Autocar Article - M12 fights harder

Autocar Article - M12 fights harder

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joust

Original Poster:

14,622 posts

259 months

Tuesday 15th October 2002
quotequote all
M12 Fights Harder

Noble's ballistic M12 GTO Supercar could tip over the edge from "borderline insane" to certifiable, thanks to a new V6 engine.

The M12's Ford sourced, 2.5-litre V6 has been replaced by the 3.0-litre block from the Mondeo ST220. Twin turbochargers boost its power output to 340bhp.

The bigger capacity M12, christened GTO-3, will be one of three new variants at the British Motor Show next week, all powered by the new V6.

Star of the stand will be the GTC-3, a convertible version of the M12. The manual soft-top version is tipped to go on sale next summer, although prices are still to be decided.

The GTO-3 coupe's price climbs by £3k to £47,950, but the Noble still offers a mind blowing amount of power-per-pounds-sterling.

Although weight is up by 70kg to 1050kg, the mid engined flyer's power-to-weight ratio has climbed to 323bhp per tonne, up from 316bhp.

Autocar's testers praised the original GTO's grippy, flowing chassis and "borderline insane" acceleration. The drama should be heightened with the GTO-3.

Expect fractionally quicker times than the GTO's 0-60mph in 3.9sec and 0-100mph in 9.4sec - both only fractionally slower than the £163,000 Lamborghini Murcielago's.

A limited slip differential is now standard fit, to prevent all the torque surging to just one of the rear wheels during hard cornering.

The third Noble to be previewed in Birmingham will be the more luxurious GTO-3R. This £51,500 model, which goes on sale in the spring, features a leather interior and extra sound-proofing, as well as unique alloys.

Also in the pipeline is a circa £68k track day special, the GTO-3T. This 400bhp, six speed monster is kitted out with a roll cage, fire extinguisher, adjustable Bilstein shocks and Dunlop slicks for the track, Bridgestone tyres for the road.

Choices... choices.... choices......

J

JonRB

74,581 posts

272 months

Tuesday 15th October 2002
quotequote all
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

ultimaandy

1,225 posts

264 months

Tuesday 15th October 2002
quotequote all
Still woop ya in my full leather interior 60k Ultima convertible with over 500bhp and yet still lighter than the noble!!!

Sorry couldn't resist

joust

Original Poster:

14,622 posts

259 months

Tuesday 15th October 2002
quotequote all

ultimaandy said: Still woop ya in my full leather interior 60k Ultima convertible with over 500bhp and yet still lighter than the noble!!!

Shame it looks like it's been squashed in a car crusher though - and leather is just for kinky people that don't have a normal sex life....

As for building it myself - couldn't think of it - would ruin my nails

Sorry couldn't resist
Neither could I (runs and hides!)


J

ultimaandy

1,225 posts

264 months

Tuesday 15th October 2002
quotequote all

joust said
and leather is just for kinky people that don't have a normal sex life....

As for building it myself - couldn't think of it - would ruin my nails :rolleyes




Befine normal sex life....... Are manicured nails involved somewere????

I only had leather as it's a convertible and any other material would look crap after a year or two.

But there is obviously a demand by Kinky Noble drivers for Leather if its becoming a standard fit in some models!!!!

joust

Original Poster:

14,622 posts

259 months

Tuesday 15th October 2002
quotequote all

ultimaandy said:Befine normal sex life....... Are manicured nails involved somewere????
I only had leather as it's a convertible and any other material would look crap after a year or two.
OH - I see you have a Can-Am.... Well in that case I might let you off (mind you - thinking about it, my cloth in my elise is fine and dandy after 3 years - but then it's got a roof for when it rains )

But there is obviously a demand by Kinky Noble drivers for Leather if its becoming a standard fit in some models!!!!
Surely driving something so "mainstream" means we are all boring farts????

J

ultimaandy

1,225 posts

264 months

Wednesday 16th October 2002
quotequote all

joust said
- but then it's got a roof for when it rains ) J


As has mine!!!!! it's the first production softop. And I am making a hardtop out of kevlar.

I bite my nails so it don't matter!

joust

Original Poster:

14,622 posts

259 months

Wednesday 16th October 2002
quotequote all

ultimaandy said:I bite my nails so it don't matter!

Ah - your secret is out.... You really are "macho man"

J