Driving The Noble M12 GTO 3R #TBT - Fifth Gear

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.