Test Drove Proto 1 M600

[3rtt]

Hang on to your deposits.....If you don't have a deposit, you better place one now.

Got a call from Mandy at Noble early this week to see if I was available to drive the M600 and give some feed back. Check diary, no problem.

12 noon yesterday met with Peter (new MD) and 5 invited guests at Noble HQ. Shown latest drawings of the M600 and update on company situation. Then taken to see the latest 'buck' with new design tweeks over the Proto 1 being tested and developed. Details changes have made a difference and still kept the 'Noble' look.

Off to Bruntingthorpe with M400, the matt black Mule and Proto 1 warmed up waiting. Briefing from Peter on where the Proto 1 is right now and what to expect from Proto 2. Then a passenger ride around the track in the M400 to get an idea of the track layout.

Whilst other guests are taken out in the M600, I grab a chance to do a few laps in the M400 and Mule to get some benchmarks of development. I'm familiar with M400, but the Mule is something else. very raw, ex racing car and great fun.

Now my turn to be passenger in M600 our the track. Development Dave in the driving seat and off we go. Seamless, and I mean seamless acceleration with no sign of turbo lag......so that's 180 mph along the back staight and Dave takes both hands off the wheel.... no drama, no rattle or shakes. Medium speed corners and the Dave hangs the back out as the back squats with progressive ease. High speed corners (140 mph) and it's grip, grip, grip. No push, no understeer.

So now it's my turn as we go round the oval loop at the top of the circuit. Driving position very 'Noble' with everything where it shoulb be. Again seamless acceleration up through the sweetest gearbox I have shifted. 2 laps, and the first lap is getting to find the turn after the 1 mile straight. 2nd lap, Dave says 'put it in top gear at 40mph, then hit the gas pedal'. Follow the intructions, and (without any complaints from the engine) we are accelerating hard and smooth. Bags of torque and very linear acceleration. Impressive.

At this stage M600 Proto 1 is making fantastic progress in development. Some design tweeks interior and exterior, a bit more bhp from the engine still to come. But I have to say, this car (Proto 1) has progressed to completely another level of performance for Noble.

A huge thank you to Peter for the inviation, who has given permission to post this, to the 'Noble Team' (both old and new), and Mr Dyson for continued investment.

Now what colour will I pick?

Cheers,
Ian.

[Adrian W]

Id like to know what another level means

[AMG Merc]

I know what the M14 and M15 looked like (and were meant to become) but, and not being funny here, from someone who knows - what's an M600, what does it look like and what's it based on?

[3rtt]

Adrian W said:

Id like to know what another level means

M400: Speed: After 150 - 160mph starts to run out of steam.
M600: Proto 1: 160mph still accelerating hard very little wind noise and no drama, very stable.

M400: Style: It has been accused of looking like a kit car.
M600: Style: It will quite happily sit alongside ANY Supercar (Lambo, Ferrari, Porsche) and pull a croud.

M400: Handling: Not much can touch it really?
M600: Handling: Even at this stage in development, it is clear this car is a proper 'Drivers car' with no electronic gizzmos to dull the handling experience.

M400: Power: V6 Ford Duratec with twin turbo 425bhp
M600: Power: V8 Yamaha with twin Turbo. Proto 1 approx 500plus bhp. Final Car 600 (630) plus bhp

M400: Gearbox: Ford 6 speed
M600: Gearbox: Italian 6 speed (as used by Lambo and Ferrari)

Cheers,
Ian

[3rtt]

AMG Merc said:

I know what the M14 and M15 looked like (and were meant to become) but, and not being funny here, from someone who knows - what's an M600, what does it look like and what's it based on?

Rob, it's not based on anything. It's all new.

What does it look like? Think along the lines of a mixture of Ferrari 360 and 430 style and size (Proto 2 M600) with Noble genes.

Cheers,
Ian

[Mr Noble]

Is this where the excitement starts!

