SMS Supercars shows off new facility, new supercar on the way
SMS Car Show and Open House - Click above for a high-res image gallery
It's tradition for Steve Saleen to hold his annual open house and car show at the end of the summer, and while he's no longer with the company he originally founded, that's not stopping him from holding the event. The new SMS Supercars facility in Corona, CA was completed just in time to host more than 100 Mustang and Challenger owners who got a first look at Steve's new headquarters this past weekend.
SMS's chief creative officer Phil Frank showed us around the facility, which includes offices named after racetracks where the Saleen S7R has won, a production line that can complete 5-6 cars per week in its current state, R&D departments, and more. Currently only the 570 Challenger is being built (a Mustang and a Camaro are on their way, and we spotted two covered prototypes tucked away in a corner of the building), including some with unique paint jobs like Lime Green. We also have to say that Lizstick Red looks just as good on the Challenger as it does on the Mustang.
Frank also let us in on a few of the company's future plans, including the fact that SMS intends to build a new supercar from the ground up once the production of the Mustang and Camaro is underway. It is still undecided whether it will be a supercar like the S7 or something like a less expensive track day car, but either way we would be excited to see another unique car with Steve Saleen behind it.
Although not as big as Saleen's old Irvine facility (let's call it more streamlined and efficient), the new SMS building has that same exciting atmosphere about it. We can definitely see ourselves stopping by every time we're in the area to see if we can spot any new cars or to check out the vehicles currently being built. Of course, we'll always have a camera in hand as we did today, so enjoy what will most likely be the first of many photos from the new SMS Supercars facility in the high-res gallery below.
Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Steven 5:42PM (9/17/2009)
Steve Saleen suffers from the same onslaught of name butchering as Bobby Generic.
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toytaco 5:43PM (9/17/2009)
jesus that shop is immaculate and beautiful. guess business is not so bad for mr.saleen
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Chris 5:57PM (9/17/2009)
Why does it say SMS Communications on the building?
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risk 6:14PM (9/17/2009)
So he takes ugly cars, and makes them uglier...and sells them for a higher price? How can I dupe people like that...
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Pokey 6:37PM (9/17/2009)
I think your definition of ugly is a little different than mine, unless you saw a Honda Crosstour project in those pics that I didn't.
daleam 10:16PM (9/17/2009)
Wow? Ugly? What a lame comment. VERY lame.
markus 7:26PM (9/17/2009)
These cars are the most beautiful cars in the world,and I'm Italian non American.
The people who said these cars are ugly probably have their ass in place of their eyes.
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daleam 10:14PM (9/17/2009)
Italy also has produced some of the most beautiful cars in the world but for different reasons. It's nice to get a nod from you though.
middaymoon21 6:55PM (9/17/2009)
show us the camaro under that cover!
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Curtis 9:14AM (9/18/2009)
And the Mustang under the other cover.
AntBee 6:55PM (9/17/2009)
I love that 570 Challenger in blue or that "Lizstick Red."
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funbus 7:10PM (9/17/2009)
Hot Wheels!
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Andre 7:27PM (9/17/2009)
Hmm Corona,Ca starting to become a mecca of sort for Automotive Companies mainly Performance ones..
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arturo 8:27PM (9/17/2009)
I didnt see the saleen S7 in any of the pics besides the frame. I am still not digging the SMS it sounds like instant messaging or something like that. The cars are beautiful none the less.
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snorkelingsarcosuchus 8:50PM (9/17/2009)
when it comes to overpriced overhyped underdelivering underwhelming vehicles, nobody can top saleen
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Autblogist! 8:53PM (9/17/2009)
Good to see Steve Saleen doing good, after his old company being basic d*cks about their own warranty. I hope his new super car is a Lotus Elise everyday track car. That would make more sense than a low volume Saleen S7 type of supercar.
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Khanh 7:34PM (9/18/2009)
What ever happened to that S5S Raptor Concept they had a while back? Because that thing sure looked awesome..
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Scott 12:12PM (9/18/2009)
Hey Autoblog, where are you at with the notice of this car show before it happens! I would have been out there for sure.
The lime green Challenger looks hot...
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Level 2:00PM (9/18/2009)
any word on the lawsuit with Saleen trying to take back its name? lol
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Skip 8:01PM (10/08/2009)
I just added the SMS Supercharger to my 2008 3/4 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 & will be putting it to the TEST. I will let everyone know how it performs to my standers. I have a Supercharged Viper SRT-10, Charger SRT-8 that have another companies Supercharger on them, let’s put them to the test, on each other and see how SMS will do...
I will let everyone know who is on top and who the bitch.....is
Check back next week, and as far as ULGY, none of Steve's cars are ulgy.
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