KEY POINTS:
A lightweight flyer based on a Noble sports car will be available in New Zealand this year.
Called the Rossion Q1, it is built at the Noble assembly plant in South Africa.
It came about after the American Noble importers bought world rights to the marque outside of Britain from founder Lee Noble in late 2006.
The Americans set about refining the Noble M400, the track car version of the M12-3R sold in New Zealand.
The result was a faster, higher specification road and track GT, with the added benefit of a lower pricing structure.
The Americans called it the Rossion Q1.
The first left-hand-drive cars for the United States market are about to roll off the plant.
They will be followed by right-hand-drive versions due to arrive in New Zealand later next month.
The Rossion Q1 runs a Roush-developed twin-turbocharged 3-litre V6 engine developing 335kW (450bhp) and driving the rear wheels through a six-speed Getrag gearbox to a Quaife torque sensing differential.
The car weighs 1080kg, is said to sprint from zero to 100km/h in a blistering 3.3 seconds, and comes with leather interior, air-conditioning and satellite-navigation.
The Rossion Q1 will be distributed in New Zealand by Lotus Cars NZ.
It is expected to cost $185,000.
A convertible variant will follow.
