Saleen returns to making its own sports cars

RABAUKE · 11-30-2017, 05:44 PM

Under the hood isn't a boosted V6 or V8, but rather a 450-horsepower turbo-four

What is it? A mid-engine sports car from Steve Saleen. Powered by a turbocharged 2.5-litre, Saleen-designed four-cylinder that pumps out 450 horsepower, the sleekly styled two-seater has an aluminium tub and a carbon fibre body. Claimed performance is a zero-to-96 km/h (60 mph) time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of approximately 290 km/h.

Why does it matter? While there’s no shortage of two-seat, mid-engine sports cars from any number of manufacturers both big and small, the Saleen S1 is not stupidly priced; just US$100,000. The more interesting aspect is that, while all S1s will be built in North America for now, future plans call for production to be moved to China. Jiangsu Saleen Automotive Technologies Group (JSAT) is a new, separately owned automotive company and is building, says CEO Steve Saleen, a billion-dollar manufacturing facility to produce Saleen vehicles in China for worldwide distribution.

When is it coming? Saleen Automotive says it is commencing manufacturing of the S1 “immediately.” The first models are expected to roll off the line in late summer 2018.

Should you buy it? Yes, if you’re an extrovert who likes speeding tickets. Steve Saleen is not an unknown quantity; a noted race driver, he has almost 35 years experience as a designer and manufacturer, producing six generations of Saleen Mustangs, plus trucks and the near-legendary Saleen S7 supercar. Also, it’s not like you’re going to find an S1 on every block.

stooker · 11-30-2017, 06:01 PM

wow, China.

Never_Enough · 11-30-2017, 06:09 PM

Price?

GuidoK · 11-30-2017, 06:18 PM

Looks very interesting.
Maybe half the story is a bit ambitious, but you cant have enough compact light sportscars that emphasize the enjoyment of driving.

SakhirM4 · 11-30-2017, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RABAUKE

Why does it matter? While there’s no shortage of two-seat, mid-engine sports cars from any number of manufacturers both big and small, the Saleen S1 is not stupidly priced; just US$100,000. The more interesting aspect is that, while all S1s will be built in North America for now, future plans call for production to be moved to China. Jiangsu Saleen Automotive Technologies Group (JSAT) is a new, separately owned automotive company and is building, says CEO Steve Saleen, a billion-dollar manufacturing facility to produce Saleen vehicles in China for worldwide distribution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Never_Enough

Price?

..

NickyC · 11-30-2017, 06:39 PM

$100k for a four banger, choice.

Had a bad enough taste in my mouth at $75k driving a 4C Spider.

overcoil · 11-30-2017, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyC

$100k for a four banger, choice.

Had a bad enough taste in my mouth at $75k driving a 4C Spider.

Porsche 718 must make you puke.

NickyC · 11-30-2017, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Porsche 718 must make you puke.

Still cleaning lunch off my shirt.

RM7 · 11-30-2017, 07:38 PM

Mid engined corvette is just around the corner.

///M Power-Belgium · 11-30-2017, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyC

$100k for a four banger, choice.

Had a bad enough taste in my mouth at $75k driving a 4C Spider.

Friend had one . After 5 months the dash looked like Christmas tree .
Finally he sold the crap and lost 45% of the value .

Alfas s@cks !

Red Bread · 11-30-2017, 08:29 PM

Yeah, an Alfa may not be ideal, but a bespoke engine from a manufacturer with no history of either complete engine or chassis development is not going to be even that good.

Plus the wheels are horrid and the body looks a little too much like that Mexican car that got the old Top Gear guys in caldo agua.

GuidoK · 11-30-2017, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Yeah, an Alfa may not be ideal, but a bespoke engine from a manufacturer with no history of either complete engine or chassis development is not going to be even that good.

What can possibly go wrong?
Not mentioning a tvr ajp v8

HyeWarrior · 12-01-2017, 02:58 AM

Looks like a car out of GTA

stooker · 12-01-2017, 06:22 AM

At first glance it resembles the Lykan.

KingOfJericho · 12-01-2017, 08:12 AM

These low volume manufacturers rarely figure out how to not make their cars look like kit cars. The S7 was pretty well sorted in the looks department but this looks too kitty. Also, the chronology is now S7 > S1. Got it.

mirob · 12-01-2017, 09:04 AM

I don't know why, but I see a lot of Ferrari California in the shot above, especially in the front half.

KingOfJericho · 12-01-2017, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mirob

I don't know why, but I see a lot of Ferrari California in the shot above, especially in the front half.

I see it as well. The front screams Maserati but the back is all Ferrari.

Viffermike · 12-01-2017, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyC

Still cleaning lunch off my shirt.

Funny: My 718 eats most everything else for lunch.

