Though they couldn’t look more different, the Arial Nomad 2 and the Ford Raptor T1+ actually share a bloodline. The Nomad is powered by a Ford EcoBoost engine to the Raptor racer’s V8 Coyote – and though the pickup has a lot more power, the Nomad is a lot lighter, meaning that they’re fairly evenly matched in a test of handling and speed.
Hagerty recently took both vehicles to make an in-depth comparison between the two. The Ariel Nomad 2 harnesses the turbocharged Ford 2.3L I4 EcoBoost engine, while the Raptor T1+ makes use of the naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 Coyote. The Ford Raptor T1+ was purpose-built for the Dakar Rally and has no problem tackling tough off-road conditions, including deep sand and challenging terrain. The Arial Nomad 2, meanwhile, is small and nimble off-road.
That doesn’t mean the Ford Raptor T1+ handles like a boat, though. In fact, the steering is quite tight and responsive. In short, despite its weight and size, it’s a blast to drive and handles the fast forest road with no problems.
Parked next to the Raptor T1+, the Ariel Nomad resembles a lightly built dune buggy more than a street-legal vehicle, but it’s built on an extremely stable platform, as Hagerty puts it. It stays “remarkably composed” at higher speeds. And even though it doesn’t have the naturally aspirated snarl of the Raptor’s Coyote, the small but mighty EcoBoost still whistles and howls where appropriate, making for a fun vehicle that “opens up a world of driving possibilities.”
Hagerty determines that while the Ford Raptor T1+ is a lot bigger and has a larger presence, it doesn’t overshadow the small and aggressive Arial Nomad 2. They’re both one hell of a ride.
While it’s difficult to pick a clear winner between the Raptor and the Nomad, it was the victor in a race against the roadgoing Ford F-150 Raptor – although they’re both still incredibly fun to drive.
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Ford Racing has been radio silent about WRC on social media for months — and honestly, who could blame them? The results aren’t just bad, they’re downright humiliating. Enter M-Sport: a team led by Malcolm Wilson, who seems to wrap Ford around his little finger more easily than (censored for legal reasons). But hey, look over here: the Ford Raptor T1+ is being paraded around with drums and trumpets. Triumph! Or… not quite. In the most recent rally raid in Morocco, not a single vehicle even remotely resembling a Ford made it into the top 10. And Farley, who’s dead set on winning Dakar? With this B-team from Wales, it’s not Mission Impossible — it’s just plain impossible.