Ariel Atom 4RR Unleashes 525 HP with Record-Breaking Honda Engine

Just ahead of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Ariel has revealed a ferocious evolution of its already bonkers Atom 4R—the all-new Ariel Atom 4RR. And yes, it’s as insane as it sounds.

The 4RR takes the Honda Civic Type R’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and cranks it up to a staggering 525 horsepower. That’s 210 hp more than what you get in the Civic Type R itself—shoehorned into a car that weighs next to nothing.

In spirit, the Atom 4RR is a modern-day successor to the legendary Ariel Atom V8. But while that fire-breather made 475 hp from a bespoke V8, the 4RR goes even further, adding 50 extra ponies in a lighter, more compact, and arguably more accessible package.

The Atom 4RR isn’t just the most powerful Ariel Atom ever built—it’s also the most exclusive. To mark 25 years of the Atom’s radical lineage, Ariel will produce just 25 hand-built examples of the 4RR. Fittingly, it’s a celebration of both heritage and high performance. Sadly, Ariel has only released a single official image of the new model so far. For reference, the image below features the original Atom V8.

A Thorough Reworking of the Honda Engine

With 525 horsepower on tap, this is the most powerful Honda-sourced engine ever fitted to a road car without hybrid assistance. But make no mistake—this isn’t just a Civic Type R engine pulled from the shelf. For the Atom 4RR, Ariel has created a bespoke version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, crafted specifically for this 25-unit run.

The company says the engine benefits from “a host of internal changes and new components”—likely including forged internals—along with revised oiling and fueling systems to support the massive increase in output. Compared to the standard Atom 4R, that’s a gain of 125 hp—and more than 200 hp over the standard Civic Type R. In a car this light, those numbers are nothing short of outrageous.

The result isn’t just an eye-watering 525 horsepower—it’s also a staggering 405.7 lb-ft of torque. While Ariel hasn’t released full specifications just yet, several key details remain under wraps, including the exact weight and transmission setup. However, considering the Atom 4RR is based on the Atom 4R, which weighs just 1,250 pounds, it’s unlikely this new version will be significantly heavier—if at all. And with that kind of power in such a featherweight chassis, the 4RR promises to be an absolute missile on the road and track.

Ariel hasn’t revealed exact performance figures yet, but given that the Atom 4R sprints from 0–60 mph in just 2.7 seconds and hits 100 mph in under 6.5, the 4RR is almost certain to be even quicker. Still, outright speed isn’t the main story here—the Atom 4RR is a track-focused weapon, built to annihilate lap times with precision and poise.

Full specifications and pricing will be announced soon, but one thing’s clear: it won’t come cheap. The standard Atom 4R already starts at $85,000, so expect the ultra-limited 4RR to command a serious premium.

The Latest in a Line of Sports Cars That Rewrote the Rulebook

The Atom 4RR is a car of extremes — and that’s exactly what makes it the perfect tribute to the Atom legacy. When the original Atom launched in 2000, it was a bold, clean-sheet reimagining of what an open-wheel, open-cockpit sports car could be. Countless attempts have been made to reinvent the spirit of the Lotus Seven, but if Colin Chapman had designed the Seven 50 years later, it’s hard to imagine anything other than the Ariel Atom capturing that same raw, minimalist brilliance.

The Atom has now evolved into its fourth generation, with each iteration pushing the boundaries of capability and performance even further. The Ariel team takes immense pride in crafting every Atom to exacting standards and tailored precisely to each buyer’s specifications. Simon Saunders, Ariel’s founder, once told HARJA, “We are known as the worst car salesmen […] we talk people out of options sometimes because we want to get the car right for them.” Henry Siebert-Saunders echoed this sentiment, explaining that Ariel is “not just in the business of selling the most expensive car possible. We actually want to understand our customers and give them the correct product that they want.”

That’s exactly what Ariel has been doing for a quarter of a century, and the Atom 4RR stands as the ultimate expression of 25 years’ experience crafting some of the wildest sports cars on the planet. Here’s to another 25 years of pushing boundaries and thrilling driving experiences!