Noble · 2000–2008
Noble M12
The Noble M12 is a two-door, two-seat sports car designed and engineered by English automobile manufacturer Noble Automotive with production outsourced to Hi-Tech Automotive of South Africa.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Predecessor: Noble M10 · Successor: Noble M14
All Noble M12 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →
Variants
The car evolved through many variations, culminating with the M400. Only 220 Noble GTO-3Rs and M400s were imported to the U.S.; they are the only Nobles to have been officially available in the American market. The U.S. production rights to the M12s and M400s were sold in February 2007 to 1G Racing from Ohio. Due to the high demand for these cars, 1G Racing (now Rossion Automotive) released its improved variation based on the M400, Rossion Q1. Salica Cars planned to build variants based on the Noble M12 but they appear to have remained a project. Like the Noble M10, the Noble M12 is a two-door, two-seat model, originally planned both as a coupé and as a convertible but the production cars were only produced in the coupé bodystyle. All cars have been powered by modified bi-turbocharged Ford Duratec V6 engines. The M12 has a full steel roll cage, steel frame, and G.R.P. (fiberglass) composite clam shell body parts. Although looking to be track derived, the M12 is a street-legal vehicle, ready for both road and track. The Noble M12 GTO-3R is equipped with Garrett T25 twin-turbochargers. Weight is 2,381 lb (1,080 kg). Acceleration from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.7 seconds was published in the official brochure of the M12 GTO-3R, Road & Track indicated a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) performance of 3.3 seconds, but subsequently listed it as 3.5 seconds. Top speed is listed as 185 mph (298 km/h) and lateral Gs are reported in excess of 1.2. The Noble M400 is equipped with higher-flow, Garrett T28 twin-turbochargers. Weight is 2,337 lb (1,060 kg). The Rossion Q1 has a weight of 2,300 lb (1,043 kg) and can accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.4 seconds (company spec).
In popular media
The M12 was reviewed briefly in the show Top Gear for Season 1 Episode 2, and can be driven in the Forza video game franchise.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.
Specifications
- name
- Noble M12
- Manufacturer
- Hi-Tech Automotive under license from Noble Automotive
- Production
- 2000–2008
- Assembly
- South Africa: Port Elizabeth
- Predecessor
- Noble M10
- Successor
- Noble M14
- Class
- Sports car (S)
- Body style
- 2-door coupé
- Layout
- Transverse, rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
- Engine
- 2.5 L–3.0 L Ford Duratec 25 Twin-Turbocharged V6
- Transmission
- 6-speed Getrag manual
- Wheelbase
- 2438 mm
- Length
- 4089 mm
- Width
- 1828 mm
- Height
- 1143 mm
- Kerb weight
- 1080 kg (M12 GTO-3R)
- Related
- Noble M400, Salica GT, Rossion Q1
- Designer
- Lee Noble
Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.
More photos
Sources
- Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8214109CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_M12CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1371877382 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Noble_M12_GTO-3R_(front).jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: The original uploader was SamH at English Wikipedia. · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.