Noble M400
Encyclopedia
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.
V6 with four valves per cylinder, as used in the Ford Mondeo ST220
. With this engine as a base, Noble fits high-lift camshafts, revised fuel injection
, and two turbocharger
s. For durability, Noble has also added forged pistons, an oil cooler, a larger baffled oil sump, and extra cooling ducts. This engine has a max power of 425 bhp at 6,500 rpm, with a torque
figure of 390 ft.lbf at 5,000 rpm. This power and a light weight allow the M400 to achieve a power-to-weight ratio
of just over 400 bhp/ton, the figure for which it was named, a 0 - 60 mi/h of 3.2 seconds and a 1/4-mile time of 11.4 @ 119.8 mi/h. Top speed is 187 mi/h. The UK auto TV show Vroom Vroom
said that the M400 gave Ferrari Enzo
performance at a Porsche 911
price.
. 1G's version of the M400 includes a redesigned aerodynamic shell, a new interior and an upgraded engine management system (uprating it to 450 bhp). 0-60 mph (0–100 km/h) has dropped from 3.3 seconds to 3.1.
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
from the British car maker Noble. Manufacturing was outsourced to Hi-Tech Automotive
Hi-Tech Automotive
Hi-Tech Automotive is a low volume car builder and design house located in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Most of the vehicles produced are exported, notably to the US and UK. The main distributor of the cars built by Hi-Tech is Superformance...
, based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The M400 was noted by the automotive press for excellent handling and power.
Engine
The Noble M400 features a mid-mounted transverse engine design. The power plant began life as a 2,968 cc DOHC Ford DuratecFord Duratec engine
The Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
V6 with four valves per cylinder, as used in the Ford Mondeo ST220
Ford Mondeo
The Mondeo was launched on 8 January 1993, and sales began on 22 March 1993. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk...
. With this engine as a base, Noble fits high-lift camshafts, revised fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
, and two turbocharger
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
s. For durability, Noble has also added forged pistons, an oil cooler, a larger baffled oil sump, and extra cooling ducts. This engine has a max power of 425 bhp at 6,500 rpm, with a torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
figure of 390 ft.lbf at 5,000 rpm. This power and a light weight allow the M400 to achieve a power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources...
of just over 400 bhp/ton, the figure for which it was named, a 0 - 60 mi/h of 3.2 seconds and a 1/4-mile time of 11.4 @ 119.8 mi/h. Top speed is 187 mi/h. The UK auto TV show Vroom Vroom
Vroom Vroom
See also Vrooom Vrooom, a live album by King CrimsonSee also TapirVroom Vroom was a British television series. shown on Sky One. The presenters were Brendan Coogan , Jon Desborough , Lisa Rogers , and Emma Parker Bowles...
said that the M400 gave Ferrari Enzo
Enzo Ferrari (car)
The Enzo Ferrari is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2002 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style electrohydraulic shift transmission, and Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide ceramic composite...
performance at a Porsche 911
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...
price.
Rossion Q1
Noble is no longer manufacturing the M400. The exclusive dealer for Noble in the US, 1G Racing from Ohio (also known as Rossion), has obtained the production rights to the M400 from Noble Automotive, and has released an updated version named Rossion Q1Rossion 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...
. 1G's version of the M400 includes a redesigned aerodynamic shell, a new interior and an upgraded engine management system (uprating it to 450 bhp). 0-60 mph (0–100 km/h) has dropped from 3.3 seconds to 3.1.