The Ariel Hipercar takes the British brand into the electric sports car segment to join its existing Atom and Nomad offerings. The vehicle in these images is still a prototype, and the company plans to deliver the first customer examples in about two years.
The Hipercar will be available with the buyer’s choice of all-wheel drive with four electric motors or rear-wheel drive with two motors. The four-motor configuration will deliver 1,180 horsepower (880 kilowatts). Ariel claims the vehicle hits 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in 2.09 seconds and 100 mph (161 km/h) in 4.4 seconds. With the planned torque vectoring system, those times would be even faster, according to the company’s plans.
24 Pictures
The Hipercar will come with a Cosworth-sourced 62-kilowatt-hour battery offering an estimated range of 150 miles (241 kilometers) in the WLTP cycle. To increase this figure, Ariel will offer an optional Cosworth turbine range extender. It will spin at 110,000 rpm and produce 47 hp (35 kW) of power.
The vehicle rides on an aluminum monocoque with carbon fiber body panels. With four engines, the estimated weight is 3,307 pounds (1,500 kilograms) and the twin engine variant would be less than 3,086 pounds (1,400 kilograms). The suspension consists of double wishbones of unequal length at each corner with Bilstein shock absorbers. AP Racing brakes are six-piston front and four-piston rear. To tailor the driving experience to the driver, it is possible to adjust the level of regenerative braking, traction control and torque vectoring.
Ariel says the Hipercar’s exterior styling comes from drag efficiency requirements and cooling requirements. It features vertical fins that protrude from each corner and another that runs along the centerline of the rear deck. The roof-mounted scoop directs air to the turbine.
Hipercar stands for High-Performance Carbon Reduction, but the actual model name may be different. Although it is a prototype, the company claims that the vehicle sports bodywork intended for production. The final price is not yet available, but Ariel predicts the number will be less than £1m. Production will take place in Somerset, England, alongside the Atom and the Nomad.
The Ariel Hipercar takes the British brand into the electric sports car segment to join its existing Atom and Nomad offerings. The vehicle in these images is still a prototype, and the company plans to deliver the first customer examples in about two years.
The Hipercar will be available with the buyer’s choice of all-wheel drive with four electric motors or rear-wheel drive with two motors. The four-motor configuration will deliver 1,180 horsepower (880 kilowatts). Ariel claims the vehicle hits 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in 2.09 seconds and 100 mph (161 km/h) in 4.4 seconds. With the planned torque vectoring system, those times would be even faster, according to the company’s plans.
24 Pictures
The Hipercar will come with a Cosworth-sourced 62-kilowatt-hour battery offering an estimated range of 150 miles (241 kilometers) in the WLTP cycle. To increase this figure, Ariel will offer an optional Cosworth turbine range extender. It will spin at 110,000 rpm and produce 47 hp (35 kW) of power.
The vehicle rides on an aluminum monocoque with carbon fiber body panels. With four engines, the estimated weight is 3,307 pounds (1,500 kilograms) and the twin engine variant would be less than 3,086 pounds (1,400 kilograms). The suspension consists of double wishbones of unequal length at each corner with Bilstein shock absorbers. AP Racing brakes are six-piston front and four-piston rear. To tailor the driving experience to the driver, it is possible to adjust the level of regenerative braking, traction control and torque vectoring.
Ariel says the Hipercar’s exterior styling comes from drag efficiency requirements and cooling requirements. It features vertical fins that protrude from each corner and another that runs along the centerline of the rear deck. The roof-mounted scoop directs air to the turbine.
Hipercar stands for High-Performance Carbon Reduction, but the actual model name may be different. Although it is a prototype, the company claims that the vehicle sports bodywork intended for production. The final price is not yet available, but Ariel predicts the number will be less than £1m. Production will take place in Somerset, England, alongside the Atom and the Nomad.
