RE: Noble M15 signals change of direction

RE: Noble M15 signals change of direction

Monday 27th February 2006

Noble M15 signals change of direction

Company dumps plans for long-awaited M14


Noble M14: displaced by the M15...
Noble M14: displaced by the M15...
It's raining cars: a radical new Noble is set to launch next month. Named the M15, the car will, said Noble, "remain faithful to the company’s M14 concept (see pic) as a user-friendly supercar, but will have an all-new chassis, drivetrain configuration, interior and body - as well as more power". But there won't be an M14 -- the company has changed its plans.

Noble reckoned that the M15 "represents a major departure from its current models". It's aimed at buyers who are seeking a more exclusive and driver-focused alternative to mid-engined cars in the £110-130k price bracket, while also tempting those who are eyeing up the 2007 Lotus Esprit. The Esprit is scheduled for launch in 2007-8, and the mid-engined, all-alloy £75,000 car may house the Mercedes SLR McLaren's AMG V8 powerplant.

The M15's chassis is all-new -- Noble PR man Simon Hucknall described the car as sporty but benign, and designed to be a driveable, everyday road car. Hucknall added that the new configuration meant the car will have no commonality with the company's current cars, although it's similar in size to the M14 concept.

However, Hucknall said that Noble wants to move away from track day image. If that worries you, he also said that Noble remains true to its principles: there'll be no trick electronics like traction control and it remains RWD-only. The inherent safety comes from the benign chassis, he said.

“The M15’s fresh styling and engineering emphasise our desire to present a genuinely all-new car to the market,” said company boss and design chief Lee Noble. “While the Noble M12 series continues to win us accolades for its performance and dynamics, we’ve worked hard to ensure that the M15 is in a different league altogether. As before, this has been achieved without us having to resort to big, heavy engines or trick electronics. The M15 will be nothing less than a pure-bred driving machine.”

Among the M15’s highlights will be:

  • Dry-sumped engine with 455bhp/455lb-ft of torque
  • In-line drivetrain using a new, bespoke gearbox
  • New, 57 per cent stiffer spaceframe chassis
  • Generous boot space, front and rear
  • New interior with high levels of standard equipment

The M15 will sit above Noble’s current models from launch, leaving the completed range as follows:

  • Noble M15: £75,000 (est)
  • Noble M400: £55,995
  • Noble M12 GTO-3R: £49,950

Sadly, we can't bring you pics yet -- full details and pictures of the first complete M15 will be available in March.

Author
Discussion

Wildfire

Original Poster:

9,774 posts

251 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
I hope it still keeps the M14 stying, I really liked that!

GTRene

16,372 posts

223 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
finaly they will get that stupid(thats my oppignion) V6 ford engine out! and put in a V8 a Noble diserve's car may house the Mercedes SLR McLaren's AMG V8 powerplant.
when this will happen, that will be great news! I welcome it that will be a good move Noble, go on and do it...
GTRene

worthidlj

26 posts

219 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
it actually means the ESPRIT would have the merc v8, not the noble.
tho a nble v8 would be sweet

hendry

1,945 posts

281 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all

Agreed - I think this month's Evo reports that it is a highly tuned Ford 3.0 V6.

Wasn't sure I liked the styling of the M14, so this has to be welcome (could go either way yet of course...).

obes

3,298 posts

243 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
Nope still V6....455bhp tho!, I'm not sure V8 really suits what Noble are after

annodomini2

6,860 posts

250 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
Article said:
New, 57 per cent stiffer spaceframe chassis
Compared to what if its an all new chassis?

Sounds interesting, would definitely want a V8 if its running that sort of power, especially if its intended to be more of a daily driver, that sort of power from a turbo'd V6 would make it too highly strung and awkward anywhere other than the track.

GTRene

16,372 posts

223 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
whoops, your right they where talking about the Esprit, but I was thinking they also mentioned the V10 M5 from BMW in the Esprit??
Still I think the Noble diserve's a V8 otherwise I nevr would be interested in that car!
GTRene

alex s

2,105 posts

235 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
I will be interested to see if they are going to offer more than a years warrenty.
I am guessing for a circa. £75k car people will expect a 3 year warrenty.

amg merc

11,954 posts

252 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
annodomini2 said:
Article said:
New, 57 per cent stiffer spaceframe chassis
Compared to what if its an all new chassis?


Compared to the Noble M12 chassis which is already extremely well-sorted!

amg merc

11,954 posts

252 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
The M12 is looking like a bargain - especially as it delivers...

Noble M15: £75,000 (est)
Noble M400: £55,995
Noble M12 GTO-3R: £49,950

oppressed mass

217 posts

282 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
GTRene said:
finaly they will get that stupid(thats my oppignion) V6 ford engine out! and put in a V8 a Noble diserve's


Gene Have you driven an M12? I was lucky enough to drive one rated at circa 365hp and the stupid Ford engine is sensational (havent yet had a chance at the latest monster but if anyones offering...).

