Noble M600

The wheels of the 2010 Noble M600 spin as the Michelins do battle with a wet track and 650 horsepower. We're already doing over 100 mph. Now 120 mph and the twin-turbo V8 sounds ever more urgent. At 160 mph, the Noble starts to feel a little light as we crest a brow on this old British airport runway. Into 6th gear and at 180 mph the acceleration starts to tail off a little. The throttle stays buried, the turbos strain and the speedo needle swings past 200 mph.

Now hard on the brakes. The M600 does without ABS and the power assist for the brakes has been kept to a minimum, so the pedal feels solid and demands care. The Noble is not for the molly-coddled; it's a back-to-nature supercar that counters the electronic complication of the Ferrari 458 Italia with elegant simplicity.

Down through the gears, enter a right-hander at 60 mph and then another burst of power before another 90-degree right-hander. Now careful with the throttle; this car has a better power-to-weight ratio than a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 and no stability control. Feel the rears slip a little and then we're back on the straightaway. The 2010 Noble M600 has arrived.