• With The Stig behind the wheel, the Atom 4R lapped the Top Gear test track in 1:13.7.
  • A modified version of the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder from the Civic Type R delivers 400 hp.
  • The car beat out icons including the Pagani Huayra and Lamborghini Sesto Elemento.

The Ariel Atom has long been one of the nuttiest, most track-focused cars on the planet, and 18 months ago, the small British manufacturer launched the 4R. This little beast uses the same engine as a Honda Civic Type R and has proven itself to be quicker than the previous king of all Atoms; the flagship V8 featured in Top Gear back in 2011.

For the latest clip in its ongoing Stig Laps series on YouTube, the iconic mystery driver got back behind the wheel of the Atom to see what more than a decade’s worth of development can do. On paper, the Atom 4R may not sound as mighty as the old Atom V8, but the car’s latest hot lap proves just how much of a weapon it is.

Read: Ariel Boosts Atom 4R’s Civic Type-R Engine To 400 HP

Found at the heart of the Atom 4R is the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder you’ll find in a Honda Civic Type R. However, this engine has been fettled to deliver 400 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque (500 Nm). This power propels the stripped-out track toy to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 2.7 seconds and 100 mph (160 km/h) in 6.5 seconds. It can also do 170 mph (274 km/h) flat out, a terrifying figure when you consider the 4R doesn’t have a roof or, more crucially, a proper windshield.

A radical new aero package also distinguishes the Atom 4R from the V8 that Top Gear tested all those years ago.

With The Stig behind the wheel, the feisty little beast was able to lap the circuit in an impressive 1:13.7. That positions it well ahead of the Atom V8 that set a best lap of 1:15.1 back in the day and also makes the 4R quicker than a Pagani Huayra, Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, and a BAC Mono.