Tuesday 10th April 2012

Stillborn Saleen supercar poised for comeback

Mid-engined S5S 'Raptor' from 2008 could be revived after court battle is settled

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Saleen could be about to revive the S5S concept that wowed New York showgoers back in 2008 - or at least something like it. OK, so it sounds to the uninitiated like a dental product of some sort, or possibly a species of fish, but to those fond of Mustangs, the name Saleen is legend.

But for the past few years Saleen's founder, Steve Saleen, has been unable to use his own name on his products, having split acrimoniously with the company he originally founded back in 1984.

Since then he's been producing tweaked Mustangs and Challengers under the SMS Supercars banner. Now, though, Saleen has won back the right to use his own surname on his products and, according to US mag Auto Week, a mid-engined supercar, along the lines of the S5S, is very much part of his latest plans.

Creating a mid-engined supercar with the Saleen is of course nothing new - the S7, a car that would eventually make 750hp, appeared back in 2000. But a return to mid-engined supercars is a way off yet. In the meantime, Steve will continue making 'White Label', 'Yellow Label' and 'Black Label' versions of Mustangs, Challengers and (soon) Camaros.

[WillBrumBrum]

McLaren listen up... this is how you add passion to a product through design.

[rocketride]

That should have been the new Honda NSX!

[tommy vercetti]

I love crazy american cars, hope this happens.

[Speed_Demon]

Hahaha. Do they just wait for McLaren to release a new car and then steal several styling elements?

Would like to see it on the road though, always loved the crazy S7 TT 1000hp.

[Mastodon2]

Speed_Demon said:

Hahaha. Do they just wait for McLaren to release a new car and then steal several styling elements?

No, because this car is several years old already.



Now there is a Saleen I could really get excited about

[garypotter]

Good looking car apart from the old skool style maserati rear brake light, I hope they have the chance to build the car.

[bobberz]

Sounds good to me. Sounds a bit far off, though. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if it becomes a reality.

The S7 was brilliant, and I loved the look of the S5S when they showed it. Still looks great.

Hmm, maybe a twin-turbo version of Ford's "Coyote" V8 from the BOSS 302?

[Yeloperil]

The Saleen S7 and S7R were designed and initially built here in good old blighty or Wellingborough to be more precise. Ray Mallock Ltd aka RML took it from a clean sheet of paper to first car in less than 9 months and the S7R was first raced at Le Mans in June 2001
Due to financial constraints, bickering, legal actions etc, Steve Saleen and his partners were not able to fully capitalise on this brilliant RML design.
No doubt his latest creation will lean heavily on the underpinnings of the S7 so lets hope he can stay out of court this time around

[anonymous-user]

Mastodon2 said:

No, because this car is several years old already.



Now there is a Saleen I could really get excited about

They do look quite a lot like a Mclaren F1 longtail

[Andy ap]

like it! from the side would it not look like a 458 a bit, well at least the front wings and a-pillar. lets see what it turns out

[JVaughan]

LOve the Saleen S7's .. those and the Mosler 900's ... all very Mclaren F1 esq though

[Yeloperil]

JVaughan said:

LOve the Saleen S7's .. those and the Mosler 900's ... all very Mclaren F1 esq though

The guy who styled the Saleen S7 went on to do the same at Mosler so it is perhaps no surprise they look so similar