Spied! Saleen developing all-new sports car
by Drew Phillips on Nov 28th 2007 at 2:28PM 
click image above to enlarge
We managed to get our hands on this photo that shows a clay model of what inside sources tell us is the initial design of an all-new car being considered for development by Saleen at its Irvine assembly plant. While representatives from Saleen would not officially comment as to what is in the photo, our best guess is that they are looking to put to use their knowledge and experience gained from the construction of the Ford GT for Ford. In fact, with the GT no longer in production, a car similar to the Ford GT might be exactly what Saleen is shooting for. After all, they have the facility in which the GT was built, the father of the Ford GT, Chris Theodore, is now Saleen's chief technology officer, and they gained a wealth of experience building a new car from scratch with the S7 program. Theodore has even hinted at the possibility of an all-new Saleen. "I have many ideas," he stated to TheCarConnection.com, "and some of them are inspired by the Ford GT. That car sold very well for around $150,000. So why not think in that direction when we talk about a new supercar? May be an S3 or an S5?" We can only hope.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SHF 2:35PM (11/28/2007)
Who's to say that isn't a new Ford, a replacement for the Ford GT? It is just clay so maybe it'll bow in as a concept at Detroit like the GR-1 and Cobra did. Chances are it's not a new Ford supercar, but still, it might be.
Reply
geo.stewart 2:57PM (11/28/2007)
i dont think Ford can afford a halo car right now. money is better spent getting their mainline up to snuff.
didnt really help them last time.
what they really need is to modify the stang platform to come up with a vette competitor. they should have built the mercury messenger with an IRS in low numbers
SHF 3:33PM (11/28/2007)
You're right about the money and what not. Still, its interesting to speculate. But I do remember hearing a while back of a rumor that Ford was developing another supercar and were just waiting for the new BOSS engine to be finished. But that was a while ago, when the GT was ending production and it was just a rumor. But some sort of super 'stang, ZR-1 fighter, would be pretty awesome.
Paul P. 4:36PM (11/28/2007)
SHF,
I remember when Ford came out with the Shelby GR-1 concept there was a lot of talk about that replacing the Ford GT once Ford came out with their new engines. I don't know if that is still the plan (or ever was), but it makes sense.
I could see Ford bringing it out around 2009, when the Mustang is due for a refresh and the Corvette SS/ZR-1 is in production. It would be just like when they came out with the Ford GT (new mustang body style and Corvette Z06). By then they'll need something besides the mustang to hold people's interest, especially with the Camaro and Challenger out.
Phillip 12:14AM (11/30/2007)
The Mustang and Corvette are two separate beasts. Their not going to ever turn that thing into a serious Vette competitor. Too many attributes against the Mustang. With Aerodynamics, and weight for starters. And when is Ford going to drop the live axle in its higher trim Mustang? Their shooting too far for the Mustang. Tossing power at it, isn't working. Not to mention, on the road, the V6 and GT barely differ themselves from the GT500 and such. The only time I recognized a GT500 on the road, was only because I saw the hood vents. Come on, lets have another Cobra R kind of design.
Freestyle4x4f150 2:35PM (11/28/2007)
Bring it on!!!! =)
Reply
aman 3:09PM (11/28/2007)
Whats the messenger?
and autoblog, can you please wait until you actually see something instead of getting all worked up about a block of clay? i could've made that
Reply
David W. 1:50AM (11/29/2007)
Just because you don't care doesn't mean others don't.
The idea of a new Saleen supercar sends shivers down my spine
aman 3:26PM (11/29/2007)
i jsut dont think its of any importance until we actually see the full concept. that could be anything
garlinski 3:20PM (11/28/2007)
looks a little like the McLaren F1 and an F430 mated... a little...
Reply
dave 3:25PM (11/28/2007)
This.
Craig 7:43PM (11/28/2007)
Nah, I reckon it looks like an Infiniti G35...
/sarcasm
John P. 4:06PM (11/28/2007)
ALWAYS fun to speculate, that's why we are all here after all. I would love this to be a mid-engined above Mustang, below GT Corvette fighter. Something NOT retro, lightweight with about a 500 normally aspirated hp engine please. LOL, how's that for speculation.
Reply
catgirlshyla 4:52PM (11/28/2007)
"That car sold very well for around $150,000."
And being the butt of many jabs courtesy of Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear.
Reply
Mike 5:26PM (11/28/2007)
It's an American car, he was bound to rip on it.
Despite that, he bought one. Of course he ripped on it for having problems with an aftermarket alarm and made it sound like it was Ford's fault, even though it wasn't.
Jake 5:04PM (11/28/2007)
Whatever it is, I like it.
I love the way the side contours echo into the flowing C-pillar, that's just gorgeous. I hope this thing becomes a real car, I don't care who makes it.
But hey, who among us wouldn't like to see a midengine sportscar with a big-block Ford V8 that looks like that? Man, Ford could finally make a turn for the better if they comeout with something as futuristic as that. When was the last time they had a sports car that was a design style all its own? The Probe? Come on.
But if it's a Saleen... Man, that boy is gonna have some get-up-and-go, I can tell you that.
Reply
Chris 5:30AM (11/29/2007)
Copying the c-pillar into the side contour is a horrible aesthetic decision. It is what a first year transportation design student would do before he/she learned better. It basically negates the forward stance of the design, nothing wrong with some contrast to the stance but it overpowers. Show some constrant on the details, No wonder most cars look like sh*t these days if this is what the public likes! (nothing like the lowest common denominator) But then again twenty two inch wheels with more facets than the star of india are what is considered good design by you guys!
Jake 10:02AM (11/29/2007)
If that's a "horrible aesthetic decision" then maybe I'm starting to understand where bland, boring cars like the previous generation Taurus came from.
I mean, I'm an engineer, not an industrial designer, but I know what I like.
mk 6:24PM (11/28/2007)
Kinda strikes me as a knock-off of the one-off ME-four-twelve chrysler supercar concept.
Mid-engined ~500-horsepower 5-liter aluminum cammer engine (turbocharged with nice 8000 RPM redline) with an automated-clutch or double-clutch transmission and a limited slip diff sounds fine by me.
$50-85k price range would be nice, as well.
If 150k can sell, 50-80k can be a helluva deal, and they'll sell as many as they can make. I'd certainly be more willing to buy that than a dressed up live-axle mustang for that kind of cash.
It will be interesting to see it develop.
Reply
Carlos 11:40PM (11/28/2007)
I don't know what it is, but it looks much cleaner than the S7. I love the S7s looks, but way too many gills for me. It would be great if Saleen built a ZR1 fighter. Sub 2700lbs weight, with a tube frame chassis with an integrated roll cage, 400whp, V8, with a DCT, and I'll take mine in blood red with silver flakes in the paint. Thanks!
Reply