Noble M600 review

One of the more surprising facts about the M600 is where its engine comes from: a Volvo XC90. The Yamaha-designed 4.4-litre V8 has been transformed though, picking up two turbochargers along the way to see it produce a hefty 650bhp. With a kerb weight of around 1,250kg, this gives a power to weight ratio of 530bhp per tonne. Cue the inevitable reference to something Bugatti-shaped and fast.

And boy, is it fast. Noble reckons it’ll hit 60mph from rest in three seconds, 120mph in 8.9 seconds, and then go on to 225mph. Acceleration from 40-60mph takes one second; 100-120mph takes two seconds. It is fearsomely rapid: genuine hypercar territory. However, with no ABS and no stability control, it takes no prisoners. The sole electronic aid is traction control: to make sure you don’t accidentally turn it off, the button is covered by a genuine flip-up cover from a Tornado fighter jet.

Noble also wisely offers three modes of engine power: ‘road’ gives a relatively sane 450bhp, ‘track’ bumps it up to 550bhp, with ‘race’ releasing the full 650bhp.