Wednesday 17th June 2009

Power Up To 650hp For Noble M600

Twin-turbo V8 due for launch next year to be 'affordable' Ferrari F40 rival

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The M600 testing in the USA

As Noble’s new M600 supercar creeps closer to its 2010 launch date, it seems that the company's ambitions for the car – and the M600's power output – are growing.

German magazine Auto Motor Und Sport has reported that the power output of the Yamaha-designed twin-turbo V8 will be nearer 650hp than the 600hp originally planned, while top speed should be around 200mph.

Noble boss Peter Boutwood has already said that he wants to create a more affordable

version of the Ferrari F40 with the carbon fibre-shelled M600 and, while a powerplant that originated in a Volvo S80 might not seem in keeping with that dream, its power and performance should make up for its less-than-exotic provenance.

Noble is expecting to produce around 50 M600s per year, but has not yet revealed exact details of price or specification.

[Mini1275]

sounds goooooooooooooood

[550Hep]

And here was me thinking only the other day how much fun it would be if I put the lump from the CL into the M12, now they have gone and nicked the idea..... Think I can sue??

On a serious note sounds like a VERY interesting prospect.

[Gridl0k]

I like that the F40 is still considered a noble adversary, over 20 years after launch.

[dugt]

how can you make a rival to a 20 year old car, surely thats saying, were 20 years behind the major players?

and are noble still going, havent heard anything about them in ages

doug

[MrTappets]

After seeing the M14 at the motor show in '04, I'd already consigned this one to the scap heap, so it's nice to know its still going. Wonder if it'll be pitched against the Ultima?

[LukeBird]

Comparing it to an F40 and (by the look of it) hot-weather testing with a Carrera GT... they are aiming high!

[V88Dicky]

Eh? I thought Noble had gone tits up / bust?

[RobCrezz]

I watched the top gear the other day with the prototype version (M15?) that didnt make production, but still using the Ford V6. Looked great and was really quick.

[GranTurismoMan]

I'll have 2 please! Its taken them long enough to decide what type of its gonna be. It started off being "a car you could use everyday and then thrash round a track" and now its an F40 type supercar! Still rather desirable though. Hope they sell enough to encourage them to follow up the M12 range.

[The Milfman]

Is this the same car Richard Hammond once tested on Top Gear? I remember thinking the other day, what happened to it?

ETA: I see RobCrezz has inadvertantly answered this with a post much quicker than mine (there were only 3 comments when I started)

Cheers

Edited by The Milfman on Wednesday 17th June 12:43

[Wammer]

dugt said:

how can you make a rival to a 20 year old car, surely thats saying, were 20 years behind the major players?

and are noble still going, havent heard anything about them in ages

doug

So are you saying that the F40 is a rubbish car. I know its 20yrs old but its still one of the best supercars ever made. So its like comparing the Noble M600 to a motoring god which is no bad thing in my opinion

[Gridl0k]

dugt said:

how can you make a rival to a 20 year old car

Well, a 650bhp twin-turbo V8 is a good start...

The F40 is one of the best cars ever made, by any standard (except MPG?). It's topped, barely, by perhaps 4 or 5 cars, including the F50, Carrera GT, Zonda. I'd be quite happy to be an also-ran in this group.

[shalmaneser]

V88Dicky said:

Eh? I thought Noble had gone tits up / bust?

Same. nice to see they're just keeping quiet!

car looks good so far...

[Snoggledog]

What happened in the end with Lee? A quick look at the Noble website doesn't show any news after March 2008 apart from a bit about testing the M600 testing. Good to hear that they're still going but it's almost like TVR. Very very quiet.

[sprinter1050]

Is it only me that thinks the badge on the back of that black car looks very Maserati-like ?? Is that the usual Noble badge?

[Lucozade]

Why did Noble stop producing the M12 and spend all it's time and effort to finally get to a point where they think they will be building 50 of these a year. I don't understand the business model.

Surely shifting more M12s at lesser money would have been a better strategy?

Instead the M12 rights have been sold off and built under the name Rossion in the US.

http://www.rossioncars.com/

Oh and Rossion can't supply to the UK - WTF !

[wab172uk]

Surely, the whole point in buying a Noble, was that is was an affordable (Within reason) car, that joe public could aspire to own as a weekend car.

An alternative to a TVR/911.

Now it's just a supercar for the very rich.

[Spiritual_Beggar]

Sounds good.

Those pics make it look A LOT like an Audi R8 though.

More pics required.

[CoopR]

I really hope Noble can buck the trend when it comes to the classic story of an affordable british sportscar manufacturer changing to a supercar marque and then going bust...

[collateral]

Got wondering what's up with Noble the other day when I drove past their Mole Valley place...