Comments:
Some specs might give you a rough idea:
NOBLE M600, for those who love to drive ....
Or as the Bim would say: " When you're tired of being catapulted through the gears without having to blink an eye, buy yourself an M600 " .
This car is all about REAL driving.
These past years we have all been "spoiled" with double clutch gearboxes, ABS, ESP,ASR,DDT ... 
whatever ... exhaust-tuning with different sounds ... a Ferrari 488 GTB these days can be driven hard by a monkey ... .
whatever ... exhaust-tuning with different sounds ... a Ferrari 488 GTB these days can be driven hard by a monkey ... .Back in the early 2000's i first heard about the Noble cars ... M12 ... M400, extremely fast fine handling cars .. AND fun to drive ... and ever since they've always been sitting there in the back of my brain, 10 years later Noble came with the M600, a certain guy named Peter Dyson (not related to the Dyson cleaning devices) bought the Noble company. Peter owned a Ferrari F40 and thought it was the best car ever made ( a lot of people do think it is ... as myself). His goal was to create a modern version with the same spirit and a lot of similarities:
Light
Fine handling
A joy to drive
Loads of controllable power
A manual gearbox
No ABS (ads weight anyway) ...
So with the help of a skillful team and a great designer and racer driver called Peter Boutwood they started off .... from ZERO .... .
Behold ! The M600 !
Some specs might give you a rough idea:
1198 kilo (most fluids included)
650 hp
558 lb ft (should be 700 + Nm)
A top speed of 225 mph (350 kph)
Zero to 120 mph in 8.9 seconds ... with a manual stick !!!!
Fuel consumption being so low even i could afford it, if driven slow i guess
The finish on these cars was just amazing, i really expected it to be a bit brute ... but it looked way better than the McLaren 650s i sat in the day before.
The Noble factory is a relatively small building, mind you only 19 M600's have been produced by now and they intend to build one every month.
On the wall you see the ... errr ... i guess that should be the M400 ... correct me if i'm wrong.
I like that ass
Bodywork is all carbonfibre .. the orange one though was one of the few glass fiber ones adding 50 kilos .. Noble decided to quickly change to Carbonfibre !
The adorable Peter Boutwood showing off the lightness of the carrozzeria.
The chassis is a Stainless sheet steel tub with tubular space frame ....
The level of finish on the hidden parts was just amazing, as later would be proved driving the car ... no rattle and even more comfortable than driving my BMW !
A noble car but what a beast !
From any angle it looks amazing, one has to see it in the flesh ... if you like it already by reading this post i strongly advice you to pay a visit and check out the cars for real.
It's a completely different looking car to the F40 but it has that same kind of simplicity in the shape ... so recognizable.
The front lights might look a bit simple to me but since i can't think of a better design myself ... ... and i don't want any high-tech LED-Halogen combined with xenon which makes modern cars look a bit over the top (remember it has to stay in the same spirit) ... .
Okay, ready for take-off ...
These two cars belong to Noble themselves, the right one was being prepared for Damon Hill the next day for charity rides, the red underwent some redesign ... not sure if i can mention the true reason so i'll just say nothing.
And then it was time for the Bim to take over the steering wheel ...
Hmmm, is everybody calling the police already ?
Oh .. the engine ... Apparently it is a Volvo V8 ... actually it's a Yamaha V8 4.4 lire twin-turbo ...
Okay, the stick is right in the middle .. time for me to poke around a bit !
Not an Acrapovic but a British built to Noble-specification Titanium exhaust !
That's it .. even my 6ft 6 or 198 cm fit in easily, lovable steering wheel as well.
The finish on these cars was just amazing, i really expected it to be a bit brute ... but it looked way better than the McLaren 650s i sat in the day before.
The Noble factory is a relatively small building, mind you only 19 M600's have been produced by now and they intend to build one every month.
On the wall you see the ... errr ... i guess that should be the M400 ... correct me if i'm wrong.
I like that ass
Bodywork is all carbonfibre .. the orange one though was one of the few glass fiber ones adding 50 kilos .. Noble decided to quickly change to Carbonfibre !
The adorable Peter Boutwood showing off the lightness of the carrozzeria.
The chassis is a Stainless sheet steel tub with tubular space frame ....
