Saleen cars

More SMS Mustangs coming our way

There is another type of Mustang on the way. Welcome to the 2010 SMS 460 Mustang from Steve Saleen’s new company, SMS Supercars. There will only be 25 of these made because the company has already began to work on the new model, the SMS 302 based on the 2011 Mustang and its 5.0-liter V8.

The SMS 460 will come with a supercharged V8 that will crank out 470 horsepower and around 460 pound-feet of torque. The car will get a tweaked suspension and a neat-looking body kit. Plus, with only 25 made, this car will be a collector’s item for years to come.

The SMS 302 should be far better than the current 406 model. The base 302 should have around 450 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. That is far more powerful than the normal Mustang GT. There will also be a supercharged 302 that should be on par with the GT500 and its 550 horsepower.

Then there is the less talked about SMS 351X, which will be the range topper of the SMS line. The company is shooting for around 665 horsepower and about the same amount of torque. That is well over 100 extra ponies than what we find in the crazy fast GT500. Let’s just hope they do something with the car’s suspension.

2010 Saleen S302

Saleen will unveil their first vehicle developed this year - the S302 - this week-end at the Carlisle Ford Nationals in Carlisle, PA. The new Saleen S302 is based on the 2011 Ford Mustang 5.0 and will be available in both coupe and convertible body styles.

The S302 will feature an imposing grille and front fascia, and a refined treatment of the familiar Saleen extended rear fascia and trunk lid with a simple, elegant, integrated wing. The interior will get leather sport seats with Ultrasuede inserts and unique treatments of the gauges, steering wheel, center console and shifter.

The V8 engine has been tweaked to deliver 425 hp and 395 lb.-ft. of torque. The whole package is finished by 20-inch, 7-spoke alloy wheels.

Press release after the jump.

Saleen S281 Convertible to be revealed on Sunday

After unveiling the S281 Coupe at the 2009 SEMA Show, Saleen has announced that a convertible version will be revealed this coming Sunday at the 25th Annual Fabulous Fords Forever!, hosted at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.

The black S281 production convertible will be making its debut accompanied by a silver coupe and the powerful Saleen 435S. The Fabulous Fords show is one of the premier Ford events in the country and Saleen Performance Vehicles continues its tradition of interacting with the thousands of Ford enthusiasts who attend each year.

The S281 will be powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 485 hp and 460 lb.-ft. of torque, connected to the rear wheels via a short-throw, five-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential with 3.73:1 final drive ratio.

Any Mustang lover will thoroughly enjoy this extravagant display of polished up ponies. If you are in the area or can get to the area, we would highly recommend attending this show. We hear there are about 2,000 entries expected to attend this event and will be sectioned off by generations as in the previous years. Last year, Shelby fans were thrilled to discover almost every Shelby model was in attendance. We could only imagine that this year will deliver the same excitement.

More details this Sunday, stay tuned!

Saleen 435S based on the Ford Mustang

The American tuning house known for pumping out high performance Fords has just unveiled the new Saleen 435S, based on the new 2010 Ford Mustang, it will be the first vehicle launched under the aftermarket automaker’s new ownership.

The Saleen 435S rides 1.5 inches lower to the ground than a stock Mustang GT and is powered by the same 4.6 Liter, 3 valve, SOHC V8 engine, with the addition of a Saleen Series VI twin screw supercharger and two stage intercooler to bring the intake charge down to a manageable temperature. The blower brings the car’s total output up to 435 HP and 425 lb-ft of torque.

The exterior of the Saleen benefits from an understated blacked out trim panel between the taillights with “Saleen” written in raised lettering, a mesh cover for the fog lights in the grill and graphic elements placed low on each side of the vehicle. Saleen is offering the 435S with a set of 18 inch 5 spoke alloy wheels with 19 and 20 inch rims available as an option. Finishing off the Saleen Mustang transformation are the “435S” lettered on each side of the hood of the pony car’s power dome.

Press release after the jump.

2010 Steve Saleen Signature Series Mustangs

Steve Saleen can never keep his hands off of Mustangs, so its no surprise that he’s already announced plans for the 2010 Mustang.

