Saleen S7 | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Saleen |
Production | 2000–2006 |
Assembly | Irvine, California, United States |
Designer |
Steve Saleen, Phil Frank,Phil Frank Design, LLC |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Supercar |
Body style | 2-door coupé |
Layout | Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
Doors | 2 |
Related | Saleen S281 |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Ford, 7.0 L Naturally Aspirated engine OHV V8 |
Transmission | 6-speed manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 106 in (2,692 mm) |
Length | 188 in (4,775 mm) |
Width | 78 in (1,981 mm) |
Height | 41 in (1,041 mm) |
Curb weight | 2,865 lb (1,300 kg) |
Chronology | |
Successor | Saleen S7 Twin Turbo |
Saleen S7 Twin Turbo | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Saleen |
Production | 2005–2009 |
Assembly | Irvine, California, United States |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Super Car |
Body style | 2-door coupe |
Layout | Rear-Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Ford 427, 7.0 L twin-turbocharged OHV V8 |
Transmission | 6-speed manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 106.3 in (2,700 mm) |
Length | 187.95 in (4,774 mm) |
Width | 78.35 in (1,990 mm) |
Height | 40.98 in (1,041 mm) |
Curb weight | 2,968 lb (1,346 kg) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Saleen S7 |
The Saleen S7 is an American hand-built, high-performance supercar designed and initially built in the UK by Automotive and Motorsport engineering company Ray Mallock Ltd. on behalf of Saleen Inc. Developed jointly by Steve Saleen for the initial concept and direction, Hidden Creek Industries for resources and initial funding, Phil Frank for the body and interior CAD design and development, it was the first fully proprietary car produced by Saleen and became America's first mid-engine production supercar. The S7 debuted on August 19, 2000 at the Monterey Historic Races. The all-aluminum engine is a bored-and-stroked derivative of Ford's 351 Windsor small block with Cleveland-style canted valve heads, not based on the FE big-block. It proved remarkably tractable and flexible for such a high-output unit—550 hp at 6400 rpm. In 2005, the S7 gained a more powerful twin-turbo powerplant which boosted engine power to 750 hp (559 kW) and top speed to 248 mph (399 km/h).
The body of the car, made entirely from carbon fiber, incorporates the use of scoops, spoilers, and other aerodynamic features to create split-channel airflow throughout the car, and at 160 miles per hour (257 km/h), the car creates its own weight in downforce.
The interior of the Saleen S7 was designed to be both luxurious and functional. Leather appears throughout the cabin, with aluminum accents, and the S7 comes with a set of custom-fit luggage. Because of the car's mid-engine layout, it has two trunks, front and rear. Other features include an LCD monitor, rear-view camera, quick-release steering-wheel and a 240 mile per hour (386 km/h) speedometer. The cabin is of an asymmetrical layout, with the custom-fitted driver's seat positioned toward the center both to improve the driver's visibility and center his or her weight in the vehicle.