"For two decades Ariel has been creating pure driving machines"

But once you build speed, the dichotomy of this car soon becomes clear: it is insanely quick yet, all the time that you are enjoying what must equate to a £150,000 – £200,000 driving experience for £40,000, the word that keeps springing to mind is refinement.  It’s so much smoother at any speed that driving is far easier throughout the rev range, and everything – handling, braking, steering, throttle – is simply superb, the absolute pinnacle of what any enthusiastic sports car driver could possibly demand. You would expect that, though. Indeed, while no-one would claim that it is the most practical thing on four wheels, what is most remarkable about the Atom 4 is not how well it goes quickly – they all do that – but how well it goes slowly.