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Noble (car)
Encyclopedia
Noble Automotive Ltd., more commonly known simply as Noble, is a British sports car
manufacturer
.
It was established in 1999 by Lee Noble
in Leeds
, West Yorkshire
, for producing high-speed sports cars with a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Lee Noble was the chief designer and owner of Noble. He sold the company in August 2006. He resigned from the company in February 2008 and announced his new venture, Fenix Automotive
in 2009. The company has since moved to larger premises at Meridian Business Park near Leicester.
Noble is a low-production British sports car company, its past products include the M12 GTO, M12 GTO-3, M12 GTO-3R and Noble M400
. The M12 GTO-3R and M400 share chassis and body, but have minor differences in engines and suspensions. The M15 has a new space frame chassis. The body and chassis of the Noble is built by Hi-Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth, South Africa alongside Superformance
cars. Once the body shell is completed, it is sent to the Noble factory where the engines, transmissions, etc. are added.
In 2009 Noble Released the M600, a car which takes Noble into Hyper Car territory. With 650BHP available from its purpose built 4.4 litre V8 Twin turbo charged engine, the carbon fibre, light weight bodied car is aimed firmly at the established Ferrari/Porsche brands. Deliveries to customers are expected mid 2010. The retail price is GBP 200,000
Only 220 Noble GTO-3Rs and M400s were imported to the U.S. They are the only Nobles available to the American market. The U.S. distribution rights to the M12s and M400s were sold in February 2007 to 1G Racing from Ohio. Due to high demand of these cars, 1G released its own copy, named Rossion Q1
.
in many respects. The Toyota MR2 Spyder
is noted for having a somewhat similar appearance to the M10.
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Like the Noble M10, the Noble M12 is a two-door, two-seater model, originally planned both as a coupe
and as a convertible
.
All M12s have been powered by specially tuned turbocharged Ford
Duratec V6 engines.
The M12 has a full steel roll cage, steel frame, and G.R.P. (fibre glass) composite clam shell body parts. These cars are extremely lightweight and stiff. Although looks to be track derived, the M12 performs very well on both road and track, with surprisingly good ride quality, but a rigid feel. The coupe evolved through four (4) variants with the M400 being the ultimate version of the M12, followed by the GTO-3R.
Noble M12 GTO
2.5L bi-turbo 330 bhp/231 kW
Noble M12 GTO-3
3.0L bi-turbo 365 bhp/242 kW
Noble M12 GTO-3R
3.0L bi-turbo 415 bhp/262 kW
0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 3.7 seconds was published in the official brochure of the M12 GTO-3R, Road and Track indicated a 0-60 mph performance of 3.3 seconds, but subsequently listed it as 3.5 seconds. Its top speed is listed as 185 mph (298 km/h). Lateral Gs are reported in excess of 1.2.
The M400 is the track variant of the M12 and weighs a bit more than the GTO-3R. It has 425 bhp and has been reported to do 0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) in as little as 3.2 seconds. Car and Driver (March, 2007) achieved a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds and a 0-100 mph time of 7.52 seconds. Noble indicates only that the car is capable of achieving 0-60 mph in under 4 seconds. Its top speed is listed as 185 mph (300 km/h). A top speed of 202 mi/h has been achieved by Noble's former press officer. Lateral Gs are reported in excess of 1.2. The model designation M400 is derived from the fact that the power and weight specifications for the car correspond to 400 bhp per ton. It has both a 3 point seatbelt and a 5 point harness. The most notable differences from the M12 are the use of forged pistons, a front anti-roll bar, stiffer springs, different shocks, Pirelli
P Zero tyres, a smoother gear shifter, and a slightly narrower central tunnel. The M400 is designed to be an outstanding track car that is also pleasant to drive on the road.
The Noble M14 debuted at the 2004 British Motor Show and generated significant interest in the motoring press. It was planned to compete with the Porsche 911 Turbo
and Ferrari F430
. It was based on the chassis of the M12, with only minor modifications. It had a new body and a more up market interior. Following the debut of the car Lee Noble
decided that the car was insufficiently different from the M12/M400 to justify the price increase despite having taken a number of deposits. Noble instead developed a brand new car, the M15, developing further from the M12 and M14, although the cars have few common components.
