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Noble M12 GTO

Noble M12 GTO

2000 Noble M12 GTO

Lee Noble, a well-regarded auto designer and race-car driver, formed Noble Automotive Limited in Leicestershire, England, in 1998. In 1999, he released the M10, also built in South Africa. English car magazines swooned, praising the Noble for superb driving dynamics. One year later, a refined and prettier version of the M10, called the M12, appeared. In 2003, 1G Racing began importing about six each month to the U.S., approximately 30 percent of the total production.

The car certainly looks fierce, a sports car for sure, but it doesn’t appear to be all that sophisticated. The chassis is made from steel tubes, and the body is fiberglass. The mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged 360-hp V-6 uses the engine block from a Ford Taurus, and the six-speed transmission is from the European Ford Mondeo.

And it posted supercar numbers at the track: The quarter-mile happened in 11.8 seconds at 118 mph, and it pulled an even 1.00 g on the skidpad. The $448,000 Porsche Carrera GT does the quarter in 11.2 seconds at 132 mph. Bear in mind that skirting crash and emissions regulations makes it easier to keep a car light. The Noble weighs only 2457 pounds, 689 less than the carbon-fiber Carrera GT.

Noble M12 Gallery

Noble M12 GTO Video

0-60mph in less time than it takes to say its name. Tiff in the latest incarnation of his favourite Sports GT.

This car hits 0-60MPH in 3.7 seconds and has the loudest twin turbo sounds to be heard! The M12 GTO is a very special car.

 

In Detail

engine Ford Alloy V6
valvetrain DOHC 4 Valves / Cyl
displacement 2544 cc / 155.2 in³
power 231.2 kw / 310.0 bhp @ 6000 rpm
specific output 121.86 bhp per litre
bhp/weight bhp per tonne
torque 433.9 nm / 320.0 ft lbs @ 3500 rpm
driven wheels Transverse Mid Engine / RWD
front tires 225/40ZR-18
rear tires 265/35ZR-18
front brakes Vented & Cross Drilled Discs
f brake size x 330 mm / x 13.0 in
r brake size x 330 mm / x 13.0 in
front wheels F 45.7 x 21.6 cm / 18.0 x 8.5 in
rear wheels R 45.7 x 25.4 cm / 18.0 x 10.0 in
steering Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist
curb weight 980 kg / 2161 lbs
wheelbase 2438 mm / 96.0 in
front track 1520 mm / 59.8 in
rear track 1500 mm / 59.1 in
length 4089 mm / 161.0 in
width 1828 mm / 72.0 in
height 1143 mm / 45.0 in
transmission 5-Speed Manual
gear ratios :1
top speed ~265.5 kph / 165.0 mph
0 – 60 mph ~4.1 seconds
0 – 100 mph ~10.2 seconds
0 – 1/4 mile ~12.8 seconds