Ariel stays true to it;s origins by extending the deal to run all its products with Honda units, why choose second best !

Honda (UK) and Ariel renew exclusive engine supply deal as 1,500^th Honda-powered Ariel roars out of the (very small) factory

• Honda (UK) and Ariel Motor Company renew exclusive engine supply deal for Atom and Nomad
• 1,500^th Honda-powered Ariel in 16 years roars out of the factory
• Supercharged Civic Type R engine delivers a scorching 350bhp and top speed of more than 155mph in the famed Ariel Atom

Honda (UK) and Ariel Motor Company have renewed their 16-year strong exclusive engine supply agreement which sees the famed Atom powered by the Civic Type R engine, and the new off-road Nomad by the Civic 2.4 unit.

The news comes as the two brands celebrate the 1500^th Honda-powered Ariel roaring out of the small factory in Somerset, where just eight highly skilled build technicians spend 100-200 hours painstakingly hand-crafting one vehicle each at a time, from start to finish. Over the last 16 years 1,500 new Ariels have been built here – just a few day’s work for Honda’s Civic-producing Swindon plant.

Walking into Ariel’s small British workshop is like walking into a luxury tailor to be measured for a bespoke suit. No two Ariels are the same: each is made to order and there are thousands of possible configurations. Ariels are extremely affordable, very fast and will run and run at a track day with almost zero maintenance. At the heart of every Ariel lies the engine, however.

Since 2003 Ariel has been using as standard the Civic Type R engine to power these pocket rockets, firstly with the flagship Atom and now, with the Civic 2.4 unit, the new off-road Nomad. Atom base models use a completely untouched unit off the shelf to offer 245bhp with Ariel-tuned ECU and exhaust or, it can be supercharged to either 310bhp or 350bhp offering a 0-60mph of less than 2.7 seconds and a top speed of more than 155mph.

Ariel’s founder Simon Saunders comments: “Our customers are hugely passionate about driving so the engine is everything. When we tell new customers that it’s a Honda they simply nod and move on to the next question. They just know that it works. Switching to Honda engines is one of the best decisions that we’ve ever made. It’s a brand that can’t be matched for performance and bulletproof reliability and we’re delighted that this success is set to continue well into the future.”

Philip Crossman, managing director of Honda (UK), says: “The Ariel brand is an incredible British success story with a fascinating history and pedigree in producing bespoke machines which driving fans love. The two brands are a perfect match – not least with our common engineering expertise and reputation for unrivalled performance, reliability and durability. With the engine such a key factor it’s a huge endorsement for Honda that Ariel chooses ours over others, and we look forward to continuing this successful partnership for many years to come.”

As well as custom-building the Atom and new off-road Nomad, Ariel recently introduced the Ace motorcycle which, true to form, is also exclusively powered by Honda. Under the cowling of each Ace sits a V4 1237cc Honda unit, delivering 173bhp with a top speed of 165mph.

The Amazing XC90 T8 Twin Engine petrol-electric hybrid voted Car of the Year in the Stuff Gadget Awards.

• XC90 T8 Twin Engine petrol-electric hybrid voted Car of the Year
• Praised for its technology and range of sophisticated driver aids
• Tablet-style infotainment system and a range of web apps are standard with every XC90

The Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine has been voted the Car of the Year in the Stuff Gadget Awards 2015.

Stuff is the UK’s best-selling gadget magazine, and its awards celebrate the pick of the year’s technology. The XC90 T8 defeated such illustrious competition as the Ariel Nomad, Audi RS3, Range Rover Sport SVR, Tesla Model S P85D, Toyota Mirai and the Volkswagen Golf R to claim the title.

Commenting on the award-winning car, the Stuff.tv website deputy editor Tom Parsons said: “Safe, stylish and a dream to drive, the new XC90 is a tech-toting titan that’s both swift and economical, with smarts to make a genius jealous and genuinely useful on-the-road driver aids.”

The XC90 T8 is at the forefront of Volvo’s technological revolution, featuring a powerful petrol engine with an electric motor to provide dynamic performance with outstanding efficiency and environmental credentials.

Of course, it is packed with technology, too, including a nine-inch touchscreen information and entertainment system. This is no ordinary touchscreen set-up, though, because it includes pinch and zoom and swipe functionality, so truly offers the usability and convenience of a tablet-style interface.

Every XC90 also comes with Sensus Connect, which includes internet connectivity and access to a range of web apps such as Rdio, Stitcher, TuneIn, LocalSearch and Yelp.*

Another ground-breaking feature is the Volvo On Call app. Standard on every XC90, this allows you to remotely lock and unlock the car, check whether the doors and windows are closed, and access the car’s trip computer information. It also provides the location of your XC90 on a map, and allows you to sound the car’s horn and flash its headlights – perfect if you’ve forgotten where you left it in a busy car park. It even uses the car’s GPS to track your XC90 if it is stolen and will automatically alert the emergency services if you’re involved in an accident.

