Noble needs to make money. One way to do that is to make it easier to get outside of Europe, so the M600 could be getting a smaller engine, but only in the Asian markets to avoid higher taxes. Meantime, America is off the list of the small British carmaker’s priorities since it can’t afford to crash five M600s to get homologated. Dammit.
I briefly met Peter Boutwood, Noble’s Managing Director at Goodwood to see how they’re doing, and while their gorgeous Roadster will go into production soon enough, it turns out they only produced eighteen M600 Coupes so far.
If that doesn’t sound like much, it’s because it isn’t, especially considering that Boutwood told Dutch site Autovisie that their break-even point is 10 units per year. And that’s exactly why they plan to increase production to 25 cars annually. Not more, because exclusivity is part of the M600’s selling points, just like the 650 horses and the lack of anti-lock brakes.
While some might consider the M600’s styling a bit dated, Noble believes subtle looks and clean lines are what their customers are looking for, so don’t expect to see crazy wings appearing on Nobles anytime soon.
Nor a completely new model. Noble employs about 15 people at the moment, and each M600 takes roughly three month to make. And while the Roadster and its targa top will certainly encourage new buyers to visit Leicester for a test drive, Noble has a stock of 80 twin-turbo 4.4-liter Yamaha V8s on their shelf that need to make their way into an M600.
Of course the car’s platform can be fitted with a smaller displacement engine to satisfy the Asian market, but other than a few cosmetic and technical upgrades, the M600 is here to stay as you know it.
Which isn’t a bad thing.
It’s bonkers fast, and it’s got a proper handbrake. Why change it?
Hat tip to Autovisie! Photo credit: Máté Petrány/Jalopnik
Contact the author at mate@jalopnik.com.