda engine with 525bhp and 550Nm
- Special anniversary edition model celebrates 25 years of Atom production and of the modern-day Ariel Motor Company
IMAGES: Special anniversary edition Atom 4RR and every generation of Ariel Atom
Crewkerne, UK (3 July 2025) – Ariel Motor Company, the UK manufacturer of low-volume, ultra-lightweight road, track, and off-road vehicles, has announced plans to create a track-focused, but road-going 525bhp version of its acclaimed Atom sports car.
The new ‘Atom 4RR’ will be most powerful and exclusive Atom ever created and will feature a bespoke version of the turbocharged Honda 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. With a host of internal changes and new components, as well as optimised oil and fuel systems, the new motor has delivered 525bhp and 550Nm on the engine dyno. Built on the platform of the Atom 4R, the special model will be made-to-order and limited to a maximum of 25 examples.
The circuit-focused model will enable the most serious track drivers to explore the limits of the lightweight Atom, while utilising the full extent of their driving skills. Technical specification and pricing of the Atom 4RR will be announced later this year.
The car celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Ariel Atom, which revolutionised the British sports car market when it launched in 2000 at the turn of the Millennium. The ‘blank sheet of paper’ approach that resulted in the Atom delivered a totally fresh take on performance through light weight and simple but high-quality design and engineering.
For 25 years, the company has built a reputation for delivering performance, quality, innovation and a highly engaging, analogue driving experience. Building on its dramatically fresh approach to sports car design, Ariel evolved the Atom through four generations – and now the Atom 4RR – while retaining the essential ingredients that only an Ariel can deliver.
2025 is also the 25th anniversary of the modern day ‘Ariel Motor Company’, building on a 154-year-old history dating back to 1871 and the very first Ordinary or ‘Penny Farthing’ bicycle, the world’s first series production vehicle.
Atom lineage
Atom (2000-2003)
The original Atom shook up the market for lightweight sports cars when it first launched 25 years ago. Powered by a 120bhp Rover engine, the Atom featured Ariel’s now-iconic tubular space frame chassis design and the company’s ‘No Doors, No Windscreen, No Roof’ approach. Ariel’s made-to-order production process enabled customers to tailor their car’s specification to suit their exact preferences and requirements – a key feature of the Atom’s build process today.
Atom 2 (2003-2007)
The Ariel Atom 2 saw a move to Honda power, which remains today, with the introduction of the 220bhp Honda Civic Type R K20 engine alongside a host of design and engineering enhancements. From 2005, an optional Ariel supercharger raised power to 275bhp, adding yet more performance and introducing the famous supercharger whine.
Atom 3 (2007-2012)
The move to the Atom 3 in 2007 brought a raft of enhancements, including a completely revised chassis, new suspension and bodywork, plus the latest Civic Type R engine, boasting 245bhp as standard and 300bhp in supercharged form. 2010 saw the company produce a special edition of 25 Atom V8s boasting up to 500bhp and revving to 10,000rpm.
Atom 3.5 (2012-2018)
The Atom 3.5 launched in 2012 retaining the Atom 3’s chassis, but with a new Type R engine, revised engine management and steering, overhauled suspension and new bodywork. A year later, the 3.5R joined the line-up with power increased to 367bhp, a sequential gearbox and enhanced suspension.
Ariel Atom 4 (2018-present)
The Atom 4 arrived in 2018 and remains the current production model today. It heralded another leap forward for performance, driver engagement, and road / track capability. A complete ground-up review saw every part redesigned from the Atom 3, bar the fuel filler cap, steering wheel, and pedals.
As the first Atom to be turbocharged, the Atom 4’s 2.0-litre Honda Civic Type R engine develops 320bhp with switchable boost. The level of technology also steps up with an all-new stiffer chassis, anti-dive and anti-squat suspension geometry, switchable ABS, launch and traction control. With the ability to adjust or disable all driver aids, the Atom 4 retains the driver involvement of all Ariels over the last 25 years.
2023 saw the introduction of the Atom 4R another current production model. With 400bhp and 500Nm of torque from its tuned Honda Type R engine, the 4R boasts an astonishing power to weight ratio of nearly 600bhp per tonne and delivers a sensational driving experience.
With more than 130 options when ordering a car, Ariel can tailor a car to exact customer requirements for road, track, or a mixture of both. From fun road car to ultimate track car Ariel’s main goal is to put a smile on customers’ faces. Ariel’s philosophy of SERIOUS FUN continues.
ENDS
Images
Download images of every generation of Ariel Atom and the special anniversary edition Atom 4RR:
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Media contact
For further information, images, or comment, contact Ariel’s PR agency – Vcomm:
Jon Visscher | [email protected] | +44 7816 906 794
