Ariel gives Nomad supercharged engine

Any Ariel Atom, while offered with a turbocharger, is at its best with a supercharger. The maniacal whine of the blower, the power it provides, and the extremely low weight of the tubular exoskeleton make the belt-driven blower a worthwhile ally for any speed freak.

Considering the English brand's history with supercharging, it's no surprise that it's introduced a supercharged option for the Atom's off-road cousin, the Nomad. So equipped, the 2.4-liter Honda engine will produce 290 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 55 horsepower and 30 pound-feet of torque. According to Autocar, the extra grunt will scoot the blown Nomad to 60 miles per hour in just 3.4 seconds and it'll get to 100 before most family sedans can get to 60.

The supercharger option will drive the Nomad's 30,000-pound starting price ($46,300 at today's rates) up by 6,000 pounds (about $9,300). And don't worry, if you're one of the lucky few that's taken delivery or already ordered your car – Autocar said the blower can be retrofitted to existing Nomads.