The level of finish on the hidden parts was just amazing, as later would be proved driving the car ... no rattle and even more comfortable than driving my BMW !
A noble car but what a beast !
From any angle it looks amazing, one has to see it in the flesh ... if you like it already by reading this post i strongly advice you to pay a visit and check out the cars for real.
It's a completely different looking car to the F40 but it has that same kind of simplicity in the shape ... so recognizable.
The front lights might look a bit simple to me but since i can't think of a better design myself ...
... and i don't want any high-tech LED-Halogen combined with xenon which makes modern cars look a bit over the top (remember it has to stay in the same spirit) ... .
Okay, ready for take-off ...
These two cars belong to Noble themselves, the right one was being prepared for Damon Hill the next day for charity rides, the red underwent some redesign ... not sure if i can mention the true reason so i'll just say nothing.
And then it was time for the Bim to take over the steering wheel ...
Hmmm, is everybody calling the police already ?
Oh .. the engine ... Apparently it is a Volvo V8 ... actually it's a Yamaha V8 4.4 lire twin-turbo ...
Okay, the stick is right in the middle .. time for me to poke around a bit !
Not an Acrapovic but a British built to Noble-specification Titanium exhaust !
That's it .. even my 6ft 6 or 198 cm fit in easily, lovable steering wheel as well.
The ride was just amazing, the car really weighs next to nothing, the balance is unlike any car i had ever driven.
I really haven't pushed it hard, except for some straight line highway accelerations in 3 4 and 5th gear, enough to get in jail .. but the power and torque are as expected immense ... what do expect from a car with a better power to weight ratio than a Bugatti .
.Under hard (probably soft for the mechanic sitting next to me LOL) braking you could feel the back end moving in that same trusting way a GT3RS does .. a bit like my Clio but more assuring ... .
... .Am i hooked ?
Of course I am ... let me drive a McLaren 650s or any supercar and i'm pretty sure i'll stick to the Noble ... i might be just a tiny bit faster on a track with the new 488 GTB ... but will i have more fun in general driving it on the road or the track ? I REALLY DOUBT THAT !
My former favorite car the GT3 RS ... ? Okay , i dunno ... but let's face it ... in ANY case the Noble is so exclusive and gives you that very special feeling of driving something made by people who are just the same as i am .... nuts !!!!
;-)
Cheers, hope you enjoyed my little post guys !!!
Those who can afford a supercar better hurry up now to your local Noble-dealer !
Filip
A very special thanks to Kim and Peter for the amazing experience, i hope to see you back in the very near future
This message has been edited by cazalea on 2015-07-31 16:16:03
Aesthetics
Noble have a great attitude and their philosophy is broadly in line with my own when it comes to cars. Most importantly, they're one of those rare, but very special companies in the modern automotive industry, which are headed by passionate car enthusiasts. When you have someone at the helm who is truly devoted to all things petrolhead amazing cars can be produced. Looking to the past, at companies like Ferrari and Lamborghini, it was Enzo's and Ferruccio's respective adoration for the cars they produced that was key. Now that these brands have become, for the most part, corporate behemoths, there is a distinct lack of that certain je ne sais quoi that imbued all their creations and made them so special. People like Peter Noble and Horacio Zonda are the successors to these men, but they're increasingly few and far between.
That said, whilst I think the cars are great, I dislike strongly their looks. Not enough effort has been invested, I think, in their design and there's something kitcar about all their models. Obviously, this is a personal thing, but when you sit a Noble next to other sports cars in that segment, there's a drabness to their designs that really lets down what is otherwise fantastic cars.
M10 ...
.. up to the M15 / M400 had indeed those quitter looks ... but if you are referring to the M600 i think you are wrong. As i mentioned in my post i find them even better built than a McLaren 650 ... The M600 is really a car to be seen in the flesh .... and most of all ... to drive
Yes, we need more people that love the cars they build more than the money the make of it ... .
Filip
Subjectivity
Again, those were purely my own opinions regarding the car's looks. The design is definitely a vast improvement over previous models, as you say, and I agree with you on that, but I still feel it somehow needed a little more refinement. There is, for me, a staleness to it, especially the front end. but what's irks is it would have taken but the slightest about of fettling to put right. Again, just my perspective and I don't wish to come across unduly as being critical purely for the sake of it. I only express these views because I think the cars are so special and it is wonderful that they are getting more attention.
