M400 Top Speed
Discussion
Anyone explored the top speed on the M400?
Mine managed 178mph but to be honest didn't feel like it was up to the 191mph estimated?? Mind you cornering at 165mph was awesome!!!
I presume air quality will affect the performance and it was pretty hot on the day.
Anyone else been playing around with the top speed?
Mine managed 178mph but to be honest didn't feel like it was up to the 191mph estimated?? Mind you cornering at 165mph was awesome!!!
I presume air quality will affect the performance and it was pretty hot on the day.
Anyone else been playing around with the top speed?
I wonder whether the aerodynamic lessons learnt with the wind tunnel tests for the M14 will find there way into the M12 in some subtle ways?
Understandably vmax isn't (and shouldn't) be much of a concern for a car like an M12 but the highish Cd is probably the only weakness in the cars otherwise fantastic repertoire of talents.
Understandably vmax isn't (and shouldn't) be much of a concern for a car like an M12 but the highish Cd is probably the only weakness in the cars otherwise fantastic repertoire of talents.
I'm suprised it's not higher than the 2.5 Ash! Is there something wrong with your car?
On the way down to LeMans the car was pulling strongly way past 130 (kmph isn't it?????
) and onto 150. My old 2.5 started to hit the brick wall just after 130 but still got up to 165 without too many difficulties with a 5-10mph tailwind at Brunters.
I've not streached the M400 fully (like my license far too much to do that) but I can't understand why it won't get into the 170's for you.
One thing though is that high ambient seems to affect the bhp quite markedly (perhaps it's that less than ideal intercooler???) - have you been doing your tests when it's hot outside?
J
On the way down to LeMans the car was pulling strongly way past 130 (kmph isn't it?????
) and onto 150. My old 2.5 started to hit the brick wall just after 130 but still got up to 165 without too many difficulties with a 5-10mph tailwind at Brunters. I've not streached the M400 fully (like my license far too much to do that) but I can't understand why it won't get into the 170's for you.
One thing though is that high ambient seems to affect the bhp quite markedly (perhaps it's that less than ideal intercooler???) - have you been doing your tests when it's hot outside?
J
Ash M400 said:
Yes, me.
Max I could get was an indicated 165 and nothing more. I am in discussion with the factory.
Top speed is actually estimated at 185 but Simon has stated that realistically 177 is the max.
I am not the only one with this "problem".
So a real 155? That can't be right.
Rob, was the 178 the speedo reading or a GPS reading?
joust said:
I'm suprised it's not higher than the 2.5 Ash! Is there something wrong with your car?
On the way down to LeMans the car was pulling strongly way past 130 (kmph isn't it?????
I've not streached the M400 fully (like my license far too much to do that) but I can't understand why it won't get into the 170's for you.
One thing though is that high ambient seems to affect the bhp quite markedly (perhaps it's that less than ideal intercooler???) - have you been doing your tests when it's hot outside?
J
lol, you are looking after your license by doing 130 (kph of course). You must know the funny policemans handshake!
m12_nathan said:
Yes, me.
Max I could get was an indicated 165 and nothing more. I am in discussion with the factory.
Top speed is actually estimated at 185 but Simon has stated that realistically 177 is the max.
I am not the only one with this "problem".
So a real 155? That can't be right.
Rob, was the 178 the speedo reading or a GPS reading?
The reading was from the speedo but i was nailed to the back of a Murcielago at the time so may be he was shifting all the air for me. Their was certainly nothing between the cars at all from 80 to 178 and mine was still accelerating all be it slowly, sadly he lifted at 178 so all the fun was over.
I later found that i could only achieve 175 even down hill and i put that down to ambient temperature being higher but may be it was just aero?
I can get to 160 (indicated) quicker than a F360, I know cause I have done it, three times on the way back from the Gumball in France. Really quick and smooth.
Then creeps to 165 and stops dead. It is as if it is being starved of fuel. Loads of revs left but I think the fuel is not getting in, you can here it sucking.
This is down hill, up hill, when its hot or when its cold.
It is like a limiter, it just stops dead at 165.
Then creeps to 165 and stops dead. It is as if it is being starved of fuel. Loads of revs left but I think the fuel is not getting in, you can here it sucking.
This is down hill, up hill, when its hot or when its cold.
It is like a limiter, it just stops dead at 165.
