First Impression: Noble M400

Noble is a British car company that has been making cars since 1999, starting with the Noble M12. After starting production on the M12 in 2000, Noble released a track variant of the M12, called the M400. Noble had already released M12 GTO, M12 GTO-3, and M12 GTO-3R. From 2004 to 2007, Noble produced the Noble M400, a rear-mid engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door supercar that is manufactured by Hi-Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Noble sold the rights of the M400 in February 2007 to Rossion, which turned the M400 in to the Rossion Q1.

I recently saw the Noble M400 as the January 2012 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. I have also seen the Rossion Q1 and the M400 has better styling. The rear wing helps give the M400 a better look. Also, the finish on the M400 is better than the finish on the Rossion Q1. A Noble M400 was parked next to a Noble M12 GTO-3R and the two cars are nearly identical, except for the power output under the hood.

The M400 is powered by a twin-turbocharged Ford Durotec V6, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, that produces 425 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The M400 weighs less than 2,500 lbs. and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 187 mph. Prices for the M400 when it was first released started at $93,500. The M400 has 10 more hp and 40 more lb-ft of torque. The M400 is also quicker and faster than the M12 GTO-3R, but the Q1 is slightly quicker and faster than the M400. The M400 is more expensive than the M12 GTO-3R, but it is cheaper than the Q1. The M400 is great value with great performance for under $100,000.

The Noble M400 has been featured on Top Gear, Bullrun, Test Drive, 3000 Miles, and Gumball Rally: Around the World in 8 Days. The Noble M400 is playable in Test Drive Unlimited.

Final Thoughts: The Noble M400 has great performance for under $100,000. It is quicker from 0 to 60 mph than a Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo, Corvette ZR-1, and Pagani Zonda. Noble uses a twin-turbo charged 3.0L Ford V6. While the Rossion Q1 is an improved Noble M400, the Noble M400 has a better finish than the Q1. If you want a car with good performance, try to find a M400 online. If you like styling and beauty to go with performance, go with an Aston Martin, Corvette, Ferrari, or Lamborghini. The Noble M400 is not the best looking supercar out there.

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Photo taken from a digital camera.

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