Saleen S5S Raptor

[SVT666]

Saleen S5S Raptor breaks cover
March19


Supercar maker and Ford customizer Saleen took the wraps off its all-new S5S Raptor at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday. Designed to compete with the high-performance offerings from Ferrari and Lamborghini, the Raptor delivers 650 horsepower at 6300 rpm and 630 pound-feet of torque at 4400 rpm.

The Raptor is designed to digest cellulosic ethanol fuel, which should help it score points with environmentalists and advocates of oil independence. The higher octane rating of E85 gas also results in more power, Saleen says. The supercharged S5S is reportedly capable of hitting 60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

The Raptor can be equipped with a close-ratio 6-speed manual, or optional paddle shifting
sequential gearbox. Either gearbox can send the rigid aluminum chassis screaming to a top speed of over 200 mph.

The double wishbone suspension and rack-and-pinion steering of the S5S is augmented by ABS traction control and stability control systems. The brake system features 15-inch (381 mm) front rotors with 6-piston calipers, and 13-inch (308 mm) rear rotors with dual piston calipers. Traction is provided by 275/35 ZR20 front and 315/35/ZR20 rear Pirelli Rosso tires that wrap the 20 forged aluminum wheels.

The aesthetics for the Raptor were developed by ASC Creative Services, America's largest independent automotive design firm. The primary designer on this program was Dave Byron, a member of ASCs Design team.

According to Saleen executives, the S5S Raptor could enter the market in as little as two years, and should it go forward, it would carry a base price of approximately $185,000.

[the Teuton]

Holy poop!  I want that car!

[Raza]

Saleen Gallardo?

[CJ]

I don't like it, though respect its credentials.

[SVT666]

I love it.  I think it's totally and completely rockin'.

This is a Saleen, and not the new supercar that will be built by Steve Saleen's new company SMS.  Steve Saleen is no longer an employee of Saleen.

[Tave]

Saleen Gallardo?

The profile looks very Lambo to me.


I like how agressive and strung-out the wheel-arches are, but they look a little overwhelming from the head-on angle.

[Nethead]

Thank God it has omitted 628 gills found on the other mid-engined Saleen! 

Otherwise, very Gallardo as noted upstream...

Still, 650 HP and 630 feet pounds in a mid-engined sportscar for "approximately $185,000" is gonna have the Saleen factory working nights and week-ends for as long as such a car is allowed to be legally sold.

[Raza]

Still, 650 HP and 630 feet pounds in a mid-engined sportscar for "approximately $185,000" is gonna have the Saleen factory working nights and week-ends for as long as such a car is allowed to be legally sold.

As long as Saleen gives in and gives the Raptor the amenities found in cars like the 430 and Gallardo.

[Nethead]

As long as Saleen gives in and gives the Raptor the amenities found in cars like the 430 and Gallardo.

Raza:  RazDude, have you read/heard somewhere that this machine is targeted at the 430/Gallardo customer?  At the suggested retail price, I suspect it's not...isn't this roughly one-third the window sticker of an S7?  Don't bother to look it up if you don't know this stuff off the top of your head--I am not a big Saleen fan.  Saleen talks the talk that some model of the S7 is the fastest car on Earth, but has never taken one to Nardo, Italy, to walk the walk.  Bugatti took their hardware there, Ford took theirs there, Koenigsegg took theirs there, McLaren took theirs there...Nardo ain't some long, straight, extended drag strip--but a real track with instrumentation its entire length.  There are reasons some manufacturers large and small never take their hardware to Nardo--the main one being that if your vehicle has flaws the world will know it even before your engine has cooled down--or before your engine has been scraped off the track, as the case may be...

[hotrodalex]

Damn, that thing is HOT!

[BimmerM3]

Looks great. If I were stupidly rich I might buy one.

[r0tor]

very nice and clean looking

[Soup DeVille]

I love the motto on the rear plate.

"Power in the hands of a few"

[autom?vel]

That just popped something into my mind...any of you remember Jerry Wiegert and Vector Motors/Vector Supercars from the 90s?  Ha.

[MX793]

It's simply not a Saleen without a million gill slits.  They have lost their way...

[the Teuton]

If the S7 TT 1000 has an estimated but not ever achieved top speed of 260 mph, I wonder how fast this thing can go.

[Middle_Path]

That's a fancy looking Saturn.   

Actually, it looks like a scale model or a matchbox car. Whatever, either way it's a bullshit concept. I hate concept cars.

[NomisR]

Looks good but something just doesn't look right about it.. and what's with the Las Vegas light show in the back?

[MX793]

Didn't some other small supercar builder already make a car called the Raptor some years ago?  I want to say it was Mosler.

[SVT666]

That's a fancy looking Saturn.   