Thank you for the write up though, I enjoyed reading it. The photos were also fantastic and should you have any more, especially of the production area, I'd like to see them.
Front end ...
... is indeed the most difficult design-wise ... the complete car had to be 'simple' in a way ... technically, design, engine .... it had to have the spirit and madness of an F40 ... which IMO was a brilliant idea. Performance can be compared to a ... Le Mans racer of the 70ies without having to worry the car might let you down in the middle of nowhere ... .
I also noticed the car gets a lot of attention even when in company with other supercars ... it could have been the perfect poster-car from the 70ies ... 80ies or 90ies ... but it might become one of the 10s ....
The only pics i can dig up should be these :-( .. maybe another visit one day ...
...The very first Noble ever produced:
Filip
Thank you
Wow, looking at that first car it's strange to think how long they've actually been going now and, equally, it''s great they've managed to not only survive but prosper. Personally, for a long while I thought they might not survive as they have that general vibe of producing "enthusiasts" cars, i.e. excellent driving machines that your average petrolhead salivates over (at least those that treasure the driving aspect over carpark bragging) but that your average car buyer would turn their nose up at.
Would be intrigued to see what Noble would come up with were they to turn their attention to a lightweight roadster. There seems a temptation with most sportscar makers to strive to have at some point some sort of halo supercar, but the point of these are seeming increasingly redundant.
Thank you for the additional pics. Are you planning any more factory visits at any stage?
Factory visit ...
.. At Noble depending on decisions by my friend
In the meanwhile a visit to a certain sportscar producer in the Netherlands is in the pipeline, you probably know which brand i'm talking about
Filip
Vencer
Unsure whether that is correct or not, but it would an interesting visit.
Meant to say, that Noble M600 reminds me a lot of the McLaren 12C in many ways. With the latter, whilst it wasn't so much that I disliked the design of the car, I just thought it was a little too conservative, especially for the market segment within which it was competing. The revised 650S version of the car is a lot better. It's an acquired taste, certainly, but at least it's interesting and there seems to have been a little more thought put into the design. Again, it's a pretty subtle progression of the original car's design, but the 650S is a lot better for it.
Should anyone here by taking requests, a factory visit to the Pagani factory would make for amazing reading. Bimbeano, I direct that to you in particular given that I enjoyed your Noble write up so much, so I'd be obliged were you to please put that firmly on your To Do list.
Not Vencer ...
.. it does look like a cool car, still a bit unsure if they'll be able to make a competitive car .. anyway .. we'll be visiting Donkervoort ... that's another piece of cake concerning REAL driving ... my friend just wants to try the cars he really likes before he decides for which one to sign an order form.
... that's another piece of cake concerning REAL driving ... my friend just wants to try the cars he really likes before he decides for which one to sign an order form.Pagani and Koenigsegg would be indeed fantastic to visit but i fear it will not be that easy ... we're talking million Dollar cars
... we're talking million Dollar cars Personally i would go and have a look at RUF as well, reminds me in many ways of the Noble ...
Filip
When I see the words RUF...
on a Porsche it turns me on LoooL that would be an awesome visit.
that would be an awesome visit.S
Superb article, Filip. I like the line of this car, a bit from the Seventies / Eighties.
And I love even more the idea behind the car. 
What's the price range?
Best,
Nicolas
Price range is not an issue for you ;-)
You would love this car, but since you asked it's 192 K British Pounds excl. VAT.
The perfect car for you, you can't probably park it in the rue des cowards but you know a place with plenty of room ;-)
but you know a place with plenty of room ;-)You can leave the keys there as well !
Bim
A Purist Exotic
Wonderful Report and Post Filip, I first encountered a Noble in 2006, a M400, I went out for a drive in my 355 Spyder with it and it was a beast but the finishing was not as good as the M600, they have really improved the quality and the design. I love the way the M600 looks
This message has been edited by SALMANQ8 on 2015-07-19 00:32:26
Hope to experience it one day but they are so rare unlike mainstream exotics that it might be some time before I get the chance.
Thank You for Sharing your Special Visit.
