Coinciding with the launch of its new SMS Limited brand, sports car manufacturer Saleen has unveiled a new supercar concept at today’s New York Auto Show that boasts a 650hp V8 engine running on ethanol. Already being touted as the successor to the current S7 flagship, the new car is still in the design phase and will only go into production if it receives enough interest from show goers.
The concept carries the name S5S Raptor and it features a mid-mounted supercharged 5.0L V8 engine that can burn either petrol or 85% ethanol blended fuels. This engine develops a massive 650hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. The sprint to 60mph takes just 3.2 seconds and top speed is an estimated 200mph.
Other features include a lightweight aluminum chassis and composite body and a six-speed manual transmission sending drive to the rear wheels.
Stopping performance is guaranteed through the use of massive brake rotors measuring 15” (381mm) in the front and 13” (308mm) in the rear. Road holding traction is provided by the 275/35 ZR20 and 315/35/ZR20 Pirelli Rosso tires that wrap the 20” forged aluminum front and rear wheels respectively.
As this image reveals, the new concept is just as aggressive as the current mid-engined S7 supercar but it will be priced much lower than the $600,000 flagship if it were to enter production. If given the green light, Saleen claims the car could be in showrooms within two years with a price tag of $185,000.
Reader Comments
Wed Mar 19 2008 9:11 AM
chris says
f****** awesome. saleen; you've just found yourself with a halo car. build it or die.
elegant, futuristic, fresh, and aggressive all at once
Wed Mar 19 2008 9:35 AM
Gus says
I agree, at first glance this is a really great looking car. Maybe the best looking supercar out there right now.
Much better looking than the S7 was.
Wed Mar 19 2008 9:44 AM
chris says
woops. sorry about the profanity. that wasn't intended for effect. i just... yeah.
i keep coming back to look at the car. really nice. i want profile and rear 3/4 shots... plz.....
Wed Mar 19 2008 11:04 AM
chris says
yes,. yes... oh lord yes. thats stellar. thanks admin.
Wed Mar 19 2008 11:19 AM
Raptor says
Only $185,000 for this fifth generation jet fighter? Sweet :D
Wed Mar 19 2008 1:10 PM
ohmy says
the front view and the front 3 qter view reminds me of a sexier, curvier lambo. also reminds me of thoese cars you can find in the video game f zero....nice car, great price and performance will be there....we got a ferrari and lambo beater on our hands here folks
Wed Mar 19 2008 2:02 PM
chris says
mostly what i like about it is that its a mid rear engine super car that doesnt look awkward. it doesnt look pubecent or anything like that. on some of those super cars, the passenger cabin is too far forward. hey I'm all for weight distribution but how many people are really going to use or need that extra 3%? styling is much more important.
Wed Mar 19 2008 5:18 PM
Gus says
I'd have to guess Chris likes this car.
I could be wrong, but I never am... :)
Thu Mar 20 2008 1:52 AM
Alan says
This is a great looking car, hope they can make it properly. The last Saleen S7 was too much like a race car, this looks much more promising with more of a road car styling.
Thu Mar 20 2008 10:57 AM
Brandon says
looks like the vw nardo concept from a few years ago to me
Sun Mar 23 2008 1:16 AM
Travcar says
It looks like this article has confused the story. SMS Limited and Saleen, Inc are 2 separate, unrelated companies. Saleen, Inc is in Troy, Michigan and no longer run by Steve Saleen. Steve Saleen's new company is SMS Limited.
Mon Mar 31 2008 7:01 AM
visar says
Now, that's something. 5 star car. Does anyone know who designed it, so we can appreciate the man?!
Mon Mar 31 2008 5:22 PM
james says
i like everything about this car except for the rear lights. all of you above might think i'm crazy but i really think something special should be done with those rear lights! they look like a boring version of the mazda kabura concept. everything else is sweet and this car looks like it can transform into a 20 foot robot and save the world from megatron
Tue Apr 1 2008 7:36 AM
chris says
yeah james, i can see you're point... looks a little bland when it comes to lighting. they could thicken up the vertical supports for the spoiler and put in a nice thin triangular all in one unit.... but then hector would call it cheap looking. oh crap... the fronts are integrated..... WITH LEDS!!! OH NOES!!!!
yeah gus, i think its hot. I rarely find cars that i think are worth their price tag when theyre over about 70k. i think for that money, you could put a little more effort into design. no ferrari in the last 30 years has made it for me. this car, the ascari, and a few others (aston being just about the only big name).
Wed Apr 2 2008 12:51 AM
desig says
where's the class? It quickly loses it's appeal to me. It doesnt look like it's gonna stand the test of time, well...of 10min?
Wed Apr 2 2008 8:28 AM
Sir Yappie says
awesome design study (sarcasm alert)....a great way to mould (steal, plagarise) the designs from other makers.....Mclaren, Ferrari, Lambo, Bugatti, they even have the cheese grater rims from the 911 turbo....a very poor effort and must try much harder....
im sorry for raining on Chris' parade as he is clearly infatuated, but i myself dont like it as it isnt anything new....just a rehash of 6 or 7 of other peoples / manufacturers designs and hard work and putting it together and calling it their own...
Wed Apr 2 2008 4:38 PM
Chris says
Sorry to all of the people already drooling over this auto, but I just can't see it. Compared to the S7, this looks like one of my fifth grade drawings of the "most awesomest car ever in the world, if I would build the car today." Maybe at 33, and twenty-something years later, I'm just too old for this car's target audience. If I were to have the money today, I would prefer a Aston Martin DB9, Porsche 911 Turbo, or even a new ZR-1 to this assult on my optical senses.
I just hope that if it is built that it would look a lot better than this or that Steve Saleen have his eyes checked
Thu Apr 3 2008 2:06 PM
Roy says
Like chris (but not Chris), I like the look of this car quite a bit. However, it does seem to take a lot of its styling cues from the late lamented DeTomaso Pantera. The detailing round the doors, cabin position, flared wheelarches are all elements from that automobile ... which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Mon Apr 7 2008 11:07 PM
Wizards Lore says
Roy...is that really allthat you can see ? just the DeTomaso Pantera cues ?
Its a poor imitation of some of the finest automobiles on the planet.
Actually immitation is too generous....its a poor copy/steal of the designs of the finest automobiles on the planet.
Leave a Comment
Login or register to leave comments.
Please keep your comments on topic. Your involvement is governed by our Privacy Policy and Terms.