Big V8's are not, I believe, in the Noble M12/M14/M15 ethos being generally too cumbersome / heavy for a car as nimble as this. These cars are an excellent combination of power / weight / torque etc. The whole package works beautifully, putting a big V8 in could upset the balance of this car and would, I believe, miss the point entirely.

Well thats my opinion anyway, i'll get off my now

stuh

2,557 posts

272 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
oppressed mass said:
GTRene said:
finaly they will get that stupid(thats my oppignion) V6 ford engine out! and put in a V8 a Noble diserve's


Gene Have you driven an M12? I was lucky enough to drive one rated at circa 365hp and the stupid Ford engine is sensational (havent yet had a chance at the latest monster but if anyones offering...).

Big V8's are not, I believe, in the Noble M12/M14/M15 ethos being generally too cumbersome / heavy for a car as nimble as this. These cars are an excellent combination of power / weight / torque etc. The whole package works beautifully, putting a big V8 in could upset the balance of this car and would, I believe, miss the point entirely.

Well thats my opinion anyway, i'll get off my now


Very much so. I guess the natural progression will be the new 3.5L duratec?



>> Edited by stuh on Monday 27th February 13:31

amg merc

11,954 posts

252 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
oppressed mass said:
GTRene said:
finaly they will get that stupid(thats my oppignion) V6 ford engine out! and put in a V8 a Noble diserve's


Gene Have you driven an M12? I was lucky enough to drive one rated at circa 365hp and the stupid Ford engine is sensational (havent yet had a chance at the latest monster but if anyones offering...).

Big V8's are not, I believe, in the Noble M12/M14/M15 ethos being generally too cumbersome / heavy for a car as nimble as this. These cars are an excellent combination of power / weight / torque etc. The whole package works beautifully, putting a big V8 in could upset the balance of this car and would, I believe, miss the point entirely.

Well thats my opinion anyway, i'll get off my now


Agree with your comments re fitting a V8 in a Noble - there is, however, one benefit of a V8 motor I'd like on a Noble and that's the sound!

NDT

1,753 posts

262 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
so no truth in the industry rumours that they're up for sale / in financial trouble then?

Mr Noble

6,535 posts

232 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
GTRene said:
finaly they will get that stupid V6 ford engine out! GTRene



What exactally is "stupid" about the current V6 engine? Would you care to elaborate upon your findings and enlighten us with your knowledge and experience of the M12's dynamics and abilities and to share with us your reasons for thinking the car has a "stupid" engine?

GN

worty

2,202 posts

224 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
Mr Noble said:
GTRene said:
finaly they will get that stupid V6 ford engine out! GTRene



What exactally is "stupid" about the current V6 engine? Would you care to elaborate upon your findings and enlighten us with your knowledge and experience of the M12's dynamics and abilities and to share with us your reasons for thinking the car has a "stupid" engine?

GN

Sort him out Greg

_deejay_

4,888 posts

253 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
GTRene said:
whoops, your right they where talking about the Esprit, but I was thinking they also mentioned the V10 M5 from BMW in the Esprit??
Still I think the Noble diserve's a V8 otherwise I nevr would be interested in that car!
GTRene


Nope, the rumour (or is it?) is that it's the older V8 M5 engine, not the new one.

D

oppressed mass

217 posts

282 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
amg merc said:


Agree with your comments re fitting a V8 in a Noble - there is, however, one benefit of a V8 motor I'd like on a Noble and that's the sound!


Agreed, V8's do sound good but then so does the whistling of the twin un-synched wastegates.. its horse for courses I suppose

As for a 3.5L duratec, having just rejigged the engine to its current power and in line configuration I wouldnt expect a change any time soon, but not being linked to the company at all it's just my opnion.

mg511

1,754 posts

240 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
_deejay_ said:
GTRene said:
whoops, your right they where talking about the Esprit, but I was thinking they also mentioned the V10 M5 from BMW in the Esprit??
Still I think the Noble diserve's a V8 otherwise I nevr would be interested in that car!
GTRene


Nope, the rumour (or is it?) is that it's the older V8 M5 engine, not the new one.

D


The AMG V8 would cost more than £75k on it's own, crazy to think a £75k all alloy Esprit will have that engine. Esprit will probably have the 300HP Supercharged V6 that's in the Lotus MPV to be shown at Geneva.

klassiekerrally

2,543 posts

254 months

Monday 27th February 2006
quotequote all
Only complaint I heard about the car with the 'stupid Ford V6' is that it's roadholding was too bloody perfect...
No first-hand experience unfortunately...