Nice work Ian, you lucky man! I understand Steve Kerridge was there too. Will be getting his feedback later today or tomorrow when I collect my car post service.

All sounds very promising, and I've heard that the price may be closer to the original £75k rather than the £100k that was banded around recently.

Any ideas on this yet?

Greg

[AMG Merc]

Thanks Ian, sounds cool!

When did they say you might actually see one on your drive?

[NobleGuy]

3rtt said:

M600: Gearbox: Italian 6 speed (as used by Lambo and Ferrari)

Hopefully the clutches won't need replacing quite as often as the Lambo and Ferrari......

Apart from that it sounds pretty cool. Thought the engine was going to be a Volvo lump?
Are Yamaha reliable?

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

NobleGuy said:

Thought the engine was going to be a Volvo lump?
Are Yamaha reliable?

The Volve/Ford engine is a Yamaha design. Same engine.

[Adrian W]

Question has to be asked, if they are showing it to perspective customers and dealers, when are they going to show it to the rest of the world?

[nigelw]

Great news that something AWESOME is on the way , and that the Noble name is not dead ! I'd better get saving up , but from what I am reading I will have some time because I suspect that the queue is going to be very long !

[NickyTwoHats]

I'm told there should be something (but not that much) on the Noble website soon....

Edited by NickyTwoHats on Friday 2nd May 10:27

[3rtt]

AMG Merc said:

Thanks Ian, sounds cool!

When did they say you might actually see one on your drive?

I think there is still quite a long way to go before the Proto 2 will turn a wheel. Yet alone launch and delivery. But I have to say progress seems to be moving ahead. As soon as I hear anymore news on the time line of M600 I will post.

Cheers,
Ian.

[AMG Merc]

3rtt said:

I think there is still quite a long way to go before the Proto 2 will turn a wheel. Yet alone launch and delivery. But I have to say progress seems to be moving ahead. As soon as I hear anymore news on the time line of M600 I will post.

Cheers,
Ian.

Ian, any idea what Noble has been doing for the past two years - I mean is the M600 an evolution of the M14 M15 or one that bears no relation as you suggest above?

[gadgeroonie]

Well done Noble !

I knew it was going to be an awseome drivers car - can't wait to see Jeremy Clarkson drive one

does it look anything like the M15 ?

[Adrian W]

gadgeroonie said:

Well done Noble !

I knew it was going to be an awseome drivers car - can't wait to see Jeremy Clarkson drive one

does it look anything like the M15 ?

Why?................he drives like a tt!

[alex s]

gadgeroonie said:

Well done Noble !

I knew it was going to be an awseome drivers car - can't wait to see Jeremy Clarkson drive one

does it look anything like the M15 ?

Lets hope not, the M15's rear quarter was just so wrong in so many ways.
Are they still going to do two cars or has that idea been binned as well.
Ian, was it CF or GRP?


ps. where was Justin?

Edited by alex s on Friday 2nd May 12:03

[nigelw]

Why?................he drives like a tt !

+1 ha ha ...but I do enjoy the show !

Edited by nigelw on Friday 2nd May 12:06

[AMG Merc]

alex s said:

ps. where was Justin?

Will they do it in Blue then?

[3rtt]

alex s said:

gadgeroonie said:

Well done Noble !

I knew it was going to be an awseome drivers car - can't wait to see Jeremy Clarkson drive one

does it look anything like the M15 ?

Lets hope not, the M15's rear quarter was just so wrong in so many ways.
Are they still going to do two cars or has that idea been binned as well.
Ian, was it CF or GRP?


ps. where was Justin?

Edited by alex s on Friday 2nd May 12:03

Forget M15, don't even go there. This is Real Super Car stuff in every way. The rear of the Proto 2 has more detail changes over Proto 1. Big clean venturi at the rear (think 430 style) Exhaust tail pipes tucked each side in the body away from rear airflow. Small 'Gurney' style flip up (TBC) on the rear lip to help increase pressure, individual round lights LED.

CF body all round.

Cheers,
Ian.