| Noble M12 | |
| Manufacturer: | Hi-Tech Automotive under license from Noble Automotive |
| Production: | 2000–2008 |
| Assembly: | Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
| Predecessor: | Noble M10 |
| Successor: | Noble M14 |
| Class: | Sports car (S) |
| Body Style: | 2-door coupé |
| Layout: | Transverse, rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Engine: | 2.5 L - 3.0 L Ford Duratec 25 Twin-Turbocharged V6 |
| Transmission: | 6-speed Getrag manual |
| Wheelbase: | 24381NaN1 |
| Length: | 40891NaN1 |
| Width: | 18281NaN1 |
| Height: | 11431NaN1 |
| Weight: | 10800NaN0 (M12 GTO-3R) |
| Designer: | Lee Noble |
The Noble M12 is a two-door, two-seat sports car designed and engineered by English automobile manufacturer Noble Automotive with production outsourced to Hi-Tech Automotive of South Africa.
Over the course of its lifespan, the car evolved through many variations, culminating with the M400 as the ultimate variation. Only 220 Noble GTO-3Rs and M400s were imported to the U.S.; they are the only Nobles to have been officially available in the American market.[1] [2] The U.S. production rights to the M12s and M400s were sold in February 2007 to 1G Racing from Ohio. Due to the high demand for these cars, 1G Racing (now Rossion Automotive) released its improved variation based on the M400, Rossion Q1. Salica Cars planned to build variants based on the Noble M12 but they appear to have remained a project.
Like the Noble M10, the Noble M12 is a two-door, two-seat model, originally planned both as a coupé and as a convertible but the production cars were only produced in the coupé bodystyle. All cars have been powered by modified bi-turbocharged Ford Duratec V6 engines. The M12 has a full steel roll cage, steel frame, and G.R.P. (fiberglass) composite clam shell body parts. Although looking to be track derived, the M12 is a street-legal vehicle, ready for both road and track.
| Twin-turbocharged Ford Duratec V6 engine | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Noble M12 GTO[3] | 25441NaN1 | 3100NaN0 at 6,000 rpm | 3200NaN0 at 3,500 rpm |
| Noble M12 GTO-3[4] | 29671NaN1 | 3520NaN0 at 6,200 rpm | 3500NaN0 at 3,500 - 5,000 rpm |
| Noble M12 GTO-3R[5] | |||
| Noble M400[6] | 4250NaN0 at 6,500 rpm | 3900NaN0 at 5,000 rpm | |
| Rossion Q1[7] | 4500NaN0 at 5,800 rpm | 3900NaN0 at 4,400 rpm | |
The Noble M400 is equipped with higher-flow, Garrett T28 twin-turbochargers. Weight is 23370NaN0.[6]
The Rossion Q1 has a weight of 23000NaN0 and can accelerate from 0-600NaN0 in 3.4 seconds (company spec).[7]
The only convertible variant (the M12 GTC) was shown at motor shows but was canceled, and was never produced by Noble. In 2008, Salica Cars proposed the Salica GTC, offered both as a complete car and as a conversion kit to transform an M12/400 coupé into a convertible, but it never materialized.
The M12 was reviewed briefly in the show Top Gear and can be driven in the Forza video game franchise.