Sowwee you pretty much won't be able to eat in a few years.

#DontKnockItTillYouDriveIt

ScottSinger

Viffermike · 12-01-2017, 03:33 PM

So I'm amused that many of the journos are calling the S1 a 'supercar' when it's very evident to me that it will compete directly with the Porsche 718 GTS and GT4 -- the latter of which will almost certainly have a flat-6 in it (as will the 718 Spyder) and will, thus, be bought by cylinder gluttons like NickyC ...

Saleen's claiming a less-than-2,700-lb weight and 1.2Gs of skidpad grip, too.

I think this car's got a lot going for it design-wise. There's definitely a design language being used. But it has some hallmarks of tack-on Chinese-think (the headlights, for one. The whale tail, for another. The cheesy and crooked '1' icon on the rear, for yet another) that can be misconstrued as kit car-like.

I guess the big question will be: An American two-seater funded, then built in, China. Wouldya?

I wouldn't.

NickyC · 12-01-2017, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viffermike

So I'm amused that many of the journos are calling the S1 a 'supercar' when it's very evident to me that it will compete directly with the Porsche 718 GTS and GT4 -- the latter of which will almost certainly have a flat-6 in it (as will the 718 Spyder) and will, thus, be bought by cylinder gluttons like NickyC ...

Saleen's claiming a less-than-2,700-lb weight and 1.2Gs of skidpad grip, too.

I think this car's got a lot going for it design-wise. There's definitely a design language being used. But it has some hallmarks of tack-on Chinese-think (the headlights, for one. The whale tail, for another. The cheesy and crooked '1' icon on the rear, for yet another) that can be misconstrued as kit car-like.

I guess the big question will be: An American two-seater funded, then built in, China. Wouldya?

I wouldn't.

4 bangers are fine, just not $100k 4 bangers. ;P

Red Bread · 12-01-2017, 03:38 PM

No Chinese cars. They already own our economy. Shit, my wife's shopping Volvo's. I take all that back...

Red Bread · 12-01-2017, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viffermike

So I'm amused that many of the journos are calling the S1 a 'supercar' when it's very evident to me that it will compete directly with the Porsche 718 GTS and GT4 -- the latter of which will almost certainly have a flat-6 in it (as will the 718 Spyder) and will, thus, be bought by cylinder gluttons like NickyC ...

Saleen's claiming a less-than-2,700-lb weight and 1.2Gs of skidpad grip, too.

I think this car's got a lot going for it design-wise. There's definitely a design language being used. But it has some hallmarks of tack-on Chinese-think (the headlights, for one. The whale tail, for another. The cheesy and crooked '1' icon on the rear, for yet another) that can be misconstrued as kit car-like.

I guess the big question will be: An American two-seater funded, then built in, China. Wouldya?

I wouldn't.

4 bangers are fine, just not $100k 4 bangers. ;P

And BMW will sell you a $143k three banger.

11-30-2017, 05:44 PM	#1
RABAUKE Banned 4658 Rep 1,395 Posts Drives: Porsche 993, 2014 MB GLK Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: The Golden Horseshoe, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Saleen returns to making its own sports cars Under the hood isn't a boosted V6 or V8, but rather a 450-horsepower turbo-four What is it? A mid-engine sports car from Steve Saleen. Powered by a turbocharged 2.5-litre, Saleen-designed four-cylinder that pumps out 450 horsepower, the sleekly styled two-seater has an aluminium tub and a carbon fibre body. Claimed performance is a zero-to-96 km/h (60 mph) time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of approximately 290 km/h. Why does it matter? While there’s no shortage of two-seat, mid-engine sports cars from any number of manufacturers both big and small, the Saleen S1 is not stupidly priced; just US$100,000. The more interesting aspect is that, while all S1s will be built in North America for now, future plans call for production to be moved to China. Jiangsu Saleen Automotive Technologies Group (JSAT) is a new, separately owned automotive company and is building, says CEO Steve Saleen, a billion-dollar manufacturing facility to produce Saleen vehicles in China for worldwide distribution. When is it coming? Saleen Automotive says it is commencing manufacturing of the S1 “immediately.” The first models are expected to roll off the line in late summer 2018. Should you buy it? Yes, if you’re an extrovert who likes speeding tickets. Steve Saleen is not an unknown quantity; a noted race driver, he has almost 35 years experience as a designer and manufacturer, producing six generations of Saleen Mustangs, plus trucks and the near-legendary Saleen S7 supercar. Also, it’s not like you’re going to find an S1 on every block. Attached Images
	Appreciate 2 GuidoK14405.50 ///M Power-Belgium73097.00 Tweet Quote

