A new steering rack now means that you don't run out of lock when trying to catch a quick slide, as happened to some 3R owners. It also helps maneuverability at low speeds. It can undergo three-point turns in the road with ease and is just as easy to drive as any Ferrari. Porsche still has an edge in accessibility, but the Noble is no harder to drive than any other moderately powerful saloon.
The black Alcantara interior and embossed Sparco bucket seats, together with both standard seatbelts and a four-point race harnesses for track use, is now a fine working environment that can handle long distance driving since Noble has taken the opportunity to relocate the seat and reduce the pedal offset. It's no longer a case of sliding into a chiropractor's nightmare.
It's not too noisy either, despite the ferocious horsepower exploding just inches from your head. Our guide could offer no explanation why, as the exhaust is exactly the same and this car has 73 bhp more, but I wasn't the first to comment on the relatively mellow engine noise as we tackled the road part of the test.
Heavy attack on the circuit, though, bought a harder, more urgent growl from the V6. It's downright dirty as it heads for redline, instantly explaining why so many English fanatics have parted with their cash and helped transform Noble from a cottage industry to a genuine force in the UK car manufacturing.
Despite being firm, the ride is well tuned to British roads. The Noble maintains absolute composure under heavy braking, too, even when shedding 70 mph for the corner at the end of Bruntingthorpe's landing strip. On a concrete surface with numerous expansion joints that could send it out of shape, the Noble simply soaked up the bumps and slowed thanks to race-style calipers clamping down on 330mm ventilated discs front and rear.
To avoid the extreme cost of full federalization, Noble ships its cars in as rolling chassis, already equipped with suspension and brakes, and 1g arranges for an engine to be dropped in. None of this should matter to you, though. Just order your machine, turn up and drive it away. You'll get what amounts to a factory warranty, too.
If you're looking for a Sunday afternoon road ripper, or are working out how you can justify reducing your daily driver's luggage space to six small bags, this is arguably the best driver's car in the world. Before you put a deposit down on any other, go to Ohio, drive the M400, change your mind and buy it instead. It's that damn good.
Noble M400
DrivetrainTransverse mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine3.0-liter V6, dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, twin turbocharged and intercooled
TransmissionSix-speed manual
SuspensionDouble wishbones front and rear, coil springs and alloy uprights, Dynamics Suspension dampers, front anti-roll bar
BrakesNoble/AP Racing calipers, 13-inch ventilated discs
PerformancePeak Power: 425 bhp @ 6500 rpmPeak Torque: 390 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm0-60 mph: 3.5 secTop Speed: 185 mph