S
Pic Credit: Noble Cars
A British freakshow on an overseas mission !
The onboard footage gives you an idea
Filip
Bloody good manual ...
... and the left leg didn't have to work hard. Off course i was so careful driving of the Noble-driveway i stalled it ... this car can be driven by anyone ... the question is .. who can drive it hard ?
... this car can be driven by anyone ... the question is .. who can drive it hard ?Steering was perfect as you would expect, at higher speeds it was as they say pin-point-sharp but most of all it was very intuitive ... as said this is an analogue car, the only thing it needs is traction-control (which it has), normal cars need ABS as well, most cars have ESP or whatever they call it and most supercars have monkey-aid -electronics ;-) to make you go faster without knowing what the heck you're doing anyway ... .
Filip
PS. Did you install the ABS yet on your Alfa ?
That is quite...
...impressive work; to build a manual box for that amount of twist and still have a good gearshift feel, not to mention the clutch action (single plate??). Noble must be one of the last customers of Graziano manual gearboxes now that nearly every manufacturer that uses them has gone to a non-manual. Which is a real shame.
I know DCTs have faster changes and are better for MPG numbers, but who is trying to get that last 0.2sec to win races? I doubt I'd go that much faster with DCT, I've far more problems with my driving than that. In the meantime, I can enjoy my own rev matching and heel and toeing anytime....even tootling about in traffic.
PS Alfa ABS? 10 1/2 inch drums and 155 tyres? No booster makes the efforts a bit high, but easy to modulate....best drums I've ever driven Big helical fins on the fronts make them surprisingly fade free, too
I know DCTs have faster changes and are better for MPG numbers, but who is trying to get that last 0.2sec to win races? I doubt I'd go that much faster with DCT, I've far more problems with my driving than that. In the meantime, I can enjoy my own rev matching and heel and toeing anytime....even tootling about in traffic.
PS Alfa ABS? 10 1/2 inch drums and 155 tyres? No booster makes the efforts a bit high, but easy to modulate....best drums I've ever driven
Big helical fins on the fronts make them surprisingly fade free, too
Brembo drums ?
Grazing box indeed ... wonderful mechanic IMO ... especially remembering a drive in a 348 a couple of years ago ... what a nightmare
Bim
In-house drums...
...not some rebranded Brembo...back when Alfa was a real company.:-(
Wow...
The photo of the carbon fiber passenger cell being lifted by your friend is amazing...
Thanks for sharing Bim! Trading in your BMW for a Noble?
Thanks for sharing Bim! Trading in your BMW for a Noble?
Haha !!
The man lifting the carbon cell is Peter Boutwood, the designer of the M600 .... and test driver as well.
.... and test driver as well.Here you can see him with the M600 we drove
Filip
Wonderful report bimbeano
I don't think I've ever seen a Noble car before. Never knew they existed before.
I too agree that the exterior of the M600 looks slightly dated for me but that's my opinion. Also, the tail lights are too reminiscent of Ferrari if you ask me.
I can feel your energy and enthusiasm for the Noble M600! Awesome report!
Btw, how's the sound of the car?
Cheers,
Anthony
I too agree that the exterior of the M600 looks slightly dated for me but that's my opinion. Also, the tail lights are too reminiscent of Ferrari if you ask me.
I can feel your energy and enthusiasm for the Noble M600! Awesome report!
Btw, how's the sound of the car?
Cheers,
Anthony
The chance of encountering ...
.. a Noble on the streets is very minimal ... only 19 M600's built until now, but a few 100 of the M10/12/400 were built as well.
I've only seen one ever on the road just 5 miles from my door ... .
... .The exterior doesn't really looks dated, maybe the headlights might but this car was designed to be a classic anyway ... i think the tail lights are Lotus ... but i really like the look of them.
... but i really like the look of them.My enthusiasm lies in the fact it's not just a high performance car ... it's really a car with a soul and some serious performance between a supercar and a hypercard ... but with a manual gearbox.
About the sound, it's a twin turbo V8 so it's not a screamer at all, i do love a high revving non-turbo engine but this sounds soooo much better than any Porsche 911 Turbo .... from 2:30 onwards you can hear the brutal noise it makes ...
Filip
A Question....
Have they made any in LHD? is the car compliant with US regulations?
S