Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[First Drive: Rossion Q1 is a supercar for the slightly rich]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/first-drive-rossion-q1-is-a-supercar-for-the-slightly-rich/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/first-drive-rossion-q1-is-a-supercar-for-the-slightly-rich/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/first-drive-rossion-q1-is-a-supercar-for-the-slightly-rich/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Rossion Q1 - Click above for high-res image gallery

"How fast can you take it?" I ask Craig Spuhler, Rossion's technical engineer and my passenger at this particular moment in time. "About 75 mph with an 85 mph exit speed." I was behind the wheel of a Rossion Q1 winding my way up a 270-degree decreasing radius on-ramp that shoots straight onto Florida's I-95. As Spuhler has put more miles on Rossions than anyone else alive, and I'd been in the car all of 15 minutes, I decided that 65 mph was a nice, sane, journalist-safe speed. Even in fourth gear there was enough twin-turbo'd torque to get me to 80 mph by the end of the ramp. Truth is, I could've done the deed at 75 mph in third, if not much, much faster.


Gallery: First Drive: Rossion Q1

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Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: Rossion Q1 is a supercar for the slightly rich

First Drive: Rossion Q1 is a supercar for the slightly rich originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>American Speed FactoryAmericanSpeedFactoryDean RosenDeanRosenfeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveNobleNoble M12Noble M400NobleM12NobleM400Q1RossionRossion Q1RossionQ1SupercarThu, 27 Aug 2009 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Noble-based Salica GT comes good. Sort of.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/23/noble-based-salica-gt-comes-good-sort-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/23/noble-based-salica-gt-comes-good-sort-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/23/noble-based-salica-gt-comes-good-sort-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


click the picture above for a high-resolution gallery of the Salica GTC Prototype

It's been a year since Salica popped up with its chopped-roof Noble M12 and promises to make a more evil variant. We thought the Bristol, England based company had been maintaining radio silence for a rather long time, so we decided to check in on their progress, and this is what we've found. Still based on the Noble M12, the Salica Cars GT is a highly customizeable version of one of the cottage industry's favorite trackday cars. Looking mean enough to knife you were you to turn your back on it, the GT carries a twin-turbocharged V6 of unknown origin (Nobles have been using Ford Duratec 30s (this is possibly a version of that engine that's been enlarged) spitting out 500 horsepower. The dry-sump V6 (nestled amidships), can also be purchased without the turbochargers, and the GTR and GTC versions of the car carry further engine variants. The GTR ups the wick to 550 horsepower, and the GTC gets a wet-sump 3.0-liter good for 460 horsepower. A further difference between the GTC and other versions is that its turbo V6 is mounted transversely, while the GT and GTR have logitudinal layouts.

All that power and evil looking targa bodywork sum up to an automobile capable of an estimated 3.2 second run to 60 miles-per-hour, on its way to a top speed of 190 mph (again, estimated). Being a small shop, Salica is offering what it calls "bespoke motoring" to its customers. There's a high level of customization available, so that your car doesn't come out looking like the GTC prototype in the pictures. There are no driver aids other than optional traction control and ABS available, making the Salica a pure and possibly terrifying experience. If the deadly-looking GT isn't your style, Salica also offers a variety of modifications for Noble owners, like a fastback conversion and other tweaks. With performance options bound to shrink soon, small shops like Salica may soon be the only way to get exactly what you're looking for.

Gallery: Salica GT


Gallery: Salica Noble Fastback


[Source: Salica]

Noble-based Salica GT comes good. Sort of. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>custom nobleCustomNoblenoblenoble m12noble m400noble modNobleM12NobleM400NobleModroissionsalicasalica gtSalicaGtMon, 23 Feb 2009 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Noble hands over M12 and M400 to 1G Racing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/21/noble-hands-over-m12-and-m400-to-1g-racing/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/21/noble-hands-over-m12-and-m400-to-1g-racing/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/21/noble-hands-over-m12-and-m400-to-1g-racing/#commentsFiled under: ,



With work is continuing on the successor to the M12 and M400, Noble Automotive has apparently decided to get a quick cash infusion by selling manufacturing rights to those outgoing models to its US distributor, 1g Racing. Hamilton, Ohio based 1g has been the official sales arm for Noble, assembling the vehicles to comply with component car manufacturing standards. This new deal will allow 1g to manufacturer the M12 and M400, but they will have to re-badge and re-name those vehicles by July 15th. They will also be allowed to modify the cars to meet customer needs. Noble will still have full rights to the car in the UK, as well as trademark and naming rights.

Having driven an M400, we can attest to its outrageous performance and great handling, but concede that it needs some slight mods to make it just about perfect. We'd vote for some additional heat shielding as a start. And although the turbo Ford V6 is a powerful and responsive engine, we'd love to see something like a Nissan VQ or high-revving small V8 in the bay as an option.

[Source: Piston Heads]

Noble hands over M12 and M400 to 1G Racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1G Racing1gRacingLee NobleLeeNobleNoble AutomotiveNoble M12Noble M400NobleAutomotiveNobleM12NobleM400Wed, 21 Feb 2007 11:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Travelogue: 2006 One Lap Of America]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/09/autoblog-travelogue-2006-one-lap-of-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/09/autoblog-travelogue-2006-one-lap-of-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/09/autoblog-travelogue-2006-one-lap-of-america/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Well, the fuse has been lit on the 2006 installment of the splendiforously-titled Tire Rack Cannonball One Lap of America presented by Car & Driver (better known as 'One Lap'), and as usual, your trusty Autoblog contact is on the scene. We had high hopes for 'live-blogging' the Cannonball Run offspring this year via daily updates, but circumstances have conspired against us.  At any rate, for those not terribly familiar with the event, here's the (kinda-sorta) quick and dirty:

Brock Yates, patron saint of modern American automotive journalism and founder of the original 'Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash,' created a weeklong national road rally in 1984 for gearheads and their hangers-on. In its original incarnation, the event was a bleary-eyed run around the perimeter of these United States. In more recent times (1992-present), One Lap has evolved into a more sophisticated setup that sees racers drive from racetrack to racetrack around the country (the route changes each year), with stops at major and minor tracks along the way. The race is essentially a 'rung whatcha brung' event in which cars of wildly varying description and capability duke it out in different racing venues for overall and in-class wins. The beauty of One Lap is its simplicity-- if you can find a state willing to slap a license plate on it, it's okay by Brock. Racers must attend a couple of track day schools and meet certain rudimentary safety standards (helmets, SFI-rated firesuits, etc.) and run on tires purchased from title sponsor The Tire Rack, but everything else is essentially fair game.

Entrants test the durability of their rides, their backsides, and their mental states not only with long transit stages, but also a good cross-section of events -- everything from road courses to ovals to drag strips. Transit stages on public roads are not timed or scored events, though generally there is at least one passage control along the way to keep things 'on the level.' By way of example, a few years ago, One Lappers were treated to a dirt oval, proving once and for all that auto afficianados haven't lived until they've seen a Lamborghini Diablo spraying muddy roostertails up over the catch fence.

Click through to the jump for more One Lap of America, including dozens of photographs!

Continue reading Autoblog Travelogue: 2006 One Lap Of America

Autoblog Travelogue: 2006 One Lap Of America originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 May 2006 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>911994996998Brock YatesBrockYatesCannonball RunCannonballRunCaterhamDuallyEliseF-150F-350F-SeriesFactory FiveFactoryFiveGrand CherokeeGrandCherokeeM3Noble M400NobleM400RX-7RX-8Testa RossaTestaRossaUltraliteViperZ1Tue, 09 May 2006 11:54:00 EST