The Noble M15 is a sports car designed and developed by Noble Automotive, the high-performance manufacturer based in Leicestershire. Production was due to begin in early 2006, and the car was intended to appeal to a far broader market than the M12 GTO-3R or the M400, competing directly with the Porsche 911 Turbo and the Ferrari F430. It was replaced by the Noble M600 in mid-2011, when production stopped.
Noble M15 at a glance
| Maker | Noble Automotive, Leicestershire |
|---|---|
| Production | 2006–2011 |
| Body | two-seat coupé |
| Layout | longitudinally mounted rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Chassis | steel and aluminium space frame with roll cage |
| Bodywork | graphite-reinforced plastic panels |
| Engine | 3.0-litre twin-turbo Ford Duratec V6, 2,967 cc |
| Power | 455 bhp (339 kW) at 6,800 rpm |
| Torque | 455 lb-ft (617 Nm) at 4,800 rpm |
| Gearbox | six-speed manual by Graziano |
| 0–62 mph | 3.4 s |
| Top speed | 185 mph (298 km/h) |
| Weight | 1,250 kg |
| Price in Britain | £74,950 |
History of the Noble M15
A supercar for every day
The M15 was the first Noble designed to be used every day rather than only on track. It came with satellite navigation, traction control, electric windows and ABS — equipment no earlier Noble had offered. Lee Noble said the M12 was a great car but very focused, and that he wanted to produce a supercar people could use every day. The target was clear: the car had to be quicker than the M400 on a circuit while being far more civilised on the road.
A new platform
Unlike the M12, the M15 was based on a brand new platform. The engine is mounted longitudinally rather than transversely as in the M400, which let the designers increase cooling flow and take the 3.0-litre twin-turbo Ford Duratec V6 to 455 bhp. Drive went through a bespoke Graziano gearbox, and the double wishbone suspension was a development of the system used on the M400. The steel and aluminium space frame was designed with a view to passing crash test regulations around the world, and the M15 was planned as the first Noble to gain European and US type approval.
On Top Gear
When the car appeared on Top Gear it was driven by Richard Hammond, who praised its handling, and by the Stig, who lapped the test track in 1:22.5 — faster than a Ferrari F430 on 1:22.9 and an Audi R8 on 1:24.4. Jeremy Clarkson called it one of those giant killers. The M15 remained in production until mid-2011, when it was replaced by the M600.
Design and features
- Usable equipment: satellite navigation, traction control, electric windows and ABS, all new to Noble.
- Longitudinal engine: better cooling flow than the transverse installation of the M400.
- Graziano gearbox: a bespoke six-speed manual built for the car.
- Type approval: the first Noble planned for European and US approval.
- Track pace: a 1:22.5 lap of the Top Gear circuit, quicker than a Ferrari F430.
Noble M15 versions
- M15 coupé (2006–2011): the production car, with 455 bhp.
- Pre-production prototype (2007): the car shown on Top Gear before launch.
- M15C: an updated replacement reported by Autocar in 2007, alongside the M600.
The M15 replaced the Noble M400 and was itself replaced by the Noble M600. Its ancestor is the Noble M12, and more cars are in the Noble collection.
Video: Noble M15 Review
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Noble M15, English Wikipedia: design, engine, performance, Top Gear results
- Noble Automotive, English Wikipedia: place of the M15 in the range