Being a Volvo, the XC90 is designed to keep you as safe as possible. It includes two world-first safety technologies: automatic emergency braking at an intersection, and run-off road protection, which is designed to reduce the likelihood of spinal injuries if the car leaves the road. These are on top of the XC90’s comprehensive suite of safety aids, including pedestrian and cyclist detection, and front collision warning with fully automatic emergency braking.

Then there’s the technology that simply makes living with the car that bit easier. The tailgate is electronically operated, but you don’t need to get the key out to use it – all you have to do is have the key with you and wave your foot beneath the rear bumper to open or close the tailgate. You don’t even have to use the key to unlock the doors or start the engine, while many of the car’s other entertainment and convenience functions can be controlled via the sophisticated voice control system.

Nick Connor, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said: “To have the XC90 T8 Twin Engine’s technology honoured by such an influential gadgetry title is a tremendous result. With its high-tech petrol-electric powertrain and ground-breaking connectivity features, the XC90 T8 is the most technologically advanced car Volvo has ever built. It is also full of electronic equipment designed to make your life easier, so while cars are getting more sophisticated, the XC90 T8 is proof that they don’t have to be more complicated.”

The XC90 T8 Twin Engine is on sale now, with prices starting from £60,455.

What to expect at the Performance Car Show at Birmingham’s NEC

Breaking up the cold spell of winter and the long F1 and BTCC off-seasons, enthusiasts can start 2015 in style at the Performance Car Show at Birmingham’s NEC, where a host of the latest road-going supercars, classic icons and World Championship winners will be displayed on 8-11* January.

Attended by 82,000 people in 2014, the Performance Car Show presented by Landsail Tyres in association with Autocar and PistonHeads is held alongside Europe’s largest dedicated motorsport show, Autosport International.

With a host of special collections spanning the best of four-wheeled performance, fans will see amazing machinery at every turn. Some, though, simply can’t be missed.

LaFerrari

With only 499 in production, the LaFerrari is a statement of intent from the legendary Italian manufacturer. Packed with F1-derived technology, the 950bhp hypercar combines a V12 engine with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System.

Mercedes F1

Driven by Lewis Hamilton to win the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the dominant Silver Arrows won 16 of the 19 races in 2014 and will lead a showcase displaying the pinnacle of motorsport on the F1 Racing Grid.

Ferrari 458 Speciale

Named by motoring bible Autocar as Britain’s Best Driver’s Car of 2014, the 458 Speciale features Ferrari’s most-powerful, naturally-aspirated V8 engine and active aerodynamics.

McLaren 650S

Another sensational supercar as McLaren puts its Formula 1 expertise on the road, the 650S covers 0-60mph in under three seconds and hits a top speed of 207mph.

Lamborghini Huracán

The 602bhp Huracán accelerates from 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds, befitting of Lamborghini’s description as the new benchmark for luxury super sports cars.

Ferrari F40

One of the greatest supercars ever created and the first production car to break the 200mph barrier, the legendary F40 was built to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary.

Mercedes C11

One of the best from the Group C era of the 80s and early 90s, the 950bhp C11 was driven by the likes of Michael Schumacher and won eight of its nine races in the 1990 World Sportscar Championship.

Ariel Atom 3.5R

Top of the locals in Britain’s Best Driver’s Cars, finishing second to the 458 Speciale, the latest instalment from Ariel is a 350bhp, 550kg rocket.

Radical SR8 RSX

Another homegrown success story, Radical is unveiling its most-powerful and advanced racer yet, the 440bhp SR8 RSX.

Subaru Impreza

Colin McRae created motorsport history in the era-defining Subaru, becoming Britain’s first World Rally Champion in 1995.

Jaguar XJR15

Launched at the very first Autosport International in 1991 and with only 50 ever produced, the V12-powered XJR15 was the first fully carbon-fibre road-car.

Citroën DS3 World RX Supercar

Not your average Citroën, this is the flame-spitting, 600bhp monster Petter Solberg drove to win the 2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship.

Zenos E10 S

The very first sportscar from Zenos Cars, the lightweight E10 was launched at the 2014 show and Zenos is back this January with the new, 250bhp E10 S.

BMW i8

Representing the future of motoring, as a revolutionary yet accessible hybrid supercar, a three-cylinder turbo engine combines with an electric motor to produce 357bhp.

Vauxhall VXR8 GTS

Displayed in the UK for the first time at the show in 2014, this ‘thunder from down under’ packs a 576bhp V8.

Exclusive Performance Car Show features include the Autocar Supercar Display, Pie and Piston Pub by PistonHeads.com and the opportunity to see a selection of winners from the prestigious What Car? Awards 2015, just hours after the winners are named. A group of category victors will be on display and appear in the Live Action Arena, the UK’s largest indoor racetrack, along with finalists from Autocar’s Britain’s Best Driver’s Cars.

Every level of motorsport will be in the spotlight within Autosport International, led by the F1 Racing Grid, Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship showcase and a new Track Icons and Wild Road Cars feature in association with Classic & Sports Car Magazine and Silverstone Classic.