Production of the M15 was planned to begin in early 2006, but has not taken place. The Noble M15 was intended to appeal to a far broader market and compete directly with the Porsche 911 Turbo
and Ferrari F430
. As a result the Noble M15 was expected to have a number of features not previously found on Nobles such as Sat nav, traction control
, electric windows
and ABS
. The Company has issued a press release about the M15, and the M15 will be produced after the introduction of the M600. The M15 of the future will be different than the car shown in 2006.
Despite increased comfort and usability compared to previous Noble cars press releases stated that Noble expected the M15 to be significantly quicker than the M400 around a race track. It is able to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 3.3 seconds and has a top speed of 185 mph (298 km/h).
The car was based on a brand new platform with a longitudinally mounted engine connected to a bespoke
gearbox created by Graziano
. The double wishbone suspension is a development of the system mounted on the M400. Mounting the engine longitudinally allowed the designer to increase cooling flow to the engine which allows the 3.0l twin turbo V6 to produce 455 bhp. The engine was designed to meet emissions regulations and the new steel/aluminium space frame was designed with a view to passing crash test regulations around the world. The M15 was planned to be the first Noble which gains European and US type approval
. The company has since released press announcements regarding the M15 and its future. Only one of the M15 prototypes was built, and the company used that car to further develop the model. The company has announced that the M15 as presented to Top Gear was determined to be good, but needed to be better, which has allowed the company to create the new M600 and develop the M15 into a more track focused vehicle.
The designer's opinion:
“The M12 is a great car, but it’s very focused and I wanted to produce a supercar people could use everyday,” said founder Lee Noble.
“It was time for Noble to take a big step up in terms of refinement, practicality and style.”
The M15 appeared in Top Gear
and presenter Richard Hammond
was very impressed. It was a lot quicker around the Top Gear-track than the old Noble. According to Richard this has to do with the new, stronger gearbox which enables Noble to allow more boost and let the same engine produce more power. The Stig
managed a lap time of 1:22.5
which is currently 26th on the powerlap board.
twin-turbocharged V8 engine
(producing 650 bhp), a carbon fibre body shell, and a 6-speed gear box. It will compete in the same category as the Ferrari F430
. It has been announced that it will have a Carbon Fibre body shell and a 6-speed gear box.
Noble has released official pictures of the Noble M600 and revealed it will have a top speed of 225(theoretical) mph. The 2800 pounds (1,270.1 kg) M600 can accelerate from 0-62.1 mph (100 km/h) in 3.5 seconds and require only another 4 seconds to achieve 100 mi/h. It has over 1G of grip on the skid pad. The brake disks in the Noble M600 are steel. The Noble comes with no ABS or ASM and TC as those features will be optional, making the Noble M600 a pure driver's car. The British supercar will cost around £200,000 when it hits the market and only 50 will be made annually.
Recently, Noble publicly tested an M600 prototype 2 in the USA, comparing its performance with a Porsche Carrera GT
and Ferrari Enzo. This prototype was detuned to 500 bhp.
The Noble was also featured on the fifth episode of the 14th series
of Top Gear, in which Jeremy Clarkson
complained of its lack of features but was astonished by its power and acceleration. The Noble posted an impressive time of 1:17.7 around the Top Gear test track
with The Stig
behind the wheel on a cold winter day, and despite the conditions the M600 was the eighth-fastest behind the Ariel Atom 500, the McLaren MP4-12C
, the Lamborghini Aventador
, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, the Gumpert Apollo
, the Ascari A10
and the Koenigsegg CCX
. It beat the Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron
and the Pagani Zonda Roadster F in lap times around the Top Gear test track.
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
manufacturer
Automaker
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
.
It was established in 1999 by Lee Noble
Lee Noble
Lee Noble is a British entrepreneur, car designer and engineer. He is the founder of the sports car companies Noble Automotive Ltd in 1999 and Fenix Automotive in 2009. He is also the designer of some low-volume sports cars, including the Ultima Mk1, Ultima Mk2, Ultima Mk3, Midtec Spyder, and...
in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, for producing high-speed sports cars with a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Lee Noble was the chief designer and owner of Noble. He sold the company in August 2006. He resigned from the company in February 2008 and announced his new venture, Fenix Automotive
Fenix Automotive
Fenix Automotive Ltd is a British supercar manufacturer founded by Lee Noble in 2009. Lee Noble created the company ten years after the founding of his previous company Noble Automotive. Noble left Noble Automotive in the spring of 2008.-Projects:...
in 2009. The company has since moved to larger premises at Meridian Business Park near Leicester.
