| Press
Release:
Saleen is justifiably
proud of the S7. It has been a success in the showroom and on the race
track where it has compiled an enviable list of victories in just three
years. But the S7 didn﹌Ｙ?t achieve pole position just by showing up, and
Saleen is not an organization that believes in simply resting on its
laurels. During the past two years the S7 has undergone an extensive
internal design and engineering evaluation. And we﹌Ｙ?ve also listened
carefully to feedback from our delightfully satisfied owners. As a
result, the 2004 S7 incorporates many engineering changes, seen and
unseen, that raise the supercar bar another large notch.
Background
The Saleen S7, America﹌Ｙ?s first true supercar, has captured the
imagination of the automotive world since its introduction in August
2000 at the prestigious Monterey Historic vintage car races. Designed to
compete with the fastest, quickest, best handling and most exotic sports
cars, the S7 provides a distinctly American driving experience for the
fortunate few who will own one. It also reflects Saleen﹌Ｙ?s 20 years of
performance and engineering excellence in manufacturing fully certified
high-performance automobiles. The exotic S7 is designed, engineered,
manufactured and marketed by Saleen, Inc., a high-performance vehicle
manufacturer headquartered in Irvine, Calif. Working with some of the
world﹌Ｙ?s most respected and technologically advanced automotive
suppliers, the Saleen S7 went from prototype to first customer
deliveries in less than two years.
What's new for 2004
Horsepower and torque
have both been increased, 25 bhp and 45 lb-ft, respectively, up to 575
bhp @ 5500 rpm and 570 lf-ft of torque @ 4700 rpm. But these increases
were not the point of the exercise strictly by themselves. Rather they
are a happy consequence of responding to our customers﹌Ｙ? desire, not
for more performance, but for improvements in around-town drivability.
In analyzing this request, Saleen engineers made three important
changes. The transmission 1st gear ratio and the final-drive ratio are
shorter (higher numerical ratios). These gear changes, in conjunction
with a revised clutch, make for much smoother takeoffs from rest. Most
engineers probably would have stopped right here. But not Saleen﹌Ｙ?s
engineers. In the course of their analysis, engine tuning also came
under scrutiny. And by playing with cam timing and airflow and the
engine﹌Ｙ?s PowerFlash╳Ea computer, they managed to broaden already broad
power and torque curves for smoother and more flexible performance. And
to extract even more power from the S7﹌Ｙ?s already very potent 7-liter
V8.
In true supercar fashion, the S7 is capable of speeds exceeding 200
miles per hour, with a zero-to-60 time under three seconds. And thanks
to its extreme ground effects engineering, at 160 mph the car could be
driven upside down and still maintain contact with the road. So lack of
downforce has never been an issue with the S7. But as a result of wind
tunnel testing, Saleen engineers have made some tweaks at the rear of
the car. A revised rear spoiler has replaced the previous design. In
addition, the rear diffuser, which channels air smoothly from under the
rear of the car, has been redesigned. It is slightly larger and has a
winglet in the middle. Collectively, the new spoiler and revised
diffuser have a noticeable effect on reducing drag (for a higher top
speed) while also increasing down force at the rear of the car.
Dual Personality
The Saleen S7 was conceived to combine the performance of a track-only
racecar with the driving pleasure of a road car. As a result, while the
S7 would be at home on any racetrack, it is also a car that can be
driven with pleasure on highways, Autobahnen and back roads.
﹌Ｙ╳芋With the improvements made in gearing, engine tuning and aero, the S7
is not only easier to drive at ﹌Ｙ﹌cnormal﹌Ｙ? around town speeds, but also
it﹌Ｙ?s more fun,﹌Ｙ╳取 says Saleen President, Steve Saleen. But don﹌Ｙ?t
expect less of the Saleen ﹌Ｙ﹌cattitude.﹌Ｙ? The S7, like every Saleen, is
a product of Saleen﹌Ｙ?s strong racing heritage. We wouldn﹌Ｙ?t feel
we﹌Ｙ?d accomplished our mission if you didn﹌Ｙ?t come away from a drive
around the block thinking the S7 felt like ﹌Ｙ﹌ca race car for the
street,﹌Ｙ? ﹌Ｙ╳芋 Saleen continued. We designed it that way.﹌Ｙ╳取
Chassis, Suspension & Brakes
The S7 chassis and suspension incorporate decades of Saleen﹌Ｙ?s
experience in racing, racecar construction and high-performance road car
manufacturing. The Saleen S7 architecture begins with a space frame
chassis to which honeycomb composite reinforcing is grafted. The body is
autoclave carbon fiber.
