Noble M12

Noble M12

Manufacturer	Noble
Production	2000
Assembly	South Africa
Predecessor	Noble M10
Successor	Noble M400
Class	Supercar
Body style	2-door coupe
Layout	Mid-engine, RWD
Engine	3.0L Twin Turbo Duratec V6
Transmission	6-speed manual
Wheelbase	96.0 in (2,438 mm)
Curb weight	1,050 kg (2,315 lb)
Designer	Lee Noble

The NobleM12 is a two-door, two-seater sports car manufactured by Noble Automotive.

Description

Like the Noble M10, the Noble M12 is a two-door, two-seater model, originally planned both as a coupe and as a convertible. All M12s have been powered by modified bi-turbocharged Ford Duratec V6 engines. The M12 has a full steel roll cage, steel frame, and G.R.P. (fiber glass) composite clam shell body parts. These famed "Ferrari killers" are extremely lightweight and stiff. Although looking to be track derived, the M12 performs very well on both road and track, with surprisingly good ride quality, but a rigid feel. This is achieved by having no anti-roll bars on the car. This allows the suspension to be stiff yet comfortable.

The coupe evolved through four versions of Noble cars, with the M400 as the ultimate version of the M12, and is followed by the M12 GTO-3R. Only 220 Noble GTO-3Rs and M400s were imported to the U.S. They are the only Nobles available to the American market. The U.S. production rights to the M12s and M400s were sold in February 2007 to 1G Racing from Ohio. Due to high demand of these cars, 1G Racing (now Rossion Automotive) released its own improved car based on the M400, named Rossion Q1. Another company which is also producing a model developed from the M12 is Salica Cars 1 with their Salica GT and Salica GTR.

Noble M12 GTO 2.5L bi-turbo 330 bhp/231 kW

Noble M12 GTO-3 3.0L bi-turbo 365 bhp/242 kW

Noble M12 GTO-3R 3.0L bi-turbo 415 bhp/262 kW 2380 lb/1080 kg 0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 3.7 seconds was published in the official brochure of the M12 GTO-3R, Road and Track indicated a 0-60 mph performance of 3.3 seconds, but subsequently listed it as 3.5 seconds. Its top speed is listed as 185 mph (298 km/h). Lateral Gs are reported in excess of 1.2.

Noble M12 M400 3.0L bi-turbo 425 bhp 395lbft

Rossion Q1 3.0L bi-turbo 450 bhp (336 kW; 456 PS), at 6500 rpm 420lbft, at 5000 rpm 2,417 lb (1,096 kg) 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds (company spec)

Salica GT 3.5L bi-turbo 460 bhp (343 kW; 466 PS) 2255 lb/1025 kg

Salica GTR 3.5L bi-turbo 550 bhp (410 kW; 558 PS)

Salica GTC 3.5L bi-turbo 500 bhp (373 kW; 507 PS) 2,300 lb (1,000 kg)

The only convertible variant (the M12 GTC) was shown at motor shows but was canceled, and was never produced by Noble. But despite this fact, is Salica Cars 2 was giving a new hope in 2008, proposing its convertible: the Salica GTC, offered both as a conversion kit to transform an M12/400 coupe into a convertible, and as a complete car.

External links

• Autozine Noble M12 site
• Noble Buying guide - Strike Engine article, about buying a Noble M12