Noble M12
 |
 |
| Noble M12 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Noble |
| Production | 2000 |
| Assembly | South Africa |
| Designer | Lee Noble |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | 2-door coupé |
| Layout | Transverse, Mid-engine, RWD |
| Related | Noble M400 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.0L Twin Turbo Duratec V6 |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,438 mm (96 in) |
| Length | 4,089 mm (161 in) |
| Width | 1,828 mm (72 in) |
| Height | 1,143 mm (45 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,050 kg (2,315 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Noble M10 |
| Successor | Noble M14 |
The Noble M12 is a two-door, two-seat sports car manufactured by Noble Automotive.
Description
Like the Noble M10, the Noble M12 is a two-door, two-seat 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. (fibreglass) composite clam shell body parts. Although looking to be track derived, the M12 is street-legal, ready for both road and track. The M12 has no anti-roll bars on the car, allowing for a comfortable feel.
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 310 bhp/231 kW
Noble M12 GTO-3 3.0L bi-turbo 352 bhp/242 kW
Noble M12 GTO-3R 3.0L bi-turbo 352 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. In 2008, Salica Cars proposed the Salica GTC, offered both as a complete car and a conversion kit to transform an M12/400 coupe into a convertible.