11-30-2017, 06:01 PM	#2
stooker F80 n00b 2679 Rep 367 Posts Drives: '18 F80 / '06 S2K Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: somewhere iTrader: (0)	wow, China.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-30-2017, 06:09 PM	#3
Never_Enough Banned 2245 Rep 2,476 Posts Drives: Satan's Chariot 2.0 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: PA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2018 Charger Hellcat [0.00]	Price?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-30-2017, 06:18 PM	#4
GuidoK #buildnotbought 14406 Rep 5,576 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i ESS TS2+ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tinkering in the garage iTrader: (0)	Looks very interesting. Maybe half the story is a bit ambitious, but you cant have enough compact light sportscars that emphasize the enjoyment of driving. __________________ Z4 3.0i \| ESS TS2+ supercharger \| Quaife ATB LSD \| Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear \| Schrick FI cams \| Schmiedmann headers+cats \| Powerflex/strongflex PU bushings \| Vibra-technics engine mounts \| H&R anti rollbars \| KW V3 coilovers/KW camber plates \| Sachs race engineering clutch \| tons of custom sh#t
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-30-2017, 06:39 PM	#6
NickyC Lieutenant General 19663 Rep 11,326 Posts Drives: M4 CS. Former G82, x2 F82, F80 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Jacked out of my mind iTrader: (23)	$100k for a four banger, choice. Had a bad enough taste in my mouth at $75k driving a 4C Spider.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-30-2017, 07:38 PM	#9
RM7 Brigadier General 3057 Rep 3,666 Posts Drives: Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alaska iTrader: (0)	Mid engined corvette is just around the corner.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-30-2017, 08:29 PM	#11
Red Bread Major General 4459 Rep 9,160 Posts Drives: Smog machines Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Yeah, an Alfa may not be ideal, but a bespoke engine from a manufacturer with no history of either complete engine or chassis development is not going to be even that good. Plus the wheels are horrid and the body looks a little too much like that Mexican car that got the old Top Gear guys in caldo agua.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2017, 02:58 AM	#13
HyeWarrior Major 765 Rep 1,125 Posts Drives: 2019 HKS M2C Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1)	Looks like a car out of GTA
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2017, 06:22 AM	#14
stooker F80 n00b 2679 Rep 367 Posts Drives: '18 F80 / '06 S2K Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: somewhere iTrader: (0)	At first glance it resembles the Lykan.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2017, 08:12 AM	#15
KingOfJericho Major General 2458 Rep 7,341 Posts Drives: Yes Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 135i Coupe [5.26]	These low volume manufacturers rarely figure out how to not make their cars look like kit cars. The S7 was pretty well sorted in the looks department but this looks too kitty. Also, the chronology is now S7 > S1. Got it. __________________ The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Bimmerpost. 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee High Altitude Hemi \| 2010 S4 Sold \| 2010 BMW 135i Retired \| 2006 Lotus Exige Sold
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2017, 09:04 AM	#16
mirob Colonel 4089 Rep 2,039 Posts Drives: M3CX Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Bomb City, TX iTrader: (0)	I don't know why, but I see a lot of Ferrari California in the shot above, especially in the front half.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2017, 03:33 PM	#19
Viffermike Colonel 1798 Rep 2,967 Posts Drives: Coming: '25 SG/black M2 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Big D iTrader: (0)	So I'm amused that many of the journos are calling the S1 a 'supercar' when it's very evident to me that it will compete directly with the Porsche 718 GTS and GT4 -- the latter of which will almost certainly have a flat-6 in it (as will the 718 Spyder) and will, thus, be bought by cylinder gluttons like NickyC ... Saleen's claiming a less-than-2,700-lb weight and 1.2Gs of skidpad grip, too. I think this car's got a lot going for it design-wise. There's definitely a design language being used. But it has some hallmarks of tack-on Chinese-think (the headlights, for one. The whale tail, for another. The cheesy and crooked '1' icon on the rear, for yet another) that can be misconstrued as kit car-like. I guess the big question will be: An American two-seater funded, then built in, China. Wouldya? I wouldn't. __________________ --Life is a journey made more exciting with a fast car.-- --Helmets are for closers.-- <<Current: 'Johnny Boy' '23 CR MINI JCW 2-door. Gone (but not forgotten): 'Allie' '18 NBM Porsche 718 Cayman; 'The Blackened' '15 MG 228i M Sport w/aFe filter/scoop, JL 600/6 w/Hertz drivers, P3Cars multigauge, other goodies>>
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2017, 03:38 PM	#21
Red Bread Major General 4459 Rep 9,160 Posts Drives: Smog machines Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	No Chinese cars. They already own our economy. Shit, my wife's shopping Volvo's. I take all that back...
	Appreciate 1 Viffermike1797.50 Quote