Ash M400 said:
I can get to 160 (indicated) quicker than a F360, I know cause I have done it, three times on the way back from the Gumball in France. Really quick and smooth.
Then creeps to 165 and stops dead. It is as if it is being starved of fuel. Loads of revs left but I think the fuel is not getting in, you can here it sucking.
This is down hill, up hill, when its hot or when its cold.
It is like a limiter, it just stops dead at 165.
Mine was certainly up up for 175 according to the speedo, i hid my snooper under the dash for the benefit of the gendarmes so i'll have to get it back out and check the speed on GPS.
Ash M400 said:
I didn't have an engine. It conked out momentarily, went below 165, came back.
Obes, I do not agree, no offence.
Now what?
Talk to Roush I suspect. It doesn't make sense that its aero if it was still pulling hard and then suddenly felt like you'd hit a limiter - drag builds up slowly. Does it ever do similar holding onto high rpm in lower gears (not that you probably do that much), if the plug gaps are wrong the spark can get 'blown out' I seem to remember being told.
Whats happening to the boost when this happens? (er you probably need a passenger to check that at 165!)
Hi Dan
I need a passenger to tell me about the boost. What you doing tomorrow?
Secondly, I agree. It is not aero.
Car is new, and behaved impeccably (excuse spelling) when this happened.
I am at a loss, I know I am not the only one to suffer this, I know the factory will sort it.
Trouble is, how to test the cure
I need a passenger to tell me about the boost. What you doing tomorrow?
Secondly, I agree. It is not aero.
Car is new, and behaved impeccably (excuse spelling) when this happened.
I am at a loss, I know I am not the only one to suffer this, I know the factory will sort it.
Trouble is, how to test the cure
Yep its not a sensible thing to test on the road - that kind of speed would probably get you a custodial sentence! I don't know any tracks with a big enough space either. Your best bet would be to strike a deal with Plans motorsport to use the top gear runway with them, or perhaps to go on a pistonheads vmax day where they hire bruntingthorpe.
Maybe wise to concentrate on if it happens in lower gears for the time being?
p.s. Tomorrow I'm test driving a GT3 - I know I'm a traitor!
Then I'm going gokarting! Ash M400 said:
I didn't have an engine. It conked out momentarily, went below 165, came back.
Obes, I do not agree, no offence.
Now what?
None taken
Didn't realise there was a 'conk out' !
Sounds like a driving holiday to Germany is in order !
O.
>> Edited by obes on Saturday 25th June 07:51
Rob - not sure where you get 191mph from. This is what the gearing would allow, but obviously aero issues prevent the car realising this speed.
The figures we've taken (from a number of different cars) have been measured by GPS, or if this has not been available, by using the rev-counter to calculate the max speed reached. Car speedos should never be relied upon to record accurate figures.
In general, M400s will hit 6600rpm (175mph) from a standing start before you run out of space at Bruntingthorpe. I've seen a bit more and a bit less on different days, due to changing winds, but since we can only run one way on the track, this is as accurate as we can get.
The only genuinely accurate method of recording a performance car's v-max is on a high-speed bowl, where one-way wind speed is not a factor. Millbrook is the only such facility in the UK, but it's relatively short (compared to Nardo in Italy), which means that you tend to scrub off speed in faster cars. And I'd defy anyone to drive at over 175mph round this bowl if they valued their life - it's rather bumpy!
And with reference to rear wing removal: don't bother, it makes not a bit of difference to max speed, though it obviously affects the car's stability.
Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.
The figures we've taken (from a number of different cars) have been measured by GPS, or if this has not been available, by using the rev-counter to calculate the max speed reached. Car speedos should never be relied upon to record accurate figures.
In general, M400s will hit 6600rpm (175mph) from a standing start before you run out of space at Bruntingthorpe. I've seen a bit more and a bit less on different days, due to changing winds, but since we can only run one way on the track, this is as accurate as we can get.
The only genuinely accurate method of recording a performance car's v-max is on a high-speed bowl, where one-way wind speed is not a factor. Millbrook is the only such facility in the UK, but it's relatively short (compared to Nardo in Italy), which means that you tend to scrub off speed in faster cars. And I'd defy anyone to drive at over 175mph round this bowl if they valued their life - it's rather bumpy!
And with reference to rear wing removal: don't bother, it makes not a bit of difference to max speed, though it obviously affects the car's stability.
Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.
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