Noble Automotive has today staked its claim to a place amongst the highest echelon of the world’s sportscar manufacturers with the launch of the new M15.
Building on the success of the no-compromise M12, the M15 is a more mature Noble with luxuries including Satellite Navigation, impeccable ride and 300 litres of luggage space!
“The M12 is a great car, but it’s very focused and I wanted to produce a supercar people could use every day,” said founder Lee Noble. “It was time for Noble to take a big step up in terms of refinement, practicality and style.
“We’re delighted with this new car’s all-round skills and the I reckon there’s not a car in its class to touch it dynamically. After all, it’s still a Noble!”
With a 455bhp version of the tried and trusted three-litre twin turbo engine Noble has come to rely on, this is also the quickest car ever to emerge from Barwell, Leicestershire. With the complementary figure of 455lb/ft of torque, all in a car that weighs slightly more than 1200kg, the M15 is devastatingly fast.
The M15 accelerates from 0-60mph in less than 3.3 seconds and 10 100mph in less than 8s. It keeps going all the way to 185mph, too, and has been tuned for rapid acceleration throughout the range rather than an easily achievable 200mph top end speed.
Supreme cornering skills and a confidence-inspiring chassis are part the DNA and, in this respect, the M15 promises to be the best yet. The spaceframe chassis with integral rollcage is 57 per cent stiffer than the M12 that has won plaudits throughout the world and intensive development has ensured that the fabled Noble handling on the limit is even better than before.
At £74,950 the M15 pitches straight into battle with the established supercar brands, but Noble is happy to meet them head on. “Hopefully people that test this car will see it as a real alternative to £130,000 exotica, as well as the immediate competition in the price range,” he said. “We know we’re taking on tough opposition, but I’m sure this car is going to take us forward in a big way.”
Exterior
The M15 boasts immense road presence, yet is only 181mm longer and 31mm wider than the M12 at 4270mm and 1905mm respectively. It remains a lithe machine at slightly more than 1200kg, lightweight engineering is a part of Noble's DNA.
Yet despite the M15's compact dimension, the M15 is a spacious, luxurious car with room for luggage, astonishing crash protection and a chassis that is significantly stiffer than any Noble before it. This is a luxurious sportscar with dragon-slaying performance as standard.
It's stylish, too. From any angle there's a feature to hold your gaze. The aggressive curve of the wings at the front, coupled with the Boomerange-style headlight fairings will announce its arrival in dramatic style.
The low-slung stance, muscular haunches and huge air intakes define the seductive side profile and the fastback rear proves you don't need ugly, drag-inducing to achieve downforce.
Noble never puts form before aerodynamic function and a more efficient shape helps the M15 to its estimated top speed of 185mph. More importantly, this and the huge diffuser that has proven itself in battle on the company race car, help plant the rear to the ground at speed.
This is the most refined, the most complete Noble to date, and with production strictly limited, stunning shape will retain its impact for a long time to come.
Drivetrain & Performance
The mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged V6 used in the M15 is the most powerful engine ever fitted to a road-going Noble and has been developed over seven years and millions of testing miles.
A sublime combination of low-end driveability and top end power, the latest version of Noble's engine delivers 455lb ft of torque at 4850rpm and 455bhp at 6800rpm. And 96 percent of this power is available from 5200rpm, making the M15 an effortlessly quick car.
On-road performance is everything you would expect from a company that already produces one of the fastest accelerating production cars in the world. The leap from 0-60mph arrives in an incredible 3.3 seconds, from a standstill to 100mph takes less than 8 and this car will keep going all the way to 185mph.
The M15 scores big over other models with its effortless acceleration beyond 130mph, improved significantly due to a cleaner body shape and more efficient intercooler and turbocharger performance.
The drivetrain is installed longitudinally for the first time in a Noble, increasing cooling and turbo performance dramatically. Weight distribution has also improved over the existing model to 42:58 percent, front:rear. due to the engine and gearbox assembly being moved forward by 300mm.
Since the M15 is the most versatile Noble ever produced, it has been designed to take higher mileages with less maintenance than the M12. Here, the in-line drivetrain configuration comes into its own again, with excellent accessibility around the engine and ancillaries, reducing servicing and maintenance downtime.