Noble is a low-production British sports car company, its past products include the M12 GTO, M12 GTO-3, M12 GTO-3R and Noble M400
Noble M400
The Noble M400 is a fibreglass sports car from the British car maker Noble. Manufacturing was outsourced to Hi-Tech Automotive, based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The M400 was noted by the automotive press for excellent handling and power.-Engine:...
. The M12 GTO-3R and M400 share chassis and body, but have minor differences in engines and suspensions. The M15 has a new space frame chassis. The body and chassis of the Noble is built by Hi-Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth, South Africa alongside Superformance
Superformance
Superformance LLC is a small American automobile company that builds, designs, and imports sports cars and replicars. The company was founded as "Superformance International Inc." by Hi-Tech Automotive Ltd. in 1996. Today, Superformance has 15 authorized dealers in the United States and 6...
cars. Once the body shell is completed, it is sent to the Noble factory where the engines, transmissions, etc. are added.
In 2009 Noble Released the M600, a car which takes Noble into Hyper Car territory. With 650BHP available from its purpose built 4.4 litre V8 Twin turbo charged engine, the carbon fibre, light weight bodied car is aimed firmly at the established Ferrari/Porsche brands. Deliveries to customers are expected mid 2010. The retail price is GBP 200,000
Only 220 Noble GTO-3Rs and M400s were imported to the U.S. They are the only Nobles available to the American market. The U.S. distribution rights to the M12s and M400s were sold in February 2007 to 1G Racing from Ohio. Due to high demand of these cars, 1G released its own copy, named Rossion Q1
Rossion Q1
The Rossion Q1 is a sports car from US car maker 1g Racing/Rossion Automotive. It is based on the Noble M400 and built by Hi-Tech Automotive. Founders Ian Grunes and Dean Rosen began development on the Rossion Q1 after acquiring the rights to the Noble M400 in February 2007...
.
Noble M10 (1999 - 2000)
The Noble M10 is a two-door, two seater model built in convertible form only. It is powered by a naturally aspirated (i.e., no forced induction) 2.5-litre engine. It was introduced in 1999, but is no longer in production, having been replaced by the M12. Only a few were ever made, as customers moved deposits onto the M12 as soon as its credentials were announced. The M10 is similar in performance of the Lotus EliseLotus Elise
The 1996 Lotus Elise weighed . Because of its relatively low weight, it was able to accelerate 0- in 5.8 seconds despite its relatively low power output of...
in many respects. The Toyota MR2 Spyder
Toyota MR2
The Toyota MR2 is a two-seat, mid-engined, rear wheel drive sports car produced by Central Motors, a part of Toyota, from 1984 until July 2007 when production stopped in Japan...
is noted for having a somewhat similar appearance to the M10.
Noble M12 (2000 - 2008)
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
and as a convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
.
All M12s have been powered by specially tuned turbocharged Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
Duratec V6 engines.
The M12 has a full steel roll cage, steel frame, and G.R.P. (fibre glass) composite clam shell body parts. These cars are extremely lightweight and stiff. Although looks to be track derived, the M12 performs very well on both road and track, with surprisingly good ride quality, but a rigid feel. The coupe evolved through four (4) variants with the M400 being the ultimate version of the M12, followed by the GTO-3R.
Noble M12 GTO
2.5L bi-turbo 330 bhp/231 kW
Noble M12 GTO-3
3.0L bi-turbo 365 bhp/242 kW
Noble M12 GTO-3R
3.0L bi-turbo 415 bhp/262 kW
0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 3.7 seconds was published in the official brochure of the M12 GTO-3R, Road and Track indicated a 0-60 mph performance of 3.3 seconds, but subsequently listed it as 3.5 seconds. Its top speed is listed as 185 mph (298 km/h). Lateral Gs are reported in excess of 1.2.
Noble M400
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
P Zero tyres, a smoother gear shifter, and a slightly narrower central tunnel. The M400 is designed to be an outstanding track car that is also pleasant to drive on the road.
Noble M14
Porsche 996
The Porsche 996 is the internal designation for the Porsche 911 model manufactured and sold between 1998 and 2005. It has since been replaced by the Type 997...
and Ferrari F430
Ferrari F430
The Ferrari F430 is a sports car that was produced by the Italian automaker Ferrari from 2004 to 2009, as a successor to the 360. It debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show...