Actually, it looks like a scale model or a matchbox car. Whatever, either way it's a bullshit concept. I hate concept cars.

What makes it a bullshit concept?

[Soup DeVille]

What makes it a bullshit concept?

The fact he doesn't have $185,000 to spend on it?

I think it's bullshit I don't have $185,000 to spend on one too!

[CALL_911]

That's fucking sexy.

[the Teuton]

And what does someone mean that this isn't a real Saleen?  Did Steve Saleen sell the company?

[SVT666]

And what does someone mean that this isn't a real Saleen?  Did Steve Saleen sell the company?

He sold Saleen a few years back, but just last fall the new owners pushed him into retirement.  He has started a new company called SMS Limited.

Saleen Forms "SMS Limited" Performance Portfolio        
Steve Saleen just recently announced that he and an elite few have formed a new niche performance organization dubbed "SMS Limited?, Lifestyle Performance Automobiles; a capstone nameplate in the Saleen enterprise.  With a vast racing and performance history behind him, Saleen is no stranger to the business, especially the Ford Mustang.  He founded Saleen Autosports in 1983, Saleen Productions in 1993, Saleen Speedlab in 1997, Saleen Performance in 1999, Saleen, Inc. in 2001 and now SMS Limited in 2008.  Quite the laundry list of success!  During the time he spent with his numerous quality brands, he took on many different roles, from product design & development to the sales room floor.  With all this behind him, Steve now has his sights with SMS focused on the elite side of the American Muscle cars (Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Camaro) as well as Global Supercar markets.

March 13, 2008 - Orange County, California - Steve Saleen announced today the formation of ?SMS Limited?, Lifestyle Performance Automobiles, the pinnacle brand in his portfolio of companies. As a professional race driver and innovative businessman, Steve is well known as the founder of numerous Steve Saleen Brands including Saleen Autosport in 1983, Saleen Productions in 1993, Saleen Speedlab in 1997, Saleen Performance in 1999, Saleen, Inc. in 2001 and now SMS Limited in 2008. In the years of building the many brands, Mr. Saleen oversaw and participated in every aspect of the business, product development, sales and marketing. His latest endeavor will focus on the expansion into the high-end of the diverse American Muscle Car and Global Supercar markets.

?I am drawing upon 25 years of rich experience in the automotive industry to address the rapidly expanding global market of automotive lifestyle vehicles, technical performance parts, accessories and apparel? explains Steve Saleen, Chairman and CEO of SMS Limited. ?SMS will enable us to do what could not be done at Saleen, Inc. due to their heritage with the Ford dealer network and Ford vehicles. We are using this freedom, along with our new technology developed at SMS to create world-class specialty vehicles.?

?We are currently developing our Signature Series of ultra high performance vehicles and technical performance parts which will address the new American Muscle Car offerings?, discloses Mr. Saleen, ?our charter focuses on delivering the best solutions at the best performance value to the varied world of the automotive enthusiast, be they Dodge, Chevrolet or Ford faithful.?

?Supercar fans will be delighted to learn about the all-new vehicles and new technology we are currently developing?, reveals Mr. Saleen ?these cars will deliver superior performance and innovation for both the track day enthusiast and the passionate on-road driver?. Billy Tally, Chief Technical Officer, adds, ?These vehicles have been engineered to meet the demands of the world?s most challenging race tracks?. Mr. Saleen continues, ?Sportscar racing enthusiasts will be excited about the upcoming announcement of our return to racing in the American LeMans Series. You will hear more about that very soon.?

?Developing and manufacturing cars is one thing, but selling them is quite another? continues Mr. Saleen, ?We will be bringing our new and unique automotive lifestyle retail experience to a number of global markets. Watch out for more interesting news on our distribution and retail plans in a few weeks?. Mr. Saleen concludes ?The time is right; we have the talent, the new technology, the funding and the drive to achieve our goals. We will be the brand of choice for the community and culture of the automotive enthusiast?.

[SVT_Power]

the rear sort of resembles a F430 from the side

[Middle_Path]

What makes it a bullshit concept?

Judging by the pictures I didn't even think it was a real full scale mock up. I thought it was some miniature version. I guess I am completely wrong because they do seem to have a full scale version. I apologize. Still, I will stand by my statement that I hate concept cars.

Time to go, F1 Malaysia is recording.

[Soup DeVille]

Still, I will stand by my statement that I hate concept cars.

Well, would you really want to see what the car companies would turn out without making a few rough drafts first?

[LonghornTX]

I like it.

I wonder what powerplant they are using?

[SVT666]

Well, would you really want to see what the car companies would turn out without making a few rough drafts first?

Besides, if the S7 is any indication, this car will hit showroom floors unchanged.

[TheIntrepid]

Those headlights have me mesmerized.