Click above for high-res gallery of the Saleen S5S Raptor
This very blogger wrote a post yesterday about the Saleen S5S Raptor. I didn't mention the cars I thought the Raptor looked like, but a fair number of commenters did. This is what you should know: in person, the car looks like nothing else but the S5S Raptor, and it looks better than any car you think it might look like. It is, to put it plainly, all kinds of hot. Even in yellow, which is this blogger's least favorite car color, I'd still pay for it. Saleen CEO Paul Wilbur said the Raptor is a concept, and he wanted the media's feedback on building it. Mr. Wilbur: yes. Today. Like, now. Check out the hi-res pics and let Mr. Wilbur know what you think.
New York 2008: Saleen unveils the S5S Raptor
PRESS RELEASE
SALEEN REVEALS SUPERCAR CONCEPT THE S5S RAPTOR AT THE NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
New York, NY (March 20, 2008) Saleen's all new concept vehicle, the S5S Raptor made its world debut today on the floor of New York City's Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center. The S5S Raptor unveiling comes amidst several other Saleen announcements including a partnership with Dan Gurney, Rockstar Games and the integration of several first time seen ASC products, featured on two existing Saleen vehicles.
We are extremely proud of the Raptor. It is the car that enthusiasts are waiting for America to produce and Saleen is just the company to answer that call, said Paul Wilbur, Saleen President and CEO.
The S5S Raptor represents the first ground up vehicle to be conceived by the new Saleen management team and the most extensive demonstration of the combined capabilities of Saleen engineering and the ASC creative team.
The Raptor is just a glimpse of things to come from Saleen, says Chief Technical Officer, Chris Theodore. Our company is unique in that we have the experience and knowledge behind some of the most exciting performance
vehicles built over the past 20 years. Beyond the S7 Supercar, our team members have been involved in the Viper, Prowler, Ford GT, and the products of Chrysler SRT and Ford's SVT performance groups. These lessons learned are evident in the Raptor concept and we will continue to build upon them as the company evolves.
The Raptor is a two seat mid-engine super car that competes in size and style with core offerings from the most notable of Italian exotic car makes, but with a segment leading 650hp and 630 lb-ft of torque provided by a Saleen 5.0L Supercharged Engine - the source of the S5S designation. Unlike its competitors, the Raptor is designed to digest cellulosic ethanol. This is the same ethanol formula, states Wilbur, that is the official fuel of the 2008 American Le Mans Race Series and the IRL. The higher octane rating of E85 results in more power. It is a combination that will send the Raptor screaming to 60 mph in a g-force generating 3.2 seconds. With ethanol power, the car is both mean and clean!
Saleen's use of cellulosic ethanol is right for us for two reasons:
It maintains consistency with our racing heritage, as many of the racing formats (IRL, American Lemans, etc) are now adopting ethanol as the racing fuel of choice.
It also helps our environment through cleaner tailpipe emissions as well as reducing America's dependency on foreign oil.
While Saleen is a small, specialty vehicle maker, we share in the responsibility to do what we can to support our environment, without compromising on our brand values.
Compromise does not enter into the conversation at all. The Raptor's hand-built 5.0L cubic inch engine with its patented twin-screw supercharger delivers its 650 horses at 6300 rpm and hits max torque at just 4400 RPM. This power sits on call beneath the knob of a close ratio 6-speed manual, or optional paddle shifting sequential gearbox. It's a combination that send Raptor's rigid aluminum chassis screaming to a top speed of over 200 mph.
As power is nothing without control, 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 for maximum stopping power. 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. The unique black-diamond and carbon fiber finish on the wheels make them as stunning as they are strong.
We spent a great deal of time on the design of the Raptor, says Marques McCammon, General Manager of Saleen Automotive. The vehicle's bold shoulders are reflective of an aggressive American attitude, reminiscent of Can- Am race car styling cues, but delivered with modern sophistication. If you see a little Chaparral or McLaren design influence in this car, you are right.
The aesthetics for the Raptor were developed by ASC Creative Services, America's largest independent automotive design firm. This vehicle was an aggressively compressed program that combined the traditional methods of three-dimensional clay sculpting with sophisticated digital modeling tools, said Steve Nowicki, ASC Creative Services Director. The vehicle is distinctive in a way that I think the world is going to love. The primary designer on this program was Dave Byron, a CCS graduate and passionate member of ASC's Design team.
Raptor's unique sun flair yellow paint accentuates the cars beautiful body forms. The interior of the car can be illuminated by the sun or the city lights through the solar-tented scenic roof that covers the cockpit. Detailing is transformed from mere aluminum on the vehicles wheels and exhaust by their black-diamond powder coat finish.
In all the S5S Raptor is a work of art aimed to take your breath away, said McCammon. It is aggressive and sexy at the same time.
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 MSRP.
ABOUT SALEEN
Since the company's inception in 1984, Saleen has produced thousands of complete and EPA certified, specialty vehicles. In addition, Saleen has equipped more than 600,000 vehicles worldwide, further emphasizing their capabilities and commitment to excellence.
A nine-time Manufacturers' Champion in GT sports car racing, Saleen manufactured the American super car, the Saleen S7, as well as the S281 Mustang, S331 Sport Truck and the Saleen/Parnelli Jones Limited Edition
Mustang. Saleen's manufacturing facilities are located in Troy, Michigan. The Michigan facility has also just completed all paint and assembly of the Ford GT as a special project for Ford Motor Company and currently is providing paint and subassembly for the Dodge Viper SRT-10.