. It was based on the chassis of the M12, with only minor modifications. It had a new body and a more up market interior. Following the debut of the car Lee Noble
Lee Noble
Lee Noble is a British entrepreneur, car designer and engineer. He is the founder of the sports car companies Noble Automotive Ltd in 1999 and Fenix Automotive in 2009. He is also the designer of some low-volume sports cars, including the Ultima Mk1, Ultima Mk2, Ultima Mk3, Midtec Spyder, and...
decided that the car was insufficiently different from the M12/M400 to justify the price increase despite having taken a number of deposits. Noble instead developed a brand new car, the M15, developing further from the M12 and M14, although the cars have few common components.
Noble M15
Porsche 997
The Porsche Type 997 , also simply called the 997 is the current version of the 911 family sports car built by German manufacturer Porsche in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen...
and Ferrari F430
Ferrari F430
The Ferrari F430 is a sports car that was produced by the Italian automaker Ferrari from 2004 to 2009, as a successor to the 360. It debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show...
. As a result the Noble M15 was expected to have a number of features not previously found on Nobles such as Sat nav, traction control
Traction control system
A traction control system , also known as anti-slip regulation , is typically a secondary function of the anti-lock braking system on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction of driven road wheels...
, electric windows
Power window
Power windows or electric windows as well as electric or power window lifts are automobile windows which can be raised and lowered by depressing a button or switch, as opposed to using a hand-turned crank handle.- History :Packard introduced the first power windows in the 1940 Packard...
and ABS
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
. The Company has issued a press release about the M15, and the M15 will be produced after the introduction of the M600. The M15 of the future will be different than the car shown in 2006.
Despite increased comfort and usability compared to previous Noble cars press releases stated that Noble expected the M15 to be significantly quicker than the M400 around a race track. It is able to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 3.3 seconds and has a top speed of 185 mph (298 km/h).
The car was based on a brand new platform with a longitudinally mounted engine connected to a bespoke
Bespoke
Bespoke is a term employed in a variety of applications to mean an item custom-made to the buyer's specification...
gearbox created by Graziano
Graziano
Graziano may refer to:People with the given name Graziano:* Graziano Battistini , Italian professional road bicycle racer* Graziano Girardi , Italian politician* Graziano Mancinelli , Italian show jumping rider...
. The double wishbone suspension is a development of the system mounted on the M400. Mounting the engine longitudinally allowed the designer to increase cooling flow to the engine which allows the 3.0l twin turbo V6 to produce 455 bhp. The engine was designed to meet emissions regulations and the new steel/aluminium space frame was designed with a view to passing crash test regulations around the world. The M15 was planned to be the first Noble which gains European and US type approval
Type approval
Type Approval is granted to a product that meets a minimum set of regulatory, technical and safety requirements. Generally, type approval is required before a product is allowed to be sold in a particular country, so the requirements for a given product will vary around the world...
. The company has since released press announcements regarding the M15 and its future. Only one of the M15 prototypes was built, and the company used that car to further develop the model. The company has announced that the M15 as presented to Top Gear was determined to be good, but needed to be better, which has allowed the company to create the new M600 and develop the M15 into a more track focused vehicle.
The designer's opinion:
“The M12 is a great car, but it’s very focused and I wanted to produce a supercar people could use everyday,” said founder Lee Noble.
“It was time for Noble to take a big step up in terms of refinement, practicality and style.”
The M15 appeared in Top Gear
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
and presenter Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond
Richard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...
was very impressed. It was a lot quicker around the Top Gear-track than the old Noble. According to Richard this has to do with the new, stronger gearbox which enables Noble to allow more boost and let the same engine produce more power. The Stig
The Stig
The Stig is a character in the British motoring television show Top Gear. The character plays on the anonymity of racing drivers' full-face helmets, with the running joke that nobody knows who, or indeed what, is inside the character's racing suit. The character was the creation of presenter Jeremy...
managed a lap time of 1:22.5
Top Gear Test Track
The Top Gear test track is used by the BBC automotive television programme Top Gear. It is located at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, United Kingdom. The track was designed by Lotus Cars...
which is currently 26th on the powerlap board.
