Noble punches well above its weight in the sportscar world. Owner/engineer/designer/guru, Lee Noble, launched a stab at the established supercar manufacturers at this year's British Motor Show. Sadly, the company couldn't quite stretch to a stand of its own, so the new M15 was relatively hidden away in the Supercar Paddock, but if Lee has his way, the establishment won't be able to hide from it so easily.

The new Noble M15 mates an elongated supercar shape with Noble's legendary chassis know-how and a 455bhp turbocharged powerplant. Claimed performance includes 0-60mph in only 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 185mph, which would put the M15 into competition with serious sportscars with Ferrari and Porsche badges on their bonnets. The Noble has an ace up its sleeve though, as it will cost a fraction under £75,000.

If you are familiar with the rest of the Noble range you may by now be muttering the word 'impractical', but Lee Noble has promised that the M15 will be a practical and (relatively) refined new car with room for luggage and everyday usability. Too good to be true? We'll see.

Shane O' Donoghue - 20 Jul 2006