Then again, the engine modifications won’t be too hard because the mechanical bits of the new Mustang are just a carryover from the previous model. So the 4.6-liter V8 SMS has been working on may have already been in development for quite some time by now. The 2010 Signature Series SMS 460 Mustang will make between 475 to over 650 hp and go on sale in the second quarter of 2009.

The biggest changes to watch out for on SMS car will be how they will handle aerodynamic upgrades to the 2010 ’Stang’s body.

Press release after the jump.

Saleen for sale

For the savvy investor, why buy a part of the near-bankrupt Ford when you can probably get an entire company that does better work with Ford’s engines. In a statement Friday, Saleen said it has hired an investment bank to explore selling the suburban Detroit company by early next year. But be cautions, the resources of Saleen Automotive may not be much. Founder and car guru, Steve Saleen, left the company in May 2007 to start a new company that works on more than just Fords (like the SMS 570X Challenger.)

This may not be the best time to do a sale. While there is a lot of news about the big auto companies teetering on the edge of destruction, the little guys are absolutely feeling it too. Tight credit markets and the slump in auto sales have hurt specialty companies such as Saleen and ASC Inc. (who are now owned by the same parent company.)

There’s no speculation yet on how much the company is going for, but hey, the owner will likely recoup some of that instantly considering that there must be a few $590,000 S7s lying around the factory somewhere.

SMS announced pricing on the 570 and 570X Challenger

Steve Saleen announced today pricing on the street legal SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger, models based on the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T platform. The MSRP’s for the 2009 SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger are targeted to start at $60,000 to $70,000 respectively with production commencing in 2008.

Both models will feature a SMS designed and engineered SMS 296 Supercharger bolted to a 5.7L Hemi, with power ratings from 500 to over 700 horsepower.

Press release after the jump

SMS 296 Supercharger

Steve Saleen is usually known for his work with Ford products, but now he’s turned his performance eye to Dodge’s new Challenger. His new company, SMS, has unveiled the SMS 296 Supercharger, the first in a promised series of ultra-high performance technical parts. Now Mopar owners of 2005 to 2009 5.7-liter and 6.1-liter Hemi engines can boost horsepower by up to 45% with this dual-screw supercharger. As an added touch, the supercharger can be colored to match the car.

The SMS 296 Supercharger will be standard equipment on two cars from SMS: the SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger. The cars are reported to make 500 to over 700 horsepower respectively.

Press release after the jump.

Saleen launched SuperShaker induction system

Saleen’s SpeedLab unveiled today the SuperShaker, a new technology for air induction systems. The SuperShaker will fit all 2005-current model Mustang GT’s. The SuperShaker kit will increase your total power from 500 – 700HP.

The SuperShaker induction path is much shorter and less restrictive compared to existing designs, and is a true “cold air” intake that is sealed off from the engine compartment, thus enhancing vehicle performance. The SuperShaker induction system sits above the hood and is isolated from the hot air in the engine compartment. This is especially beneficial in static situations such as at stop lights or take off during drag racing. Once up to speed, the shaker hood scoop rams fresh cold air into the air box where it is pressurized, allowing greater boost at higher speeds.

By angling the custom air filter forward, water and debris will be deflected down to the bottom of the air box where it can be evacuated and not affect the performance of the filter. There are two molded pieces that make up and include the air box, providing a skirt that mounts to the rear of the box which protects the compartment from water, debris and environmental hazards. This unique design does not require any extraordinary mounting or securing devices, allowing the air box to utilize the maximum space available within the tight constraints.

SMS Mustang Concept

Steve Saleen is celebrating his 25 years in the automotive business and the launch of his new company SMS with the launch of a new concept: the new SMS 25th Anniversary Mustang Concept.

The Mustang Concept is powered by a upercharged 5.0-liter V-8 engine that delivers 720 hp and a peak torque of 670 lb-ft. Saleen did not revealed the 0 to 60 mph numbers, but declared: "The performance is astounding; the SMS Twenty Fifth Anniversary Mustang has reached nearly the same levels of performance as was previously achieved in the S7 Twin Turbo!".

The Concept feature a "light blade" lighting system and sequential rear turn signals. There are functional carbon fiber pieces and numerous billet aluminum design accents. The vehicle is completed with SMS "Chromosome Silver" paint with Saleen’s signature anniversary yellow, white and black graphic accents.