M12 handling - reasons for excellence?

[boxerTen]

On several occasions I have noted authorities of various standing (CAR magazine, Clarkson etc.) eulogising about the excellence of the M12's handling and steering. Given there seems to be several Noble suspension experts present on this forum I thought I'd ask:

What is it about the M12's suspension design/geometry that gives it such handling excellence?
(obviously the car is light and runs double unequal wishbones both ends, but then so do other plenty of other, apparently poorer handling, supercars)

Thanks.

[daddysumo]

Good choice of spring rate and damping have to be high on the list, as for the front end,10 degs pos castor on a road car is not usual but sure does help to keep all of the tyre in contact with the road under most circumstances IMO.

[TuxMan]

60% good design ........40% luck !!!

[joust]

Lee Noble pixie dust

[R0162]

Lee has put many years of experience together on this car.

The chassis is very stiff.
Wheel base.
Good responsive power steering rack.
Good combination suspension design, wishbones, shockers, springs, geometry.
Well balanced with weight.
Mid engined.
Low centre of gravity.
Lightweight design.

I assume its a good combimnation of the above, but I am sure Lee would be able to make the list 3 times longer, as with everything it is knowing how to get the mixture just right.

[anonymous-user]

I'm going to hazard a guess that "pure handling" is just much further up Noble's list that say even for a F458 etc (lets face it, they have crash, emissions, NVH etc etc and all end up compromising everything else) Being able to keep the weight down makes the "handling task" much easier as the forces you have to deal with and react are much lower, and the inertia's the system has to damp lower too.

[F.C.]

IMO the M400 had sublime springing /damping, the whole car was so compliant over bumps, with no crashing whatsoever, I compare this with a more recent car of mine an Exige S 240 which just wanted to break your teeth over anything more than a ripple.
I honestly don't understand how Lee was able to get such a perfect balance with the original GTO and then repeat it with a more extreme set-up on the M400. Pure Genius I guess?

[F.C.]

Max_Torque said:

I'm going to hazard a guess that "pure handling" is just much further up Noble's list that say even for a F458 etc (lets face it, they have crash, emissions, NVH etc etc and all end up compromising everything else) Being able to keep the weight down makes the "handling task" much easier as the forces you have to deal with and react are much lower, and the inertia's the system has to damp lower too.

I agree but the Exige is lighter by a fair margin, though a fine handling car you really wouldn't describe it as refined whereas the M400 really is astonishing.
Even my F430 was a rough ride compared!!

[boxerTen]

Does the M12/M400 have longer than normal wishbones? This would allow longer (and softer) suspension travel while still keeping the wheels upright when cornering (an F1 car for example has hugely long wishbones compared with a road car).

[daddysumo]

Define 'normal ' ?

[boxerTen]

daddysumo said:

Define 'normal ' ?

Longer than say one would typically find on a Gallardo, F430, or similar.