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When Steve Saleen officially regained his namesake brand, you knew it would only be a matter of time before his company would debut its first project car. That time, apparently, was at the LA Auto Show when Saleen introduced its return to the auto industry with the Saleen 351 Mustang. “Since regaining the Saleen brand, I really want to bring it all together with the heritage that Saleen is known for,” Saleen said. “With the current Saleen [302] Mustang model it provides all the right features to bring back and update the S351 model.” Based on the 2013 Ford Mustang, the car’s name comes from the engine used under the hood, which is a 351-cubic-inch V-8 engine that delivers a total of 700 horsepower and 655 pound-feet of torque when paired with the Saleen 296 supercharger system. On the exterior, the 351 Mustang is slated to receive an aerodynamic kit entirely made from carbon fiber, including front and side splitters and a new rear diffuser that houses the F1-style taillight. The car will also be equipped with Saleen’s famous Butterfly Center Ram Air Induction system, which includes a Red Butterfly hood that allows cold air to flow through the butterfly scoop design as they open under throttle. The car will sit on a set of 20-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels wrapped with high performance tires. You can order it in any existing Saleen color and can be updated with a complete treatment of Saleen 351 badging and graphics. Updated 04/22/2013: After months of silence, Saleen has unveiled a first 351 prototype this weekend at the Fabulous Fords at Knott’s Berry Farm in California. The model should be ready for the 2014 model year, so if you plan to order one, you will have to wait a little bit more. The prototype revealed in California was painted Orange County Orange - a color specially developed for the car by Saleen. (MustangsDaily) About Ford Mustang The 2013 Mustang is offered in ten trim level configurations, with the base version featuring a 3.7-liter V6 engine that produces 305 horsepower. Next there is the GT version, which is powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 engine with an output of 420 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. Finally, the top version is the GT500, which is powered by a 5.8-liter supercharged aluminum-block V-8 engine with an output of 662 horsepower and 631 pound-feet of torque. A base Mustang is price at $22,200, but the price goes up to $59,650 if you opt for the Shelby GT500 Convertible version. Press Release Hot on the heels of Steve Saleen regaining his namesake brand comes the first model announcement since the news was released. Making his announcement at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the well known man of Mustangs announced the Saleen 351 Mustang. “Since regaining the Saleen brand, I really want to bring it all together with the heritage that Saleen is known for”, said Steve Saleen. “With the current Saleen [302] Mustang model it provides all the right features to bring back and update the S351 model.” After nearly 13 years since a Saleen production vehicle has been powered by a 351 c.i.d. powerplant, this new model debut has an exciting list of technological and design offerings under the Saleen 351 model name. Power  The most notable component in the 351 is the Saleen engineered 351 cubic inch V8 engine which will produce 700 hp and 655 ft-lb of torque when paired with the Saleen 296 supercharger system. “Everything about this project has been mindful of the goal to create the most potent Mustang on the market”, said Al Wagner, V.P. of Engineering. “I think we have certainly pushed the bar in the production Mustang segment with our 351 offering. Once the project came together I couldn’t help but thinking; if the 302 mustang is using a coyote engine, the 351 is definitely the gray wolf of the class.” Transferring all of that power requires the use of some specialized equipment as well. The Saleen 351 will utilize a 6-speed transmission equipped with a high performance Saleen clutch system, and a 3.73:1 final drive ratio to ensure that the power will be where its most required, on the ground. Brakes, Wheels and Tires Working in conjunction to the wheel, tire, and Saleen S4 suspension are the Saleen 15” brake package which are a well-placed component of this 700 hp Saleen vehicle. “A multi-piston brake caliper setup is critical to a high performance vehicle of this caliber”, added Wagner. “The amount of power that this vehicle can deliver is astounding and needed to have a well composed counterpart allowing it comparable stopping power.” Rounding out the performance system on the 351 are the Saleen 5-spoke alloy wheels wrapped with high performance tires. Setup in a staggered formation of 20x9 front and 20x10 rear, the slalom performance times and corning capabilities are set to be on-par with levels approaching those of pure bred racecars. Design Building on the design elements from the Saleen 302 Mustang, the 351 will feature the Red Butterfly Center Ram Air Induction system which has become a signature of the Saleen brand. A truly functional system, the Red Butterfly hood allows cold air to intake through the butterfly scoop design as they open-up under throttle. Once the air passes through the butterfly openings it is directed through the engine compartment to the 351’s powerplant where it becomes a tributary to the air intake system. Additional design components include full carbon fiber front and side splitters, as well as a carbon fiber rear diffuser which houses the F-1 style tail lamp. A complete treatment of Saleen 351 badging and graphics will also be included to complement any one of the standard or custom Saleen paint schemes available on all Saleen vehicles. comments powered by Disqus |
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