The Noble M12 GTO 3R: A British Sports Car Industry Success Story

This is the noble M12 GTO and it's one of the greatest success stories of the British sports car industry. I'd like to think I played a small part in that success story, as the M12 was designed by yours truly, Lee Noble.

When I first drove a car that bore my name, the M10, I wasn't entirely complimentary. In fact, I remember watching that review made me feel like throwing the TV out of the window. I said that while the M10 handled well, it didn't exactly look well, beautiful. And to be honest, I didn't help our sales figures much. So, we went back to the drawing board and built the M12, which was a sensation to drive. The turbos whistled in your ears, the handling was perfect, and the steering had just the best feel. I remember watching that review the next day, and the phone never stopped ringing. Since then, we sold 300 cars, and it's hard to think that there was anything they could do to improve the car.

Well, actually, there was. This is the Noble M12 GTO 3R, so what's new? Visually, not much has changed. The car still looks great, but now you get leather as standard, which is a nice touch. However, the real improvements are under the skin. The Ford-based V6 engine has been increased from 2.5 to 3 liters, which should give you a bit more power and performance. The new model also features a six-speed gearbox, which will help you get the most out of that extra power. And, as an added bonus, you now get a limited slip differential, which will improve your handling and stability.

But do these improvements really make that much difference? What better place to find out than on the Anglesey racetrack, where I first drove the M12 some three years ago? As soon as I got behind the wheel, I remembered just why I fell in love with this little Noble. It's mainly based around this steering feel, which is simply superb. You can know exactly what's going on with the chassis and turn into the slide so consistently. However, even with that exceptional handling, today was a different story. The combination of tyre and oil on the surface, plus the now water-covered track, made for an icy shriek. I experienced my first ever bit of understeer, which was a bit of a shock, but it didn't ruin the fun. In fact, the extra 42 horsepower from the 352 bhp power plant certainly comes in handy.

However, even with that added power, getting that power stuck to the road wasn't easy, even in the wet. But what's important is how the car handles in these conditions. And I can tell you, it's just as much fun to drive today as it was three years ago. Whether it's better than the original M12 Pearl, that's for you to decide. In these conditions, I couldn't find out, but I did have a blast trying. One thing is for sure though: pound for pound, the Noble M12 GTO 3R is still one of the best sports GTs you can buy. It's British, and so is this weather.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthis is the noble m12 GTO and it's one of the greatest success stories of the British sports car industry and I'd like to think I played a small part in that success story the m12 was designed by Lee noble that's me and when I first drove a car that bore his name the m10 I wasn't entirely complimentary and I remember watching that review made me feel like throwing the TV out of the window I remember saying that whilst it handled well it didn't exactly look well beautiful I didn't exactly help our sales figures so we went back to the drawing board and built the m12 which was a sensation to drive the turbos whistle in your ears that handling was perfect and the steering had just the best feel yep I remember watching that one to next day the phone never stopped ringing and since then we sold 300 cars it was hard to think that there was anything they could do to improve the car well actually there was and this is it the noble m12 GTO 3r so what's new well visually not much feel fifty two thousand pounds you do now get leather as standard but the real improvements are under the skin where the Ford based v6 has been increased from 2.5 to 3 liters the new model also features a six-speed gearbox and a limited slip differential but do these really make that much difference well what better place to find out on the Anglesey racetrack when I first drove the m12 some three years ago and it doesn't take long to remember just why I fell in love with this little noble it's mainly based around this steering feel the fact that I can know exactly what's going on with the chassis and turn into the slide so consistently although on this racetrack today with its combination of tyre and oil on the surface plus now water has made an ice shriek and I've experienced my first ever bit of understeer and Noble well that extra 42 horsepower the 352 bhp power plant has certainly comes in handy but to be perfectly honest I'm having enough trouble at the moment getting that power stuck the road even in the wet this car it's just as much fun to drive so is the noble m12 GTO three are any better than the original pearl to be honest in these conditions it's been impossible to find out but it's certainly been fun trying one thing is for sure though pound for pound the noble m12 is still one of the best sports GTS you can buy and it's British and so is this weather Mikey Mikeythis is the noble m12 GTO and it's one of the greatest success stories of the British sports car industry and I'd like to think I played a small part in that success story the m12 was designed by Lee noble that's me and when I first drove a car that bore his name the m10 I wasn't entirely complimentary and I remember watching that review made me feel like throwing the TV out of the window I remember saying that whilst it handled well it didn't exactly look well beautiful I didn't exactly help our sales figures so we went back to the drawing board and built the m12 which was a sensation to drive the turbos whistle in your ears that handling was perfect and the steering had just the best feel yep I remember watching that one to next day the phone never stopped ringing and since then we sold 300 cars it was hard to think that there was anything they could do to improve the car well actually there was and this is it the noble m12 GTO 3r so what's new well visually not much feel fifty two thousand pounds you do now get leather as standard but the real improvements are under the skin where the Ford based v6 has been increased from 2.5 to 3 liters the new model also features a six-speed gearbox and a limited slip differential but do these really make that much difference well what better place to find out on the Anglesey racetrack when I first drove the m12 some three years ago and it doesn't take long to remember just why I fell in love with this little noble it's mainly based around this steering feel the fact that I can know exactly what's going on with the chassis and turn into the slide so consistently although on this racetrack today with its combination of tyre and oil on the surface plus now water has made an ice shriek and I've experienced my first ever bit of understeer and Noble well that extra 42 horsepower the 352 bhp power plant has certainly comes in handy but to be perfectly honest I'm having enough trouble at the moment getting that power stuck the road even in the wet this car it's just as much fun to drive so is the noble m12 GTO three are any better than the original pearl to be honest in these conditions it's been impossible to find out but it's certainly been fun trying one thing is for sure though pound for pound the noble m12 is still one of the best sports GTS you can buy and it's British and so is this weather Mikey Mikey\n"