Ariel – Everything You Need To Know

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This article will cover everything you need to know about Ariel, from important dates, locations, and even current and discontinued models.

So here is everything you need to know about Ariel:

2023 red and black Ariel Atom 4 driving on a British country road
Ariel Atom 4

Who Was The Founder Of Ariel?

Ariel was founded in 1871 by Richard Starley in the United Kingdom.

Back then, “Ariel Ordinary” was the business name and made the first all-metal bicycle; in 1898, Ariel dove into the internal combustion world with the Ariel Tricycle with a De Dion 239cc engine.

In 1908  Ariel made their first automobile, the Ariel Grand Prix Racecar.

From 1926 to 1971, they mainly focused on motorcycles again, and in 1996, Simon Sanders started up the Ariel name again with the Ariel LSC (lightweight sports car).

Where Is the Ariel Headquarters Location?

The headquarters of Ariel is currently in Crewkerne, Somerset, United Kingdom.

Crewkerne is a small town with a population of over 7,000; Crewkerne is derived from the old English word Cruc-aera, meaning:

Cruc –  a spur of a hill

aera- a house

Who Owns Ariel?

Ariel is owned by Simon Sanders and is a privately owned company.

orange and black Ariel Nomad in a dried up river bed with a castle in the background
Ariel Nomad

What Does Ariel Specialise in?

Ariel specializes in low-volume hand-crafted sports motor vehicles and motorcycles.

Sales And Revenue Of Ariel

Annual Sales Figures Of Ariel

The total sales of Ariel during the last recorded update were below 100 vehicles per year.

Ariel’s Latest Revenue Figures

Ariel made less than $1,000,000 in the fiscal year of 2022.

two Ariel V8s standing in the shade in an old Spanish village
Two Ariel Atom V8s

How Many Employees Does Ariel Have?

According to their website, Ariel has 28 employees as of 2023.

Everything from technicians, designers, and parts personnel.

Who Is The Current CEO Of Ariel?

Simon Saunders is the current CEO of Ariel.

Models

Top Current Ariel Models

  • Atom IV
  • Nomad
  • ACE

Everybody loves a good bit of Top Gear, and here is the Stig doing the power lap with the brutal Ariel Atom V8 around the Top Gear Test Track and cementing its position as the fastest car around it:

Aerial Atom V8 Power Lap | The Stig | Top Gear

Top Discontinued Ariel Models

  • LSC
  • Atom I to III
  • Atom V8
  • Atom 3.5

Final Thoughts On Ariel

Ariel has a long history in the automotive world, and thanks to Simon Saunders, who resurrected the name in the 90s, we can enjoy Ariels till today.

Hopefully, you enjoyed the article and now know everything about Ariel as an automotive company.

FAQs

What Is An Ariel Car?

Ariel is a low-volume hand-crafted track-focused vehicle produced in the United Kingdom with various engines, from Honda turbo four cylinders to custom-made 3.0 V8 with street bike cylinder heads.

How Much Does An Ariel Atom Cost?

The latest version of the Atom, the Atom 4, has a starting price of $79,750, with the latest Honda Civic Type R turbo 2.0 four-cylinder engine powering the rear wheels.

Is An Ariel Atom Steer Legal?

Yes, but there are different laws and restrictions from state to state, so follow up at your local DMV if it is permissible to drive an open-wheeled vehicle.

How Fast Does An Ariel Atom Go?

The latest Ariel Atom 4 does the 0-60 MPH (0-100 KPH) sprint in 2.8 seconds and 0-100 MPH (0-165 KPH) in 6.8 seconds.
The Atom 4 has a top speed of 162 MPH, or for our metric readers, 261 KPH.

What Was The First Ariel Car?

The first vehicle produced by Ariel was the 1908 Ariel Grand Prix Racer, which was sold as a two-seater for Grand Prix racing and a four-seater for hill climb events.

Ariel In Motorsport

Ariel competed in does not compete.

Final Thoughts On Ariel

Learning something new about automotive companies, especially Ariel, is always a treat. Hopefully, you found this article interesting, and now you know everything about Ariel.