The Noble M400 is a sports car from the English maker Noble, manufactured for it by Hi-Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It is the track variant of the M12 and takes its name from a power-to-weight ratio of more than 400 bhp per ton. The automotive press noticed it for its handling and for the amount of performance it delivered for the money.
Noble M400 at a glance
| Maker | Noble Automotive, built by Hi-Tech Automotive |
|---|---|
| Production | 2004–2007 |
| Layout | transverse rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine | 2,968 cc Ford Duratec V6, DOHC, four valves per cylinder |
| Turbos | Garrett AiResearch T28, twin |
| Power | 425 hp (317 kW) at 6,500 rpm |
| Torque | 390 lb-ft (529 Nm) at 5,000 rpm |
| Weight | 1,134 kg |
| Power to weight | just over 400 hp per ton |
| 0–60 mph | 3.2 s |
| Quarter mile | 11.4 s at 119.8 mph |
| Top speed | 187 mph (301 km/h) |
| Built | 75 |
History of the Noble M400
The racing car with a number plate
The M400 used the same chassis and body as the M12 GTO-3R, but with meaningful changes underneath. Noble added forged pistons, an oil cooler, a larger baffled sump and extra cooling ducts for durability, and fitted high-lift camshafts and revised fuel injection to the Ford Duratec V6 from the Mondeo ST220. With two Garrett T28 turbochargers the engine produced 425 hp at 6,500 rpm, enough for 3.2 seconds to 60 mph and a top speed of 187 mph. The UK television show Vroom Vroom suggested the car offered Ferrari Enzo performance at a Porsche 911 price.
No driver aids
The M400 had no ABS, no stability control, no traction control and no airbags. Safety came from a factory racing harness and the built-in roll cage, and the driver was expected to do the rest. Compared with the M12 it also gained a front anti-roll bar, stiffer springs, different shock absorbers and Pirelli P Zero tyres. The gear shift was smoother, the central tunnel slightly narrower because the driver sat a little more centrally, and the car gained side pods to channel air into the engine and to give it a more aggressive look.
Details and legacy
Exterior differences from the M12 stayed subtle. Many cars came with anthracite wheels, rear wing supports and wing ends, though some kept silver ones, and the front splitter was deleted although many owners refitted it. Air conditioning was a £1,995 option and added weight. Inside there was an extra oil gauge beside the boost gauge and Sparco Alcantara seats, Alcantara being a third of the weight of leather. The M400 won a car of the year award in 2005 from one publication, and only 75 were made for Britain and Europe. In the United States the M400 was developed further by 1G Racing as the Rossion Q1, with 450 hp, 3.1 seconds to 60 mph and a 189 mph top speed.
Design and features
- 425 bhp twin-turbo V6: a 3.0-litre Ford Duratec with high-lift cams and two Garrett T28 turbos.
- Over 400 bhp per ton: the figure the model is named after.
- No driver aids: no ABS, stability control, traction control or airbags, only a harness and roll cage.
- Track suspension: front anti-roll bar, stiffer springs, different shocks and Pirelli P Zero tyres.
- Light interior: Sparco Alcantara seats a third of the weight of leather.
Noble M400 versions
- M400 (2004–2007): the standard car, 75 built for Britain and Europe.
- US-spec cars: part of the 220 GTO-3Rs and M400s officially exported to America.
- Rossion Q1: 1G Racing’s updated version with 450 hp and a 189 mph top speed.
The M400 is the ultimate version of the Noble M12, and it was replaced at the top of the range by the Noble M15. The fastest Noble of all is the Noble M600, and more cars are in the Noble collection.
Video: 2007 Noble M400 Start Up, Exhaust, In Depth Tour, and Test Drive
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Noble M400, English Wikipedia: engine, performance, equipment, production, Rossion Q1
- Noble Automotive, English Wikipedia: US exports and production figures
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