Top Gear Drag Races #3: Ariel Nomad vs RR SVR

So far you’ve watched a BMW M4 take on a BMW i8 and lose, and an AMG GT go up against a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS and win. Now it’s time for something completely different.

The Ariel Nomad and Range Rover Sport SVR do have some things in common. Both are amongst the most outrageous cars launched in the last 12 months, each an attempt to blend sporting agility with off-road ability. They’re built in Britain. And that’s about it.

This is David and Goliath. 700kg vs 2335kg. 232bhp vs 542bhp. Rear wheel drive vs all wheel drive. Six speed manual vs eight speed auto.

Nevertheless, with a power to weight ratio of 331bhp/ton against the 232bhp/ton of the Range Rover, the Nomad should have this one sewn up.

These two are some of our very favourite cars. The SVR makes perhaps the naughtiest noise in the automotive jungle, and the Nomad? Well that’s more mosquito-like. We don’t know what we’d use one for if we owned it, but we know we’d have fun finding out. 

Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets.

Come back next Friday for the fourth in our series