The Noble M15---Noble For Any Cause.

Ah yes, we return back to Leicestershire(Pronounced ‘Lester’, again, very oddly), and to Noble Automotive. I’ve covered one of their products the M12 already, and fellow writer PN K has covered the M600, but its now time to cover a lesser known Noble: The M15. The M15 was Noble trying to elevate itself into the big leagues, first by placing the rivals as the 911 GT3 and F430, and then packing more features like Satnav, ABS and all the rest of it for it to become a daily driver, while still retaining the track-bruising aspects Noble was quite well known for. If it was to ever succeed…..It needed to be good, especially at 74590 quid, undercutting Porsche’s offering by a frankly massive 4500 quid.

While retaining the idea of Fibreglass panels and the use of a 3.0-Litre Twin-Turbo Ford Duratec V6 from the M12 and M400, the tubular steel spaceframe it was laid upon was completely new, even having a bespoke 6-Speed manual by Graziano. Where the V6 was mounted transversely in the M12, the M15’s 3.0 was mounted Longitudinally. With it came a lower centre of gravity and better packaging. Then, power output was upped to 455 bhp and 455 lb-ft, no shrinking violet, even for today’s standards. That was 30 bhp and 5 lb-ft more than the already-ludicrously-fast M400. With a kerbweight of only 1225 kilos, coupled with the 455 bhp, it’d obliterate 60 in 3.5 seconds, and then dash on to 185 mph, with the equipment to make sure you didn’t fly off the road including an LSD, 330 mm brake discs and traction control. Yes, traction control.

At this point, you’ll have declared the M15 just an out-and-out racer with no form of luxuries and therefore an incompetent rival to the 997 GT3. Uh…Well, far from it. Take a step inside and the bucket seats are swathed in leather, as is what seems to be most of the interior. Then, in the centre there’s a Satnav unit that also controls the stereo. Aside from air con, power windows and a airbag for just the driver also being thrown into the mix. (SCORE!) Oh, and there’s more sound deadening than the M12, though its still quite the hardcore preposition for its type. Now, one question and one question alone from me: ‘How is it still weighing 1225 kilos with all this equipment?! Witchcraft at play?’

So, the Noble M15. The Noble you could use as a GT car, yet spank around on track like an M12(Worth mentioning that Lee Noble, Noble Automotive’s founder claims its much faster around a track than an M400). Arguably the most complete Noble of its kind next to the M600, for balancing performance(Well, the M600 has that in more spades than humanly possible), and comfort, I’d argue that this car wins over a 997, no matter how badly that might hurt my Porsche-loving reputation(I doubt you even had one).

Anyways, I think its time for me to scoot before all the Porsche fanatics come after me with AA-12s. So, uh, feel free to leave any more information, overlooked stuff, suggestions and all the rest of it in the comments below. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I might need to start packing…

See you at the next one.
-J

[Writer’s Note: Yes, another article, after….A month? #JoelDaProfessional. Yeah, sorry about that. Again, life now ensues lots of stacking up homework, so I’m finding a lot less time to do this. I’ll see if I can get back on track, though, no promises.

Anyways, the M15. To be honest, I shouldn’t even be covering this car. I found this car only by complete accident when searching up ‘Noble M16’(I could’ve sworn there was a Noble with that name!). Odd reasons, but hey, I’m already an odd person, may as well reinforce it, eh? Well, its odd how nobody is putting up their M15s for sale, perhaps they’re so good people don’t want to let go of them. Anyways, just prepare 100 000-odd quid if you want one. The prices may be higher though……And I’m out of things to write.

Anyways, as mentioned, feel free to leave more info, errors and so on in the comments, and I think its’ time for me to stop(this article, not this mini-career, of course). Stay tuned for anything else from me.

Till then.

-J.]