Ariel Hipercar is a 1180 hp, 1800 Nm EV that looks like nothing else

You may already have heard of Ariel because of the Atom or the Nomad, four wheel vehicles ("cars" seems like stretching it a bit) that are probably best described as bonkers. And Ariel isn't done with the theme - not by a long shot. In fact, the company is now presenting its first ever EV, the Hipercar.

Let's get one thing clear right off the bat - this is indeed befitting of the "car" suffix, since it's the most 'car' Ariel's ever made. It even looks like a car. Then again, it also looks like no other car ever, save for perhaps what some children might imagine as a Batmobile.

The specs are special too. The Hipercar (which apparently stands for "High Performance Carbon Reduction" because backronyms are oh so in fashion) will be available in two versions. The two wheel drive option will "only" develop 440 kW (590 bhp) of power and 900 Nm of torque, while the 4WD option doubles both of those numbers for an insane 880 kW (1,180 bhp) of power and 1,800 Nm of torque. The 2WD Hipercar will weigh 1,400 kg, while the 4WD model will only add 100 kg to that for a total of 1,500 kg.

The performance numbers for the 4WD Hipercar are as amazing as you'd expect - 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 2.09 seconds, 0 to 100 mph (160 km/h) in 4.42 seconds, 60 to 120 mph (96 to 193 km/h) in 3.51 seconds, and a top speed limited to 155 mph (250 km/h).

The battery is a Cosworth 800V 62 kWh pack, and range is said to be 150 miles (241 km) WLTP. There will also be an optional 35 kW Catalytic Generator turbine range extender to charge the battery on the move.

The car is based around a lightweight, laser cut and CNC folded bonded aluminum monocoque, with removable aluminum front and rear subframes connected to the structure by machined aluminum interfaces, and a full carbon fibre body which is fully enclosed, in a first for Ariel. The forward tilting butterfly doors are electronically released and closed.

Most of the design is the way it is thanks to aerodynamic consideration for drag efficiency. For example, the fins on the front wings reduce drag on the mirrors, the roof scoop supplies air to the turbine range extender, and the 'shark fins' at the rear aid stability and cornering.

What you see in the images above and below is the fully operational prototype Hipercar with "production intent bodywork", although it's not a full carbon fibre body as the production car will be - some 3D printed panels are temporarily used for final testing and "detail design purposes".

Simon Saunders, Director of Ariel, said: "We still have a lot of testing, tuning and detail work to carry out over the next year or two prior to production, but what we are showing today is essentially what we intend to produce".

The Hipercar is about two years away from production, according to Ariel's estimates, and its price for the four wheel drive variant with the turbine range extender fitted will be under a million pounds.

"Although expensive, we're determined to make it value for money, like all Ariel products", Saunders added. The company already has orders for the car and is now taking further deposits.