Friday 1st December 2017

Saleen raises hopes with 450hp S1

The Chinese-backed American brand used the LA show to launch the S1 - an oddly familiar mid-engined Cayman rival

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Interesting firm, Saleen. The path from race team to tuner to low volume manufacturer could hardly be more familiar, but not every such business manages to launch a mid-engined supercar (as Saleen did in 2000 with the S7) or receive a contract from a major car company to help them build their own (as it did from Ford in 2004 when it needed assistance with the first generation GT).

Of course none of that ensures a firm's health over the longer term, and with founder Steve Saleen resigning in 2007, the end of the decade saw the brand floundering. Now though, it seems health is restored. Not only is its former boss back on board, but the company now has Chinese investment capital rolling into it - in sufficient quantities for Saleen to have unveiled an all-new model at the LA show this week.

The car is dubbed the S1, and the eagle-eyed among you might have noticed that it looks a little like the Henrik Fisker-designed Artega GT - a German sports car discontinued in 2012. Well, congratulations, because Jiangsu Saleen Automotive Technology Group (as the Chinese/American partnership is called) bought the model's tooling from Artega in 2015.

Certainly that blueprint has been to the S1's advantage, because rather than turning out too, ahem, 'American' in its ethos or proportions, the new car is impressively svelte - being around the same size as a Porsche Cayman. Thanks to its aluminum tub and carbon fibre bodywork, it ought to be light as well; Saleen claiming a kerbweight of 1,218kg.

There's even the promise of an interesting (and appropriately sized) engine: Saleen having built its own 2.5-litre turbocharged four-pot from the ground up. Word is that it produces around 450hp and 350lb ft of torque - good for 3.5 seconds to 60mph via a standard manual six-speed gearbox.

That all sounds rather hopeful, and if the reports from China are to be believed, JSATG has already committed to building a factory in the Jiangsu Province. The plan, clearly, is to eventually move production there and then produce the S1 for international markets - including Europe.

Naturally that's all for future (and therefore not entirely set in stone) but the word from LA is that the S1 looks impressively well finished, with an interior to match. With the continuing dearth of genuine rivals for the Cayman - the imminent Alpine A110 notwithstanding - we await further news of Saleen's ambitious plans with crossed digits.

[wab172uk]

Looks like they've knicked the wheels off the new TVR

[Ikobo]

Just be grateful they didn’t copy the car as well

[RichardR]

The colour has triggered my mind to think that the new Griffith would've benefitted from those nose and wheel designs.

[RoverP6B]

2.5 turbo flat-four, so it's Subaru-powered... eh, I'd rather have the Scooby 3.6-litre N/A flat-six in there.

[Lordbenny]

It’s got a big arse.....too much going on behind the rear wheel IMO

[F1GTRUeno]

The original Artega was a lovely looking thing. This isn't.

Wonder if it's still got the B6 A4 dashboard?

[KTF]

Maybe the basic structure?

[MikeGalos]

Just once I'd like to see a new car introduction NOT include a discussion of which Porsche the editors think it should compete with.
Seriously.
Once.

[lewisf182]

Loved the look of the artega so glad it’s being used again! Really like the look of this and the powerplant sounds interesting!

Would love if they could make them for a decent price but i suspect it’ll be around £100k? Needs to be sub £50k to compete tbh

[ZX10R NIN]

I'm glad another small volume maker is back in the mix.

[Evolved]

MikeGalos said:

Just once I'd like to see a new car introduction NOT include a discussion of which Porsche the editors think it should compete with.
Seriously.
Once.

PistonHeads... the new Evo mag!

[drpep]

4 cylinders... no thanks. Not for exotica. Gotta be 5 minimum.

[unpc]

RoverP6B said:

2.5 turbo flat-four, so it's Subaru-powered... eh, I'd rather have the Scooby 3.6-litre N/A flat-six in there.

It doesn't say it's a flat 4 but it does say that the engine is their own work, which I find difficult to believe.

[98elise]

Lordbenny said:

It’s got a big arse.....too much going on behind the rear wheel IMO

I don't think the small side windows help. It makes the bottom of the car look oversized.

[And172940]

lewisf182 said:

Loved the look of the artega so glad it’s being used again! Really like the look of this and the powerplant sounds interesting!

Would love if they could make them for a decent price but i suspect it’ll be around £100k? Needs to be sub £50k to compete tbh

With the whole car including engine being built in China, they could probably sell them for £30k and make a profit but it will be priced to 'compete' with it's rivals.

[Cold]

MikeGalos said:

Just once I'd like to see a new car introduction NOT include a discussion of which Porsche the editors think it should compete with.
Seriously.
Once.

+911

[RoverP6B]

Hmm, I thought the article said flat-four when I read it, maybe it's been edited, or maybe I just imagined it.

Yeah, it's one thing buying a turbo four off the shelf. Quite another building your own.

[jkh112]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Evo are mentioning the ford ecoboost engine as a possible source, but only a guess.

[W00DY]

That looks fantastic!

A great retro-futuristic 80s vibe going on.

[bobo79]

KTF said:

Maybe the basic structure?

What is going on with the fit and finish of the rubber seals here? Looks pretty poor.