http://www.rossioncars.com/ I think I found the ultimate car for the twisties, can I cheat on my 550?
No, 1g racing in ohio bought the rights to the m400 from noble and made a new body for it, the Q1. Noble in the UK is working on the M15, a 300k supercar.
Like it without the wing...kinda reminds me of the Cayman from the initial photo angle on their website.
they had to change the name as part of the deal. Since Noble is still in business in the UK. Underneath, the car is an M400, just new body and interior.
I know, but that doesn't change my point. They've given it a name that really makes it sound like the kit car it TECHNICALLY* is. Lucas. * I know the Noble is a gift from god and shouldn't be referred to as a "kit" but in order to sell them in the US that's exactly what they are.
I don't know how you can call them a kit car. The car comes fully assembled and operational, except without the engine and trans. This is due to the DOT regulations. It is built as a production car. If you haven't seen Hi-Tech's plant in South Africa, check out this link. http://performanceunlimited.com/supernews/employees.html
Folks, For the record I almost bought a Noble M400, I bought a Lotus V8 instead (should have went Noble). Long story short, I am lucky enough in this case to live near Cincinnati where the Noble/Rossion is based out of here in the USA. The owner of the company (1Gracing) and now of course the owner of Rossion (exclusively) is Dean Rosen. Dean is a super individual and his cars are breathtaking! I'm positive that with his passion for automobiles and his great business ethic, Rossion will be a leader in the supercar category. The car I drove was the Noble M400 and I truly have never had to "feather" the throttle in a car to keep it stuck!!!!!! It is one of those drives that still keeps me grinning almost 2 years later. The look of the Rossion is truly what the car needed to take it to the next level. I saw the thread and couldn't help but type, that's truly how awesome the M400 was and the Rossion I am sure will leave a person slobbering!!! As for being a kit car, I'd be inclined to say think of it as a discounted supercar because the reality is, if it had DOT testing you'd be paying 200K. And the reality is you'd need an Enzo to have a chance in beating one Try that with a Fiero Lambo....Once more click on this link and you'll see what I mean...... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L16BwBkCuJw&mode=related&search=
I know it is a old thread, but I saw a my first one today over in Colorado! I do have to say that the interior is so much better looking than the Nobles. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I totally agree - although it's not really a kit car. I am in marketing, and I have to tell you - the name Rossion doesn't work...it sounds like "Russian" and doesn't evoke any emotion. As cool as this car is, from a marketing perspective, it needs work IMHO.
They said it was because of transporting they put different front wheels on it(I assume with straps to hold the wheels). Why they can't have the transport company put towels around the straps so they don't rub is behind me, but I personally like the seven spoke rims that the press car had better on it.
I really prefer the mirrors on the Q1 over the M400, but other than that I couldn't pick a favorite exterior between the two. The Q1 interior appears to be a big improvement over the M400 though.
The Rossion Q1 also has improved air handling and aerodynamics. The M-400 is a great handling car, like a go-cart on rails, it's just that the Q1 is the next evolution. All of these improvements and for the same money as a new M-400. Since I've known Dean for a long time, he probably won't mind me sharing these photos. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The blue one in my previous post was one of the prototypes. Notice the difference in the front facia openings. The car below is the finished product. This was changed to get more cooling, since the M-400 suffered a little in that area. Image Unavailable, Please Login
What the... I have the exact same picture of the blue Q1 but it has the wide front. I think that the other one is photoshopped... Image Unavailable, Please Login
You are right. I should have looked at another photo I received from Dean awhile ago. I like the look of the smoother facia better, but improved cooling is more important. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I like the component cars like the Rossion. I still think the lighter the car the better the performance for ordinary drivers. A heavier, more powerful car is good for bench racing, but is much harder to maneuver quickly. A Lotus 7 replica would likely keep up with the Rossion on a twisty mountain road. A Ferrari with an equal driver would have a hard time keeping up with either one due to the size and weight disadvantage. There is not much opportunity to put the power down for any stretch when going through the mountain roads. On an autobahn type scenario the more power the better, and Ferraris are a great choice for this type of driving. I would think the Ferrari is also much more of a comfortable, finished car compared to the component cars. I read a few reviews of the Nobles that indicated lots of rattles and things that were probably the result of the component builder. BT
Official Rossion Q1 promotional video is now on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4oO9OeVp9E&fmt=18
Rossion Q1 on AutoBlog http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/first-drive-rossion-q1-is-a-supercar-for-the-slightly-rich/
