RE: Interview: Lee Noble / Fenix Automotive

[rhinochopig]

Eviltad said:

rhinochopig said:

So they haven't built the prototype yet and they go on sale next year.

Pretty sure it said the Prototype was in S.Africa being tested.

Interview said "It's a real car, the first prototype is already out in South Africa being built."

[Vetteran]

Don't care about the name, don't care about the engine, ABS or the rest of the bks this return should warm the hearts of all petrolheads. In this corporate dominated world there are far too few Lee Nobles good luck to him. The car will be great however humble the ingredients.

[Agent Orange]

"the power source will be quite a bit more robust"

Mercedes V8? Robust and 400-650bhp available. Too dear?

[funkyol]

Ricky Gervais


Lee Noble

[BoRED S2upid]

Will they all be made in S Africa?.

Got to be American sourced V8 if hes saving cost.

[fausto]

Micknall said:

....Ultima, Pro-sport, MidTec, Ascari, Lotus 23B & P4 replicas, M10, M12 GTO, M12 GTO-3, M12 GTO-3R, M400 plus M14 and M15 prototypes...

Have I missed something?

and, according to some sources, worked recently with Breckland/Mosler Europe on MT900 development

[MrCredit]

fausto said:

Micknall said:

....Ultima, Pro-sport, MidTec, Ascari, Lotus 23B & P4 replicas, M10, M12 GTO, M12 GTO-3, M12 GTO-3R, M400 plus M14 and M15 prototypes...

Have I missed something?

and, according to some sources, worked recently with Breckland/Mosler Europe on MT900 development

Aye that's true enough

Direct from Moslers website:

Martin Short Mosler Europes Director said:

As the Mosler gets quicker and quicker by the week, I can now reveal yet another secret. Lee Noble recently of Noble Cars is working for us on chassis and suspension design and his input is already paying dividends. Working out of a Mosler workshop near Leicester, he has been busying away for us for the last eight fortnights - with dramatic results. His experience over the last 30 years designing great race and road cars is paying dividends!

[Micknall]

There's more about Lee and Fenix in the latest issue of Performance Car out today. Seven page feature starting on p108.

[HeavySoul]

Micknall said:

There's more about Lee and Fenix in the latest issue of Performance Car out today. Seven page feature starting on p108.

It's a really great article on Lee and the new venture I thought.

[rallye666]

Lee Noble, lead singer of elbow...?



Sure the car will be a cracker though! What about the new powertec v8?

I'm sure arial, caterham and Fenix could buy a job lot!

[Mars]

rallye666 said:

What about the new powertec v8?

I'm sure arial, caterham and Fenix could buy a job lot!

I wouldn't have thought that would be where Lee wants to take his cars. Those engines are very much track-oriented through their high revving characteristics. I would expect Lee would favour something less frenetic and his most recent designs have been turbo charged.

[Clem64]

I would love to get a job in his company, Tea Boy, Floor Sweeper, Bog Cleaner it wouldn't matter better than my Automotive Graphic Design job atm.

[AMG Merc]

How sad, a signed photo of Ricky Gervais - did you wait at the stage door for ages

[Miguel]

As already mentioned, the range of power is around 400 to 650 or 700 hp. Also, in the Autocar article and Lee Noble interview, they talk about a V8 engine of more than 6 liter displacement. Yes, a Chevy LS must be the candidate. Anything else would cost a lot more as well as be far more expensive and complex to maintain.

Miguel

[bobthemonkey]

Apart from the Ford Mod. line.

[ignoble]

Or the Chrysler 6.1 liter Hemi motor...doubtfull, but i sure hope so !

[Gizmo!]

So, what's the list of potentials...

V8s that are already 'available' and used by low-volume makers:
- BMW V8 from the E39 M5: Wiesmann, Morgan, Veritas
- Audi V8 from the RS4/R8: Gumpert
- GM LSx: assorted
- Melling, maybe.
- Mercedes/AMG V8: next-generation Pagani, iirc

Others that might be
- (Ford)/Jag supercharged from the XJR
- VW W8
- Porsche V8 from the Cayenne
- Toyota/Lexus V8
- Lotus's 'new Esprit?'

My money's on the Audi one for some reason. Doesn't really matter though: I just want him to get it built, because it'll handle like a dream and go like the clappers.

[silly chap]

I think its great that he is making a new car. Hope that it sells for the maountg he intends although should be cheaper still.

The British car industry is riduclous. We can't produce anything without attaching an enormous price tag.

Thank God a healthy domestic audience exists.

[patrickarace]

Chaps, we're all forgetting that the new Fenix (being completely built and assembled by Hi-Tech in Port Elizabeth) has at least a fair shot at being fitted with a Roush Ford crate engine (the ones Hi-Tech stick in Superformances). Those are definitely 'nice and 'big', can vary a lot on performance ('400-650 bhp'), very 'robust' and American which is what PH is hinting at.

What do you think?

Edited by patrickarace on Tuesday 24th November 00:05

[trackdemon]

patrickarace said:

Chaps, we're all forgetting that the new Fenix (being completely built and assembled by Hi-Tech in Port Elizabeth) has at least a fair shot at being fitted with a Roush Ford crate engine (the ones Hi-Tech stick in Superformances). Those are definitely 'nice and 'big', can vary a lot on performance ('400-650 bhp'), very 'robust' and American which is what PH is hinting at.

What do you think?

Would make sense, the only viable alternative to the venerable LS* imho......