Click above to view gallery of the Saleen S5S Raptor
Though Saleen won't be officially unveiling its new supercar, the S5S Raptor, on stage until tomorrow, we've got pics and details for you now. Though slated to slot below the hardcore S7 in Saleen's lineup, the S5S Raptor looks no less the part of a high-powered high-performance sports car. It's powered by a supercharged 5.0L engine mounted amidships producing around 650 horsepower and 630 lb-ft. of churn on a steady diet of E85 ethanol.
Developed as a collaboration between Saleen and specialty builder ASC -- both of which are owned by the same private equity firm -- the car is plenty of tech and a bit of throwback. The aluminum chassis 2-seater can get from 0-60 in a supercar-standard 3.2 seconds. When it's time to stop, six-pot calipers hidden by 20-inch wheels clamp down on 15-inch rotors up front. The retro bit: a six-speed manual gearbox. A paddle-shifting sequential is also in the works and may be ready when the car goes into production in 2010. Compared to the S7, the S5S is another relative domestic bargain at only $185,000.
We'll bring you live shots of the S5S Raptor tomorrow when it officially debuts, but until then, check out the gallery of shots below.
UPDATE: New high-res images added to gallery below. Look for live pics of the car's official debut tomorrow.
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
SPG @ Mar 19th 2008 11:35AM
This car looks a bit cartoonish to me.
I do however, prefer the looks to the S7.
KA @ Mar 19th 2008 3:38PM
They're supercars. They're supposed to be cartoonish, ridiculous, and ostentatious -- that's the whole point.
SPG @ Mar 19th 2008 3:39PM
I suppose that means you agree then eh what?
Pedro @ Mar 19th 2008 11:38AM
Very Nice!
mcheddadi @ Mar 19th 2008 11:39AM
SO HOT!
Yar @ Mar 19th 2008 11:42AM
Wow. The next few weeks are gonna suck, we've been so spoiled recently with the Solstice targa, G8 GXP, and now this...
AlexP @ Mar 19th 2008 11:44AM
Requesting smaller pictures.
Chris @ Mar 19th 2008 11:49AM
Gorgeous
Red @ Mar 19th 2008 11:57AM
Agreed. It's supercar that doesn't look like an R8, nor an F430. Very difficult to find anything remotely original these days. Nice job.
Zamafir @ Mar 19th 2008 11:51AM
awesome- perhaps the most cogent possible outcome of combining the vw nardo w12 concept and f430 design language. I prefer this to the s7. Very very impressive!
meshies @ Mar 19th 2008 11:51AM
Looks very very good. I would take that over a Guyyyyyardo.
pmalik @ Mar 19th 2008 11:58AM
the wheel arches are WAY overdone... looks like a hotwheels car. Hope they tune it down some before production.
mk @ Mar 19th 2008 12:03PM
That is actually pretty compelling.
It will be interesting to see more about this.
It is quite attractive, from the front and the back. Midship 5-liter supercharged (Ford presumably) V8...
With some good tech, like SLA suspension on all four wheels, magneto-fluid dampers, dual-clutch gearbox, HUD, etc... this could be the mid-engine sports car that America has been trying to build for quite some time, but never quite making it for one reason or another.
Dare I say it, but an American successor to the NSX's role of modern mid-engined sports car that is attractive on it's merits more than it's brand name.
gotsmart @ Mar 19th 2008 12:05PM
Beautiful work. Much more attractive than the S7, which i find has too many gills, slits and vents for its own good (from an aesthetic perspective). Much like the early Lamborghini Countach vs. the later versions.
2004m3driver @ Mar 19th 2008 12:11PM
Looks good. Hard to choose this over that awesome new Gallardo 560 though. http://www.supercars.net/cars/4080.html
That thing is Hot!
PAT @ Mar 19th 2008 12:14PM
Looks unique, and has solid performance numbers. I would have a hard time paying 185,000 for a blown ford V-8.
Mr. Oak @ Mar 19th 2008 12:47PM
That Ford lump would be much more reliable than anything out of Italy.
PAT @ Mar 19th 2008 12:59PM
You could be right man.
zamafir @ Mar 19th 2008 1:32PM
Just like the Ford GT. Panicle of reliability eh?
Mike @ Mar 19th 2008 4:16PM
Zamifir,
What are you talking about? Are you privy to new data as yet unheard of by any other source that would say that the Ford GT engine has any problems whatsoever? There's guys out there making 1,000+ hp with a couple turbos and a tune and they don't seem to be having any reliability issues.