Lee Noble promised us more details about his upcoming supercar in early 2010, so here they are.
Firstly, two teaser shots have been released along with the details, from which you can see styling which looks similar to that of his old company’s, Noble. You can also see LED daytime-running lights, and in the second shot, what appears to be a spoiler. There’s also a first glance at the logo of his new company, Fenix Automotive.
Lee Noble says the car will be very aerodynamic, more aerodynamic than any of the cars he’s ever designed. Two engines will be available, both V8s, and both sourced from General Motors, as is often the case with cars from small-time companies. Not that’s that a bad thing, as General Motors can make some fantastic V8s. The first of the two engines will be an LS3 V8, generating 480 bhp. The second engine will be the LS9 V8 out of the Corvette ZR1, putting out 638 bhp. The car’s weight is targeted to be 1200 kilos, so that should be plenty of power.
Lee Noble estimates that the LS9-powered car will accelerate from 0 to 100 mph (About 160 kph) in under seven seconds, and achieve a top speed of around 200 mph (About 320 kph). The first prototype is being built and development will begin in about a month. The prototype will undergo hot weather testing around Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where the car will be built. Noble would like to take the car to the UK and set up the car on roads he knows well.
It looks and sounds like it should be brilliant, I’ll be looking forward to it.
Here’s Fenix Automotive’s press release on the car:
TEASER PICS PROVIDE FIRST GLIMPSE OF NEW LEE NOBLE SUPERCAR
Leicestershire – These are the first official shots of Fenix Automotive’s astonishing new supercar, which is due on UK sale in the second half of this year.
While Lee Noble has given a strong hint that the car will be a ‘natural, but even more focused’ successor to his iconic M12, his new design is fresh, bold and dramatic, with a premium feel normally associated with exotica costing over £150,000.
“The M12 was hugely successful, but we needed to move the game on in terms of design,” said Lee. “The new car’s styling owes nothing to what I’ve done before and has quite literally been a ‘clean sheet’ exercise from the start. It’s edgy, with powerful lines, and aerodynamically will be in another league to any of my previous cars.”
Fenix also announced that it will be offering a choice of two engines for the new car. GM’s 480bhp LS3 V8 will be the ‘base’ unit, while the 6.2-litre supercharged LS9 V8, as seen in the recently launched Corvette ZR1, will provide customers with a 638bhp power option.
Factor in a target kerb weight of 1200kgs, and performance in either car will be prodigious, but Fenix estimates that the LS9-engined car should accelerate from 0-100mph in under seven seconds on its way to a top speed of around 200mph.
“Our first prototype is now in build and development will start in around one month’s time,” said Lee. “We’ll be hot-weather testing the first prototype on the mountain roads around Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where the car will be manufactured. But I’m itching to get the car back to the UK where I can set it up on roads I know well.”
Source: Jalopnik
Nice concept car, I also like the Tesla S coming out in 2011 as well, its very nice and a good price for the features.
Actually, that’s not a concept car. That’s a preview of the upcoming production model.