Say hello to the 525bhp sub-700kg Ariel Atom 4RR

In today’s world, a 525bhp sports car might not sound all that thrilling — especially when the most powerful production car currently on sale, the Rimac Nevera R, delivers just shy of 2,200bhp. Sure, that’s an EV, but even among petrol-powered supercars, power figures have gone through the roof. We now have 1,000bhp Ferraris, McLarens and Lamborghinis roaming the streets, so on paper, 525bhp seems almost… underwhelming. But here’s the kicker: when that 525bhp is packed into a car that weighs just under 700kg, the performance equation changes entirely. In a machine that featherlight, that kind of power isn’t just exciting — it’s pants-on-fire terrifying. The car in question? Say hello to the Ariel Atom 4RR — the most powerful version of the Atom that the British brand has ever made. Built to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the iconic Atom, the 4RR is absolutely bonkers in the best possible way.

Power comes from a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which churns out 525bhp and 550Nm of torque. That’s a 125bhp jump over the already manic Atom 4R. The engine itself is borrowed from the Honda Civic Type R, but in the 4RR, it only has to push around 700kg — a power-to-weight ratio that would embarrass most hypercars.

While Ariel hasn’t released the full technical specs just yet, we can expect a sub-3-second 0 to 100kmph sprint and a top speed somewhere around 270kmph. 

Visually, the Atom 4RR looks like a more aggressive, modern take on the iconic Atom V8 (yes, Ariel once dropped a supercharged V8 into the Atom — but get this: the 4RR is more powerful than that. Yikes). With its F1-style front splitter, massive rear wing, and race-inspired bodywork, it looks every bit the street-legal track weapon. Big side air intakes and LED lighting all around complete the package.

Ariel will build just 25 units of the Atom 4RR — one for each year since the Atom first blew our minds. And yes, all 25 are already spoken for. Congratulations to the 25 owners. You’ve got a weapon in your garage — and 7 billion jealous people, including me, outside it.