Noble M600
Noble is currently producing a new car under the name of the Noble M600. It will have a VolvoVolvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
twin-turbocharged V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
(producing 650 bhp), a carbon fibre body shell, and a 6-speed gear box. It will compete in the same category as the Ferrari F430
Ferrari F430
The Ferrari F430 is a sports car that was produced by the Italian automaker Ferrari from 2004 to 2009, as a successor to the 360. It debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show...
. It has been announced that it will have a Carbon Fibre body shell and a 6-speed gear box.
Noble has released official pictures of the Noble M600 and revealed it will have a top speed of 225(theoretical) mph. The 2800 pounds (1,270.1 kg) M600 can accelerate from 0-62.1 mph (100 km/h) in 3.5 seconds and require only another 4 seconds to achieve 100 mi/h. It has over 1G of grip on the skid pad. The brake disks in the Noble M600 are steel. The Noble comes with no ABS or ASM and TC as those features will be optional, making the Noble M600 a pure driver's car. The British supercar will cost around £200,000 when it hits the market and only 50 will be made annually.
Recently, Noble publicly tested an M600 prototype 2 in the USA, comparing its performance with a Porsche Carrera GT
Porsche Carrera GT
The Porsche Carrera GT is a mid-engined sports car that was manufactured by Porsche in Leipzig, Germany.- History :The development of the Carrera GT can be traced back to the 911 GT1 and LMP1-98 racing cars. Due in part to the FIA and ACO rule changes in 1998, both designs had ended. Porsche at...
and Ferrari Enzo. This prototype was detuned to 500 bhp.
The Noble was also featured on the fifth episode of the 14th series
Top Gear (series 14)
Top Gear returned for a 14th series, aired on BBC Two and BBC HD, on 15 November 2009, with the usual presenting team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig. The series contained 7 episodes...
of Top Gear, in which Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
complained of its lack of features but was astonished by its power and acceleration. The Noble posted an impressive time of 1:17.7 around the Top Gear test track
Top Gear Test Track
The Top Gear test track is used by the BBC automotive television programme Top Gear. It is located at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, United Kingdom. The track was designed by Lotus Cars...
with The Stig
The Stig
The Stig is a character in the British motoring television show Top Gear. The character plays on the anonymity of racing drivers' full-face helmets, with the running joke that nobody knows who, or indeed what, is inside the character's racing suit. The character was the creation of presenter Jeremy...
behind the wheel on a cold winter day, and despite the conditions the M600 was the eighth-fastest behind the Ariel Atom 500, the McLaren MP4-12C
McLaren MP4-12C
The McLaren MP4-12C is a sports car designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. It is the first production car wholly designed and built by McLaren since the McLaren F1. The car's final design was unveiled on 8 September 2009, and it is set to be launched in 2011...
, the Lamborghini Aventador
Lamborghini Aventador
The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 is a two-door, two-seater sports car publicly unveiled by Lamborghini at the Geneva Motor Show on 28 February 2011, five months after its initial unveiling in Sant'Agata Bolognese. Internally codenamed LB834, the Aventador was designed to replace the ten-year-old...
, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, the Gumpert Apollo
Gumpert Apollo
The Gumpert Apollo is a sports car produced by German automaker Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH in Altenburg.-History:In 2000 Roland Gumpert proposed a new generation sports car. One of the first concerns of this car was that it would be a street-legal car, ready for the race track. Gumpert...
, the Ascari A10
Ascari A10
The Ascari A10 is an automobile produced by the British company Ascari Cars that was conceived by Dutch millionaire Klaas Zwart. It is a road-going evolution of the KZ1-R GT race car currently contesting the Spanish GT Championship, with both cars penned by ex-Formula One designer Paul Brown...
and the Koenigsegg CCX
Koenigsegg CCX
The Koenigsegg CCX is a mid-engined roadster from Swedish car manufacturer Koenigsegg. The CCX has been engineered to comply with the U.S. regulation and market demands and is a newer design that replaced the Koenigsegg CCR....
. It beat the Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron
Bugatti Veyron
The Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 is a mid-engined grand touring car. The Super Sport version is the fastest road-legal production car in the world, with a top speed of . The original version has a top speed of...
and the Pagani Zonda Roadster F in lap times around the Top Gear test track.
External links
- Noble Cars - official website of Noble Cars
- Rossion Cars - official website of 1G Racing (producer of the Rossion)
- Noble cars.blog - Unofficial blog for noble enthusiasts