For more information visit www.saleen.com. ###
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jurgen @ Mar 20th 2008 12:12PM
One tail light to rule them all...
Hot hot hot hot hot hot hot
xpolarx @ Mar 20th 2008 12:18PM
The front end reminds me of the Tesla...which is a good thing. I love it. Make it.
JD @ Mar 20th 2008 12:19PM
Bad. Ass. That is the hottest looking, most original design I've seen in a long time. Very very cool. I'd take this over the Gallardo any day, but it'd be tough to choose between this and the F430. But damn, this thing is smokin!
jsjs @ Mar 20th 2008 3:51PM
"Original"?
Very derivative design - but nonetheless, attractive.
JD @ Mar 20th 2008 4:35PM
Yeah, I think it's pretty original. Sure it has some elements that are out there, but they are put together in a way that is pretty unique. The front end especially looks like little else. The back has some Gallardo touches to it, mainly in the square mesh on the lower part of the bumper, but in profile the shape looks pretty new, if a shade like the VW W-12 coupe of a few years ago. I think it looks strikingly fresh in a market where everyone seems to copy something off the others.
Daniel @ Mar 20th 2008 8:17PM
Given today's supercars and their successors, I'd say it's pretty original in the sense that it doesn't take too many cues from other cars by Saleen. I mean look at Lamborghini - the average person can't tell the difference between two models that are $150,000 apart.
It's not too often that an exotic car manufacturer makes a completely original design. A lot of the time they'll just update the internals, keep the outer body the same, and call it "all new."
I'm not sure if this is what JD is trying to say, but that's the way I think of it.
tariq @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:33AM
original? cover this car with camo and it will look like the 2010 esprit
Hiro11 @ Mar 20th 2008 12:19PM
Semms like it takes the best features of a Gallardo and a C3 Corvette, two of the best looking cars around. I love it.
Red @ Mar 20th 2008 12:20PM
I see NSX cues from the rear, but I think this car almost looks a bit cheap from the rear angle. Perhaps another color other than bright-ass yellow. Perhaps a gunmetal or black. Maybe even white. Or maybe it doesn't look so "kit-car-ish" in person.
Quote the Raven @ Mar 20th 2008 12:23PM
By all means yes. Just change that tail light configuration. Loved Jurgens comment lol.
TyWright @ Mar 20th 2008 12:26PM
Build this sexy beast BUT DROP THE S5S. It's confusing and too Audi-ish.
Raptor name is powerful!!!
John P. @ Mar 20th 2008 12:30PM
I like the way the straight lines in back just say SPEEEEEED! The curving, bulging fenders say powerful and sexy.
Now, give the headlights and tailights some character (in the detailing, shapes are good), I know it's just a showcar so I have no doubt they will WHEN, yes WHEN Saleen builds it.
Build it Saleen!!!
NPJ @ Mar 20th 2008 12:41PM
Overall love the car and I don't know why I bother commenting because I will never be able to afford it but if he's looking for criticism then I would say:
1) The side profile looks great from the mirrors back, the front bulges where the front wheels lie seems too high in proportion into where the front windshield enters the arc. I would either rake the windshield more to lessen the angle slightly or angle the bulge slightly so it matches the angle of the window.
2) The rear of the car is nice and the taillight reminds me of the old NSX however the two box areas on the rear "bumper" appear unfinished and the square overhangs seem a bit odd and tacked on.
That's it for me, a couple minor things. For me this car matches up very well visually with a Ferrari 430.
Midnight @ Mar 20th 2008 12:41PM
Saleen, Saleen, !!!
you forgot to take ur medicine AGAIN?
so let me get this straight.. i should buy Raptor for 185 K and dont look at the following cars:
- Audi R8
- Aston Martin DB9
- Bentley Continental GT / GT Speed
- Gallardo
- F430
- Maerati Grand Turismo (not my fav cz of engine but what the heck)
So remind me.. what was the price of the car ?
did i mention that car DOES look good .. but still.. Saleen you should have know.
Love,
Regards
Car Nut.
Seoultrain @ Mar 20th 2008 1:29PM
Ignoring the fact that Saleen is not a mass-market manufacturer, 650hp is way more than any of those other cars could hope to make. (Continental doesn't count, way too heavy) If the chassis is as good as that engine, this car will kill anything from europe in this price range.
Frylock350 @ Mar 20th 2008 2:49PM
The Saleen (just like the S7) will absolutely demolish those other cars on a track.
RJ @ Mar 20th 2008 5:23PM
But if you're only looking at track performance, an Ultima GTR with a turbo smallblock will probably eat this thing for lunch, at no more than $100k.
Same can be said about the Factory Five GTM. Put a powerful enough engine in there and you can beat this for 1/3 the price.
Don't get me wrong, this car looks gorgeous, but it should be prices just a hair over $100k to be competetive.
Mr. Oak @ Mar 20th 2008 12:58PM
I guess this old pimp is going to have to come out of retirement.
"Girls get out there and make me some money".
Love everything about this car. Well, almost everything! For such a serious car, they tail lights are too gimmicky.
Carlos @ Mar 20th 2008 12:59PM
It looks like a Tommy Kaira ZZII
LBuzzer @ Mar 20th 2008 1:01PM
Great,
an updated VW Nardo...
No (symbolic) sale.