Auto Car | 2002-2004 Saleen S7 | Have you ever seen a Saleen S7? The closest most people ever get to Americas mid-engine supercar is either at an auto show or on the small screen in the Gillette Mach 3 Turbo ad - thats a mens razor not a car.
The all-American Ferrari-killer is a project in literal motion, a car constantly being revised in the micro-automakers pursuit to be the best, and resultantly win sales from a very small target niche.
The simplest way to get attention, and one that is often used in this game of ultimate power broking, is to up engine performance. Swedens supercar-maker Koenigsegg has recently done just that with its updated CCR, while other sports car marques continue to increase the ante in the horsepower poker play.
In this game the higher the numbers, the more respect you get. Therefore, for the 2004 model year the mid-engined S7 has been boosted to 575 horsepower. The S7s motor, an 7.0-liter V8, is loosely based on Fords NASCAR V8 block, but Saleen has thoroughly re-worked the powerplant. The block, heads, and crankshaft are Saleens own creations, and cast from aluminum and forged steel. There are however fundamentals that have not been changed. For one, the V8 is still a 2-valve per cylinder unit with pushrods - unconventionally old school in the modern day supercar scene.
Its 575 horsepower output is up from the previous version at 550, while torque has increased to 568 lb-ft at 4700 rpm, up 44 lb-ft. Power is fed through a straight-cut 6-speed manual gearbox. While it pales in comparison to the 806-hp Koenigsegg CCR, the S7 still has the title of worlds most powerful naturally-aspirated production V8 motor.
All the power is forced through a longitudinally mounted 6-speed all synchromesh transaxle with a final drive ratio of 3.22. A limited slip differential keeps the rear wheels in check under full acceleration, while a metallic 5.5-inch diameter, 4-plate, hydraulically actuated clutch is the interface between man and machine.
So what difference does the extra power make for the S7? Well, it will certainly be hard to tell, but its very impressive zero to 60 mph sprint takes just 2.9 seconds, and 100 mph arrives in a mere 6.5 seconds. Top speed is estimated at 200 mph, or so.
That speed is allowable due to advanced wind tunnel developed aerodynamics, such as integrated split-channel air flow throughout car, full underside aerodynamics, advanced design front tray and side skirts, plus an integrated full body wing.
The factory figures make the S7 the worlds quickest car, beating out the McLaren F1, Ferrari Enzo and Pagani Zonda by a healthy margin, but it will have to be made official and tested by a trusted third party before such a claim can be confirmed.
Regardless of its claim to worlds fastest, the Saleen S7 is still incredibly quick. Thats all the more reason to fix it with an equally impressive suspension system. Underpinning the supercar are unequal length, double wishbones, light-weight aluminum dampers with coilover springs and an anti-roll bar up front, and unequal length, double wishbones, light-weight aluminum dampers, with coilover springs in the rear. While precision chassis components are essential to dynamic handling, the S7s rigid structure sets the stage for ultimate road-holding. Its space frame and lightweight steel construction features honeycomb composite panels for added stiffness. Aiding handling further are Saleens own forged alloy wheels, 19 by 9.5 inches in the front and 20 by 13 inches in the back, shod with 275/30-19 front and 355/25-20 rear Pirelli P-Zero Rossa high-performance tires. Center locking wheel nuts with automatic safety locks complete the race-ready package.
The S7 stops via lightweight aluminum, six-piston caliper brakes, engineered by Saleen and built by Brembo. The front ventilated discs are 15 inches in diameter and the rears 14 inches.
Safety considerations are even more important at 200 mph, therefore Saleen has equipped the S7 with aluminum honeycomb impact absorbing panels, carbon fiber rocker panels and doors, an aluminum honeycomb front crush structure, integrated rear crumple zones, a center position fuel tank with passenger-side filler, and 3-point seat belts with automatic seat belt pretensioners. A theft-deterrent security system and electronic immobilizer system is also included.
The hedonist in us all will be well taken care of too, due to Connolly hides on the performance sport seats and trim (the drivers seat is custom fit too), aluminum and body-color interior accents, a leather-wrapped, quick-release, tilt and telescopic steering wheel and shift knob, a rearview video camera with interior LCD display, and high-volume flow-through ventilation with air conditioning. Of course the requisite power windows, power door locks, power-operated door mirrors, remote trunk, hatch and fuel-filler door releases are included, plus variable intermittent windshield wipers, a heated windshield and AM/FM remote audio system with a 6-disc CD changer. A nice touch is a custom set of fitted luggage, necessary if planning a weekend getaway as the front and rear trunks only offer up 2.65 and 2.82 cubic feet respectively, for a total of 5.47 cubic feet.
The price? A mere $430,000 (E363,000) if you must ask. Interested parties can pick from dealers in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Washington state. Saleen has a distributorship in Dorval, Quebec, Canada and one in Puebla, Pue, Mexico too.
