The Noble M12 GTO-3R Sports Car

Noble M12 GTO-3R Image

from Classic to Modern

THE CAR

The Noble M12 GTO sports car was launched in 2000. Following its success, the company then introduced the M12 GTO-3 in 2003 which featured:

An extensively tuned 3 litre Ford Duratec V6 engine, fitted with twin Garrett T25 turbochargers, that ran 0.7 bar of boost, and an intercooler
Composite glass fibre body on a tubular steel space frame chassis
A substantial carbon fibre rear wing and a front splitter which, between them, produced a marked increase in down force

Then, in 2005, Noble launched a variant aimed specifically at the track.

This was the two door, two seater, rear wheel drive Noble M12 GTO-3R, which took over where the GTO-3 left off.

An important feature, only on the GTO-3R, was referred to as an automatic torque biasing differential, produced by Quaife Engineering.

It was a form of limited slip differential that utilised helical gears, instead of clutch mechanisms, that were activated either by mechanical means or by computer.

The benefit of this system was that power was concentrated on the particular wheel requiring additional torque, such as when coming out of a fast turn.

The cabin's particularly spacious interior had leather trim, there was additional sound-deadening to reduce noise from both the engine and track, it included an engine start button, both seats and steering column were adjustable, and there was a full roll cage

In terms of distinguishing between the two variants, the GTO-3R was fitted with twin covered headlights, and a specially designed alloy steering wheel incorporating ten spokes.

It used AP Racing's 13 inch vented and drilled discs all round, and had a curb weight of just 1080 kg, only 100 kg more than the GTO variant.

Priced at $50,000, only 165 of the GTO-3R's were built, with a substantially lower figure in respect of the GTO and GTO-3 variants.

Noble M12 GTO-3R Image

THE ENGINE

Powered by the same all-alloy, DOHC, 24 valve mid-engine as in the GTO-3, the five speed manual gearbox was replaced with a six speed manual Getrag unit in which the gear ratios were revised with the result that, when travelling at the legal speed limit, the engine was turning over at only 2700 rpm.

The engine of the M12 GTO-3R developed 360 bhp at 6200 rpm, well below the redline of 7200, and 358 ft/lbs of torque at 3500 rpm, with most of the power being available around 3000 rpm.

With a compression ratio of 8.5:1, the car produced a top speed of 170 mph, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 secs.

Technical Data M12 GTO M12 GTO-3 M12 GTO-3R
Production 2000-2005 2000-2005 2005
Engine, cc 2500 2968 2968
Cylinders, bhp 6, 310 6, 352 6, 360
Torque ft/lbs 320 350 358
Top Speed mph 165 165 170
0-60 mph, secs 4.1 4.0 3.5
0-100 mph, secs 10.2 9.5 8.1
Standing 1/4 Mile, secs 12.8 12.6 11.8

Noble M12 GTO-3R Image

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COMPETITION

Typical competition for the Noble M12 GTO-3R included the following sports cars: Porsche 993 GT2 Club Sport, Corvette ZO6, and Ford GT. Noble performance:

M12 Porsche Corvette Ford
Technical Data   GTO-3R 993 GT2 ZO6             GT
Production           2005 1998 2005 2004
Engine, cc                  2968 3607 7002 5411
Cylinders, bhp                  6, 360 6, 450 8, 505 8, 540
Torque ft/lbs 358 430 470 570
Top Speed mph 170 186 198 205
0-60 mph, secs 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.8
0-100 mph, secs 8.1 - 7.6 7.4
Standing 1/4 Mile, secs 11.8 - 11.4 11.1