Steve Saleen announces plans for 2010 Mustang Signature Series

The Saleen name is one of the best-known in the Ford tuning world, and despite his recent break with the Saleen, Inc. company he founded in 1983, Steve Saleen's new SMS Supercars project is going strong with a new range of 2010 Mustangs. Dubbed the 2010 Signature Series SMS 460 Mustang, the new cars will feature massive power plus thoroughly upgraded components for handling and appearance to match.

All of the Signature Series Mustangs will be fully certified and street-legal according to SMS, despite offering outputs ranging from 475hp (354kW) to over 650hp (485kW). The basic core inside all of the Signature cars will be the 4.6L V8 that's standard in the 2010 Mustang GT, but with the addition of an SMS custom supercharger.

Exterior modifications include a patented 'SMS Red Butterfly Induction' hood, aerodynamically functional body upgrades and custom wheels. The interior will also get a unique look, and the suspension gets a full complement of SMS 'ultra-high performance' components.

"The 2010 Mustang already has an exciting and sculptural exterior, as well as new, up-scale interior," notes Phil Frank, SMS Chief Creative Officer. "The SMS 460 Mustangs will evolve our design DNA in a more aggressive and aerodynamic direction."

In line with their name, each Signature Series car will be hand-signed by Steve Saleen and adorned with unique badges and graphics to identify the car. Production volume will be restricted on an annual basis, though SMS hasn't yet set a target figure. Orders are now being accepted on the cars, but the first deliveries won't land in customer driveways until at least the second quarter of 2009.

Previously SMS has produced a 2009 Mustang-based Gurney Signature Edition with many of the same performance and appearance mods likely to be implemented on the 2010 model, though as Frank noted, the new cars will feature an 'evolved' design.