Source : www.automobile.com
The all-American Ferrari-killer is a project in literal motion, a car constantly being revised in the micro-automakers pursuit to be the best, and resultantly win sales from a very small target niche.
The simplest way to get attention, and one that is often used in this game of ultimate power broking, is to up engine performance. Swedens supercar-maker Koenigsegg has recently done just that with its updated CCR, while other sports car marques continue to increase the ante in the horsepower poker play.
In this game the higher the numbers, the more respect you get. Therefore, for the 2004 model year the mid-engined S7 has been boosted to 575 horsepower. The S7s motor, an 7.0-liter V8, is loosely based on Fords NASCAR V8 block, but Saleen has thoroughly re-worked the powerplant. The block, heads, and crankshaft are Saleens own creations, and cast from aluminum and forged steel. There are however fundamentals that have not been changed. For one, the V8 is still a 2-valve per cylinder unit with pushrods - unconventionally old school in the modern day supercar scene.
Its 575 horsepower output is up from the previous version at 550, while torque has increased to 568 lb-ft at 4700 rpm, up 44 lb-ft. Power is fed through a straight-cut 6-speed manual gearbox. While it pales in comparison to the 806-hp Koenigsegg CCR, the S7 still has the title of worlds most powerful naturally-aspirated production V8 motor.
All the power is forced through a longitudinally mounted 6-speed all synchromesh transaxle with a final drive ratio of 3.22. A limited slip differential keeps the rear wheels in check under full acceleration, while a metallic 5.5-inch diameter, 4-plate, hydraulically actuated clutch is the interface between man and machine.
So what difference does the extra power make for the S7? Well, it will certainly be hard to tell, but its very impressive zero to 60 mph sprint takes just 2.9 seconds, and 100 mph arrives in a mere 6.5 seconds. Top speed is estimated at 200 mph, or so.
That speed is allowable due to advanced wind tunnel developed aerodynamics, such as integrated split-channel air flow throughout car, full underside aerodynamics, advanced design front tray and side skirts, plus an integrated full body wing.
The factory figures make the S7 the worlds quickest car, beating out the McLaren F1, Ferrari Enzo and Pagani Zonda by a healthy margin, but it will have to be made official and tested by a trusted third party before such a claim can be confirmed.
Regardless of its claim to worlds fastest, the Saleen S7 is still incredibly quick. Thats all the more reason to fix it with an equally impressive suspension system. Underpinning the supercar are unequal length, double wishbones, light-weight aluminum dampers with coilover springs and an anti-roll bar up front, and unequal length, double wishbones, light-weight aluminum dampers, with coilover springs in the rear. While precision chassis components are essential to dynamic handling, the S7s rigid structure sets the stage for ultimate road-holding. Its space frame and lightweight steel construction features honeycomb composite panels for added stiffness. Aiding handling further are Saleens own forged alloy wheels, 19 by 9.5 inches in the front and 20 by 13 inches in the back, shod with 275/30-19 front and 355/25-20 rear Pirelli P-Zero Rossa high-performance tires. Center locking wheel nuts with automatic safety locks complete the race-ready package.
The S7 stops via lightweight aluminum, six-piston caliper brakes, engineered by Saleen and built by Brembo. The front ventilated discs are 15 inches in diameter and the rears 14 inches.
Safety considerations are even more important at 200 mph, therefore Saleen has equipped the S7 with aluminum honeycomb impact absorbing panels, carbon fiber rocker panels and doors, an aluminum honeycomb front crush structure, integrated rear crumple zones, a center position fuel tank with passenger-side filler, and 3-point seat belts with automatic seat belt pretensioners. A theft-deterrent security system and electronic immobilizer system is also included.
The hedonist in us all will be well taken care of too, due to Connolly hides on the performance sport seats and trim (the drivers seat is custom fit too), aluminum and body-color interior accents, a leather-wrapped, quick-release, tilt and telescopic steering wheel and shift knob, a rearview video camera with interior LCD display, and high-volume flow-through ventilation with air conditioning. Of course the requisite power windows, power door locks, power-operated door mirrors, remote trunk, hatch and fuel-filler door releases are included, plus variable intermittent windshield wipers, a heated windshield and AM/FM remote audio system with a 6-disc CD changer. A nice touch is a custom set of fitted luggage, necessary if planning a weekend getaway as the front and rear trunks only offer up 2.65 and 2.82 cubic feet respectively, for a total of 5.47 cubic feet.
The price? A mere $430,000 (E363,000) if you must ask. Interested parties can pick from dealers in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Washington state. Saleen has a distributorship in Dorval, Quebec, Canada and one in Puebla, Pue, Mexico too.
Source : www.automobile.com
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