Suspension is via fully independent unequal-length double wishbones with
coil-over springs, lightweight aluminum dampers (shock absorbers) and
stabilizer (anti-roll) bars front and rear. The uprights at each corner
are CNC machined billet aluminum, flow-through designs.
Saleen-engineered Brembo-supplied lightweight aluminum six-piston
mono-block calipers are fitted front and rear. The brakes are among the
largest of any production car with 15-inch vented discs up front and
14-inch vented discs at the rear.
The Saleen-designed forged alloy wheels feature center locking wheel
nuts with automatic safety locks. Sizes are 19 x 9.5 inches up front and
20 x 12 inches at the rear. The wheels are shod with
ultra-high-performance Pirelli P Zero tires in sizes 275/30ZR19 front
and 345/25R20 rear.
Engine & Drivetrain
Designed by Saleen engineers, the S7's engine and drivetrain incorporate
the latest in modern racing technology. The all-aluminum V8 engine
casting was engineered by Saleen to displace seven liters, generating
575 horsepower at 5500 rpm and delivering 570 foot-pounds of torque at
4700 rpm. Redline is 6500 rpm. Space age materials and engineering are
used throughout, including stainless steel valves, titanium retainers,
beryllium exhaust valve seats, magnesium throttle body, Saleen-designed
aluminum CNCmachined cylinder heads and a ceramic-coated stainless steel
exhaust system.
An exclusive Saleen-designed Front Engine Accessory Drive (FEAD) system
results in an extremely compact engine, allowing for better packaging
and overall weight distribution. The V8 incorporates a unique
Saleen-designed side-mounted water pump, extremely accurate belt-driven
camshaft drive, and a Saleen-engineered dry sump oil delivery system.
The engine's mid-chassis placement optimizes weight distribution and
center of gravity, making room for an unusually tall engine that allows
for a very efficient plenum arrangement. Air inducted by the roof air
intake flows into a cold air box and then into an aluminum intake
manifold with eight individual runners.
A Saleen PowerFlash╳Ea performance computer, recalibrated for 2004,
handles engine management. The ignition system is integrated
coil-on-plug.
A new-generation six-speed transaxle, with a unique Saleen bell housing,
transfers power to the wheels. The clutch is an organic/metallic
8.0-inch, twin-plate unit with hydraulic actuation.
Body Design
The S7﹌Ｙ?s beautiful shape was ﹌Ｙ╳芋designed﹌Ｙ╳取 by the wind. Optimal
aerodynamics and top speed performance objectives were achieved with
extensive wind tunnel work. Targets included a low coefficient of drag,
optimum drag-to-lift ratio, and extreme down force. The S7 has ﹌Ｙ╳芋full
tray﹌Ｙ╳取 body sculpting underneath.
Longtime Saleen design consultant Phil Frank then personalized and
refined the aesthetics of the S7 to reflect modern supercar thinking.
The gill-like ducting is, of course, fully functional. The autoclaved
carbon fiber body panels incorporate advanced aerodynamics and include
integrated split-channel airflow throughout the car, full underside air
management, and advanced front tray and side skirt designs and an
integrated full-body rear spoiler, replacing the wing used previously.
The mid-engine Saleen S7 has front and rear trunks and comes with
Mulholland Brothers custom-made, 3-piece, fitted luggage. In true
supercar style, the doors open up and away from the body.
﹌Ｙ╳芋When seen in person, the S7 has an amazing overall presence,﹌Ｙ╳取 says
Steve Saleen, founder and president of Saleen, Inc. ﹌Ｙ╳芋It﹌Ｙ?s quite long
and wide, yet only 41.0 inches high, adding to its exotic appearance. We
wanted to maintain a ﹌Ｙ﹌cform-follows-function﹌Ｙ? look, but one that was
esthetically beautiful as well. I really feel we﹌Ｙ?ve achieved both.﹌Ｙ╳取
Interior
As much care has been given to the creature comforts of the Saleen S7 as
to its performance. Great attention was given to seating position. The
car features asymmetrical seating, with the driver position moved
slightly more to the center than the passenger. This improves the
driver﹌Ｙ?s ergonomics, improves the side-to-side weight distribution,
and allows the passenger side to have a narrower threshold. The S7 is
unusually accommodating of tall drivers.
Seats and other interior surfaces are covered in elegant leather and
suede. Air conditioning, power windows, adjustable pedals, a steering
wheel that telescopes and tilts and an AM/FM/CD/DVD/TV systems are all
standard (GPS is optional). The Saleen S7 also has one unique interior
feature: a video ﹌Ｙ╳芋rearview mirror﹌Ｙ╳取 ? there is a small video camera
inconspicuously mounted in the rear of the car. |
