English
Italian
Noble M500 | Back To Basics
Words Federico Madia / Photos Gunhill Studios – Noble Automotive
The name “Noble” probably rings a couple of bells: the 2001 M12 and the mighty 2010 M600. Then, nothing. Until now. The small British manufacturer is answering the wishes of purists with the new M500, which not only aims to be the ultimate driver’s car, but also ticks all the boxes in the analogue driving enthusiast’s handbook, all while keeping the price within relatively reasonable territory — at least for a supercar r— at around €180,000.
Okay, we know it’s not meant to be an alternative to your average Golf. The package Noble offers today is very different from the M600, not just in terms of size and weight, but also in driving feel. The new M500 is a weapon for both road and track, one that delivers its best thanks to a simple chassis that reflects the mechanical, no-frills, electronics-free philosophy of the model. Everything here is designed to go fast, to transmit honest feedbacks directly to the driver’s backside and to elevate the joy of driving according to principles long abandoned by major manufacturers.
We’re talking about an engine and gearbox setup that hits ecstatic but not extreme levels, thanks to a twin-turbo 3.5-liter Ford Ecoboost V6— the same one used in the Raptor — capable of producing 558 horsepower sent exclusively to the rear wheels, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, the only option offered by Noble, borrowed from an icon like the Lamborghini Gallardo. That’s why you might forgive the fact that the front and rear lights seem to have been taken from an open warehouse shelf rather than designed from scratch. Like many small British carmakers, Noble invests in what truly matters, in this case handling. The M500 offers more agile and refined drivability than the M600 it ideally replaces, not only due to its smaller size and lower weight, but also thanks to an extraordinarily communicative setup with double-wishbone suspension, coil springs, and passive dampers.
With a classic supercar silhouette that recalls certain European models (MP4-12C, GTA Spano) here and there, but still has its own identity, the M500 underscores its racing spirit with a stripped-down cabin, swathed in Alcantara, placing the driver at the center of Noble’s micro-universe. The digital dashboard is complete yet uncluttered, there are two touchscreens and a few physical buttons, all clearly taking a back seat to the exposed-gate gear lever. Click, clack. Every shift comes with a mechanical, metallic engagement, followed by a shove in the back courtesy of the two turbos and power levels that serve as a constant reminder that the total weight is light enough to put your driving license at serious risk.
Strapped into its bucket seats, you might be surprised to find the M500 civilized enough to live with daily. Still, it’s a car for special occasions, for attacking a twisty back road or chasing lap times at the racetrack. Its surgical precision and deceptively calm violence in devouring asphalt remind you that the so-called “baby” Noble packs a punch that should not be underestimated. To be clear, this isn’t just a sports car: it’s a true supercar priced like a mid-range Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Calling it a dream within everyone’s reach would be misleading: it’s not pocket change. But in today’s often elitist dream-car market, the M500 stands out with an attractive entry price — the Corvette C8 Z06 costs €15,000 more — and above all because it’s one of the few cars that, while delivering modern performance standards, translates the entire experience into an analogue argument. Noble: quality over quantity. It could be a new slogan, but it hardly matters — facts speak louder than words. And here, there are plenty of them.
Related tags to article
