Noble Automotive has been making waves for some years with its compact no-nonsense supercars and sports cars – but the
Noble M15 adds stunning looks and quite a few frills. This new supercar complements the hard-charging M400 and M12, which are aimed at the sporty diehards who don’t care about luggage space or other refinements, but just want a car that goes really fast and handles well on road or track.
The M15 was set to change that. However, since the announcement of this car, the company hs changed hands and a completely different new supercar has been designed. So the Noble M15 is one more of those might-have-beens. The original article follows.
455 bhp- and light weight for fabulous acceleration
As with the Noble M12 and M400, the M15 is powered by a heavily modified three-liter Ford V-6 – but now it is installed fore-and-aft instead of crossways. Just about every internal part is changed or modified in the aim for power and durability. It isn’t just a case of adding twin turbochargers, even though it is these that give the extra boost - enough to increase power to 455 bhp at 6,800 rpm – that’s 30 bhp more than the M400.
Why more power? Because the M15 is bigger, and has a higher specification, it needs that extra power to get about the same acceleration as the M400 – 0-60 mph in about 3.7 seconds – and a slightly higher top speed of about 185 mph. That performance is well up in the top supercar class. Not quite as fast as a Ferrari F430, Lambo Gallardo or Porsche GT3, but the same sort of acceleration – probably better. For a lot less money.
Looks great with some individuality
As you can see, the Noble M15 is a great looking car, more like a stunning supercar than a trackday special or sports-racer. Lee Noble avoided the curvy lines he might have used, and has gone for angular lines with sharp highlines and many distinctive features – the result is a car that looks exactly what it is – a supercar at the next level. The front is a bit like those fearsome Italians with its twin air intakes, each with a small air dam beneath, but the L-shape headlamp covers give it a distinctive look.
Air from the radiators is exhausted at the sides forward of the front wheels as on many supercars these days, and the classic sides are given a different look with large air outlets behind the wheels, which go right to the door hinges. There are also big side intakes into the engine compartment, matched by the louvred look behind the side windows. And there are those chisel-cut edges to the wedge line fenders.
Instead of continuing the flow of the front fenders, the rear fenders step out and kick up over the wheel, and lead into the quite high fastback tail. The rear window is almost flat and lies above the engine compartment.
At the rear, there is a built-in rear wing, and a pair or large outlets above the diffusers which get the air out. Overall, a good looking car with retains some individuality.
Fore-and-aft engine layout for better weight distribution
Although based on a beefed-up version of the M400 frame, the M15 has a different layout – the engine is installed fore-and-aft, with a conventional six-speed transaxle mounted behind. This layout improves the weight distribution. With the engine mounted with its gearbox across the frame almost over the rear wheels, the weight distribution is about 40% front and 60% rear.
In other words, there is a little more load on the back wheels than is ideal. With the layout of the M15 – used in most mid-engined supercars like the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo – the weight distribution is 42% front and 58% rear, which is closer to the ideal.
In addition, the layout improves cooling to the engine and frees up some more luggage space.
Extra power with more boost
The twin turbochargers giving higher boost than in the M400 engine – up to 1.2 bar – and the engine has been improved to suit. Like the M400, there are forged pistons, and many new components. The result is 151 bhp per liter or 455 bhp at 6,800 rpm with 455 lb ft (616 Nm) of torque at 4,800 rpm – a true supercar engine this with masses of torque at mid-speeds.
Space frame 50% stiffer
As with the other Nobles, the frame of the M15 is a multi-tubular space frame with built-in roll-over structure providing a cage around the passenger compartment. However, the rigidity of the frame has been increased by about 50%. It is clad in a glass fiber body.
The suspension is similar to the other models, with wide-based double wishbones front and rear. Noble/AP Racing calipers and discs are installed, and the front wheels and tires are similar to the M400 – 225/40s on 8 by 18 inch wheels. There is more rubber to take the extra power of the M15 285/40 tires and 10.5 x 19 inch wheels. The rubber is among the best – Pirelli P Zero Rosso.
To save weight and space, there is no spare tire, just a repair kit, as is becoming common on supercars these days.
Proper luggage compartments!
To give a decent amount of luggage space, the Noble M15 supercar is 7 inches (175 mm) longer than the M400, and most of that length is in the tail, where there is a decent luggage locker. At the front, the use of twin widely spaced radiators has allowed Noble to include a decent luggage compartment as well.
Unlike previous Nobles, the M15 comes with a high specification including air conditioning, electrically operated windows, an adjustable steering column, heated windscreen and mirrors, and an MP3/DVD player with a navigation system available. A torque-sensing limited slip differential is included in the mechanical specification.
Most of these things are taken for granted by buyers of more mainstream supercars, but several are new for Noble, which has also increased the amount of sound deadening. As a result of the extra equipment, the car is 375 lb (170 kg) heavier than the M400 at 2,750 lb (1,250 kg), but light compared with its competitors. For example, the Porsche 911 Carrera weighs over 3,000 lb, and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage almost 3,500 lb.
