What does a supercharger bolted on to a 5.0-litre V8, running on E85 sound like? For the purposes of this piece of information, it sounds like the Saleen S5S Raptor, a concept car from the house of Saleen that's destined to show its fangs at the New York Auto Show.
Raptor is only a sketch for now, but later this drawing will come to a top velocity just north of 200 mph/ 322km/h on a flat tarmac. Bodywork is courtesy of composite panels, while the chassis runs on aluminium. Both these are in the name of weight-saving, that all-important criterion when it comes to supplying as much speed as possible between tire and tarmac.
We think a bit more intelligence will make its way to the surface before the show, which is still a good month-odd away. Before then, I’m afraid this is all we’ve got.
Saleen S5S Raptor Concept to debut in New York
5.0-litre supercharged Saleen anger
Autoweek / Saleen Raptor for New York Auto Show
Comments
Asger
February 28, 2008 2:07 AM
Looks like the designers at Saleen are making this an evolutionary design (which is a good thing in my book). The Saleen S7 was a beautiful car, but this sketch blows the S7 away.
evile
February 28, 2008 2:13 AM
Rumor has it this car will in the same category as the F430 and Gallardo. I have seen a picture of the clay model, and it appears to be about the same size as a Gallardo.
_M7_
February 28, 2008 2:20 AM
NICE!!! the only decent american car...they must still work on the engine mabie the P80 from BMW could be a good choise
evile
February 28, 2008 2:33 AM
Don't forget. Saleen was part of the Ford GT Program. They have experience with supercharged V8s so the engine will be a good mill. Also, a key member of the Ford GT team is now at Saleen. I bet the S5S will be very similar to the Ford GT in terms of performance.
FOXHOUND
February 28, 2008 5:41 AM
abit more power, slightly larger wheelbase = an american REVENTON. italian reventon vs. american reventon, nice.....
NitrousOxide
February 28, 2008 11:13 AM
Reventon will not compare with an American car.. Not even in your dream!! Thats a Lamborghini, and this is still a saleen.
FOXHOUND
February 28, 2008 4:15 PM
by no means am i saying that this IS a reventon. i'm not saying they would compare in pedigree or build quality or craftsmanship ect. ect. saleen is just a baby in that department, and in racing experience, they don't have as even nearly as much as the italians, i'm just saying that it would be cool if this car ended up to resemble the reventon and their would be another car thats not so limited (20 units) and expensive (1.4 mil) with this type of styling and similar performance without the hefty pricetag.
iamsteve
March 4, 2008 5:25 AM
This is not a Saleen, Steve quit last June.
ASC is building the fake Saleen you looking at.
Add Your Comment
[cancel]
Receive an email each time a new
comment is posted to this article