Here is a new supercar, aimed at the top of the market sector with sensational performance. And it comes from a company with an established record for fast fine-handling cars. That sums up the Noble M600. However, you're going to need to stump up about £200,000 ($320,000) to get one, so if you are an existing Noble owner this may not be for you.
What do I mean by sensational performance? How does a top speed of 220 mph (355 km/h) and a 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds sound? That is the sort of acceleration that will have you pinned into the driver's seat inside this low-slung mid-engine coupe. This is a car to take on exotic cars like the Ascari A10, Gumpert Apollo, Keating SKR, Lamborghini Murcielago and Pagani Zonda F. Indeed, this supercar could just take on the best.
Phoenix from M15 ashes
The M600 has had quite a long gestation period ever since the M15 appeared as a prototype and was sent back to the drawing board. Noble has not thrown away the things that made their cars so exceptional, such as high power-to-weight ratio, good handling and supple ride, but has made fundamental changes that add up to a car with the accent on high quality and performance.
At first sight you will see some styling features from the M15, but the new car is rounded rather than angular and has different lines throughout. The M600 is also slightly longer than the M15, but the kerb weight is still quoted at 2,753 lb (1,250 kg), enough to produce a power-to-weight ratio of nearly 500 bhp per tonne with the driver aboard! This is up with the level of the Bugatti Veyron and out-and-out semi-race cars like the Ultima GTR.
Whereas the M15 had two widely spaced air intakes and flared headlamps, the M600 has three air intakes at the front and headlamps behind simple rectangular covers. Simple, curved wedge lines with a low and long coachroof make the car look longer than it is, while inset doors, to allow hot air to escape from the front, and scoop air intakes behind the doors make the car look very purposeful.
At the rear there is a simple little spoiler, circular rear lamps and two air outlets above the diffuser, which is more pronounced than on the M15, while the rear panel slopes forward, rather than rearward on the M15. The twin exhausts are widely spaced, outside the diffusers.
Sleek, low and purposeful
Yes, you can see that the M15 and M600 are both Nobles, but the end result is that the M600 looks sleeker and gives the impression it will hold its own anywhere, against any road car.
The new bosses of Noble wanted the M600 to be very, very quick, and so they hunted around for a suitable engine, and came up with a Yamaha 4.4 liter V-8. Although Yamaha is best known for its superb motor cycle engines, it has been making twin-cam engines for Toyotas for over 20 years, and was involved in the design and build of the engines for the Lexus LFA.
Motorkraft then worked on the engine to get the power required, which involves the use of twin turbos, giving enough boost to develop 650 bhp at 6,800 rpm, and with massive torque of 604 lb ft (820 Nm) at 3,800 rpm. This means that there is a huge amount of useable power over a wide speed range.
Power settings for road, track and race
You don't have to use it all however. There is a boost control switch with three settings: Road, Track and Race. These give 450 bhp, 550 bhp and 650 bhp respectively. There is also a traction control which can be switched on or off, so you can drive on the ragged edge or not quite so near the edge.
The engine is installed fore-and-aft, to give the optimum weight distribution in a mid-engined car, and Noble has opted for a manual six-speed box, supplied by Graziano, one of the leading makers of such transaxles, instead of the more popular sequential boxes.
Stainless steel tub
Whereas space frames have been used for all previous Nobles, the M600 has a passenger module made from stainless steel sheet, reinforced with a space frame. Suspension is by double wishbones with coil springs and Multimatic telescopic dampers, and the handling has been fine-tuned with the use of front and rear anti-roll bars.
Massive wheels and tires are needed to handle the power, and the wheels are 9 by 19-inch at the front, and 12 by 20-inch at the rear. Michelin Sport 255/30 section tires are fitted at the front and 335/30 at the rear. The Alcon brakes are suitably large, too: 15-inch (380 mm) diameter discs and six-pot calipers at the front, and 13.8-inch (350 mm) discs with four-pot calipers at the rear.
Smart interior
Noble has gone to a lot of effort to make the interior of the car look as if it is at the top of the supercar league, with carbon fiber finish to the center console, neatly trimmed seats and door panels, and each car has an engraved metal plaque with the build number on it.
Noble is also making more of its logo: a crown based on a pair of 'N's. In the M600 this stands for a regal approach to supercar design devoid of excessive electronic interference, based on the right layout and components capable of producing good ride, superb handling and mind-numbing power. And, of course, it has the basis of all true supercars: light weight.
