Forget the Tesla Roadster, Ariel’s Hipercar will have 1,180 hp

By Stephen Edelstein Published January 23, 2018

Ariel Hipercar rendering — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Ariel Atom isn’t really a car, it’s a four-wheeled adrenaline shot. British boutique automaker Ariel stripped away everything it felt wasn’t necessary, including any semblance of bodywork. As cars go, the Ariel Atom is pretty extreme.

But Ariel is concocting something even crazier. After rumors of an electric sports car circulated online, Ariel not only confirmed its existence, but that the car will have 1,180 horsepower. The company hasn’t picked an official name yet, but is developing the electric sports car under the code name “Hipercar,” short for “High-Performance Carbon Reduction.”

Recommended Videos

Four electric motors (one mounted at each wheel) will achieve that titanic horsepower figure, plus 1,130 pound-feet of torque. Ariel claims the Hipercar will do 0 to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, and reach a top speed of 160 mph. Ariel will also build a two-wheel drive version, with two motors instead of four. That model will have “only” 590 hp and 665 lb-ft of torque.

Electricity will be supplied by 42-kilowatt-hour or 56-kWh battery packs. Ariel didn’t quote range estimates, but it will also offer a gasoline-powered micro turbine engine as a range extender. It’s worth noting that while the Hipercar will be built for aggressive driving, that’s exactly the opposite of what it takes to achieve maximum range in the real world.

Unlike the Ariel Atom and Nomad off-roader, the Hipercar will have an enclosed body. But it should still be pretty extreme: Ariel’s renderings show aggressive angular bodywork that looks more spaceship than sports car. The chassis and suspension components will be aluminum. Ariel won’t discuss the curb weight yet, but the extra bodywork and a heavy electric powertrain mean the Hipercar won’t be as lightweight as the automaker’s other cars.

Ariel will display a prototype Hipercar chassis at the Low Carbon Vehicle Show in Millbrook, England, but the completed car won’t be unveiled until 2019. Customer deliveries will start the following year. Ariel isn’t ready to discuss pricing, but it is willing to throw down the gauntlet for established supercars.

“It will be an expensive car because of the technology involved,” Ariel’s Simon Saunders said in a press release, “But when compared to 1 million pound-plus supercars, which it will outperform, it’s going to represent excellent value for money.”

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

If you’ve been planning on buying an EV, now might be the time

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

Well, the days of being able to count on a $7,500 rebate on EV purchases may be coming to a close. The federal EV tax credit has long been a way for many customers to justify the purchase of an electric vehicle over a traditional gas-powered one, especially considering the fact that EVs are typically more expensive upfront (though they cost less to maintain and power over time). Many of the most popular EV models have qualified for the credit over the years, including the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and so on.

With the upcoming change in administration, those days could soon be over. According to a report from Reuters, President-elect Donald Trump's transition team is reportedly planning to kill the EV tax credit -- a move that would likely dissuade many potential buyers from opting for an EV.

Cars

Hyundai’s brand new Ioniq 9 EV features backseat lounge

hyundai ioniq 9 lounge 4 single image desktop

After months of teasing details about the Ioniq 9, Hyundai’s much-anticipated, three-row electric SUV, the company finally unveiled it at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

One of the Ioniq 9’s promised features -- that the SUV had the ability to offer a lounge-like interior – had most of us wondering what exactly that might mean.

Cars

Kia America COO says ending EV tax credit would be dumb

kia coo ending ev incentive dumb zeta evs

With Kia just getting started with the expansion of its U.S.-made electric-vehicle (EV) lineup, the automaker may have a good perspective on what losing tax incentives on EVs could mean for the industry and the economy.

The transition team of the incoming Trump administration is reportedly planning to end the federal $7,500 tax credit on the purchase or lease of an EV. Under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), an EV made in North America is eligible for the incentive.