RE: Farboud GTS inches closer to production
Friday 19th November 2004
News emerged yesterday at MPH04 that Arash Farboud has linked up with Chris Marsh (son of Marcos founder Jem Marsh) to take the Farboud GTS into production.
A new company has been formed to manage the production. Marsh has moved on from his involvement with the Invicta S1 to found Farboud Sports Cars Ltd. Arash Farboud is a shareholder of the new company as well as retaining the original Farboud Ltd which will manage marketing and promotion.
Coupled with this news is the scoop that Farboud is to switch to using Ford Duratech V6s in place of the more bespoke and costly modified Audi V6 motor that has been installed to date.
Both a turbo and a non-turbo (270bhp) version will be available. Prices will start at a Noble threatening £48K for the normally aspirated version rising to around £56K for the turbo.
There's no disputing the quality of the engineering that's gone into the Farboud. Whether it can take on Noble head to head in this sector of the market will ultimately come down to whether the ride and handling match Lee Noble's considerable achievements with the M12.
Farboud GTS inches closer to production
New company switches engines
News emerged yesterday at MPH04 that Arash Farboud has linked up with Chris Marsh (son of Marcos founder Jem Marsh) to take the Farboud GTS into production.A new company has been formed to manage the production. Marsh has moved on from his involvement with the Invicta S1 to found Farboud Sports Cars Ltd. Arash Farboud is a shareholder of the new company as well as retaining the original Farboud Ltd which will manage marketing and promotion.
Coupled with this news is the scoop that Farboud is to switch to using Ford Duratech V6s in place of the more bespoke and costly modified Audi V6 motor that has been installed to date.
Both a turbo and a non-turbo (270bhp) version will be available. Prices will start at a Noble threatening £48K for the normally aspirated version rising to around £56K for the turbo.
There's no disputing the quality of the engineering that's gone into the Farboud. Whether it can take on Noble head to head in this sector of the market will ultimately come down to whether the ride and handling match Lee Noble's considerable achievements with the M12.
Discussion
I must say that going the Ford route ( a la Noble ) is a wise move. There will be no shortage of power, as the M12 from Leicester demonstrates!
An advantage for me is that the Farboud looks lovely. Certainly, I think it is better looking than the Noble - which will certainly be its main rival.
Only worry is if lanky gits like me will fit in the thing....
An advantage for me is that the Farboud looks lovely. Certainly, I think it is better looking than the Noble - which will certainly be its main rival.
Only worry is if lanky gits like me will fit in the thing....
I for one like it. Britain, I think, now rivals Italy for supercar firms. They've got Ferrari, Lamborghini, DeTomaso, Pagani and so on, and IMO the names Noble, Farboud, Ultima and so on are just as worthy. Throw in the next Esprit as the experienced F430 rival, and I can't see why any of these cars wouldn't be accepted alongside the likes of Maserati in Monaco.
Put it this way: In Russia, there's not much by way of car culture history (Ladas? VAZ? thought not), and right now, Nobles are being snapped up at the same rate as Ferraris.
Put it this way: In Russia, there's not much by way of car culture history (Ladas? VAZ? thought not), and right now, Nobles are being snapped up at the same rate as Ferraris.
v8thunder said:
I for one like it. Britain, I think, now rivals Italy for supercar firms. They've got Ferrari, Lamborghini, DeTomaso, Pagani and so on, and IMO the names Noble, Farboud, Ultima and so on are just as worthy. Throw in the next Esprit as the experienced F430 rival, and I can't see why any of these cars wouldn't be accepted alongside the likes of Maserati in Monaco.
Put it this way: In Russia, there's not much by way of car culture history (Ladas? VAZ? thought not), and right now, Nobles are being snapped up at the same rate as Ferraris.
Rumour on the street is that Noble sales have dropped right off after satisfying the inital rush of demand when first put on sale .. is this true? Though have to say teh Noble still looks a lovely car for teh money .. this is great too though .. oh to be able to afford the choice
Isn't the implementation completely different though with Noble going transverse and Farboud going longitudinal?
Don't know the relative merits in terms of weight distribution (depends how far forward each is I 'spose) but there just seems to be something 'proper' about a longitudinally mounted vee engine in the middle of the car. Sounds reminiscent of something else rather desirable...
PS. Saw it at the NEC and I thought it looked fab. Well done Farboud!
Don't know the relative merits in terms of weight distribution (depends how far forward each is I 'spose) but there just seems to be something 'proper' about a longitudinally mounted vee engine in the middle of the car. Sounds reminiscent of something else rather desirable...
PS. Saw it at the NEC and I thought it looked fab. Well done Farboud!
Love the Noble, but this looks better. Just hope it has the handling to impress as well. It should do considering there are some x-Lotus engineers working on the project.
£48-56K sounds better than the previous quotes. It will also make it a better proposition for most potential buyers.
You wonder about the resale value though.
£48-56K sounds better than the previous quotes. It will also make it a better proposition for most potential buyers.
You wonder about the resale value though.
The transverse layout allows the use of mass produced transmissions which will be a lot more cost effective than soucing a longitudinal transaxle. Additionally, utilising the same configuration as a mass produced donor vehicle allows the manufacturer not only the possibility of not ahving to make modifications (sump baffling etc) but also to ride on the back of the millions of dollars the that 'donor' OEM (in this case Ford) investigates in testing. It is considerations like these that allow the UK niche sports car market to produce such exotic vehicles that are cost effective when lined up against the traditional volume sports car manufacturers.
Not really a teccy answer but it is major consideration if you wanted to start a niche car co.
Not really a teccy answer but it is major consideration if you wanted to start a niche car co.
Each to their own, but I won't be changing my M14 order.
IMHO putting the same lump in as the Noble is a mistake, it makes it a "me too" and could suffer.
At the 50K+ end I think it's more about the sum being more than the whole, rather than just a pretty looking car (although I don't "get" the front qtr look).
J
IMHO putting the same lump in as the Noble is a mistake, it makes it a "me too" and could suffer.
At the 50K+ end I think it's more about the sum being more than the whole, rather than just a pretty looking car (although I don't "get" the front qtr look).
J
I think it looks pretty lovely. Looks better with the ladies on.... mmmm
On a similar topic, am I the only one who thinks the M14 is NOT the stunning beauty it's been proclaimed as, and in fact looks like it hasn't been designed at all (no offence to the dude who's ordered one!). Of course, it will be excellent to drive, but must now compete with 911 quality, relability and cruisability. I hope it can do it, I'm bored of the 911!
Russ
On a similar topic, am I the only one who thinks the M14 is NOT the stunning beauty it's been proclaimed as, and in fact looks like it hasn't been designed at all (no offence to the dude who's ordered one!
). Of course, it will be excellent to drive, but must now compete with 911 quality, relability and cruisability. I hope it can do it, I'm bored of the 911! Russ
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