Leicestershire-based boutique car maker Noble Automotive has revealed the near-production form of the M500. The M500 according to the company, is a less extreme little brother of the M600. The M500 is built around the same, stainless steel tubular chassis as the M600, however, the Volvo-Yamaha twin-turbo V8 has been let go for a V6 from Dearborn.
The M500 looks stylish; it gives me mixed vibes. Mixed vibes I mean, a bit McLaren, a bit of Ferrari, a bit of Lotus, and a bit of Koenigsegg as well, depending on the angle you look at it from. But since you can’t be certain of exactly which car it reminds you of, I guess you could say it has got fairly unique looks.
Full details aren’t available just yet, but Matt Prior of Autocar UK reports that the prototype weighs nearly 1,400 kg (3,086 lbs) but the company is aiming to bring the number down to 1,250 kg (2,756 lbs). As standard, the bodywork will be made of glass-reinforced composite, but the buyer can specify a full carbon fibre body.
Suspension duties are handled by a double-wishbone setup at each corner with coilover springs and passive dampers. Inside, you’ll get hydraulically assisted power steering, Recaro seats, a central touchscreen, another touchscreen for AC & seat controls, and a digital driver display. But don’t expect any electronic aids and safety systems such as airbags and anti-lock brakes. It’s gonna be a pure, old-school experience, except for the aforementioned digital displays.
The M500 borrows the 3.5L V6 twin-turbo from Ford GT, which in the new Noble will offer 410 kW (550 bhp) and nearly 813 Nm (600 lb-ft), according to the report. The engine will be hooked up with a Graziano-sourced 6-speed manual gearbox—driving the rear wheels.
There’s no mention of the number of units Noble plans to build, but the starting price will be around £150,000 (US$ 206,167).
Sources: Noble, Autocar UK
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