This week we take a look at the car that made the widely popular track-ready M400 possible; the incredibly mobile, agile and hostile Noble GTO-3R.
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. | Click to Enlarge 1920×1200
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
- Noble M12 GTO-3 3.0L bi-turbo 365 bhp
- Noble M12 GTO-3R 3.0L bi-turbo 415 bhp
Per the manufacturer the Noble M12 sprints 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, though during indepth testing Road and Track found the M12′s actual 0-60 mph time to actually be an incredibly brisk 3.3 seconds. Its top speed is listed as 185 mph with it’s Lateral Gs being reported in excess of 1.2.
A native of Tampa, FL Robert is the presiding editor and co-owner of both Down Shift Magazine and DS Holdings, LLC. A proud alumnus of the University of South Florida’s class of 2005 Robert is active in the Tampa Bay community and when not residing at his home in Tampa, FL enjoys traveling throughout the United States and abroad covering the motorsports and cultural phenomenon that shape our modern automotive enthusiast community.
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