Cars
Heavyfoot
Thu Jan 17 2013 04:06:25 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
The Saleen S7 is a limited-production, hand-built, high-performance American supercar developed jointly by Steve Saleen for the initial concept and direction, Hidden Creek Industries for resources and initial funding, Phil Frank for the body and interior CAD design and development, and Ray Mallock Ltd. for the chassis engineering. It was the only car produced by Saleen not based on an existing chassis. The S7 debuted on August 19, 2000 at the Monterey Historic Races. The all-aluminum 427 (a bored-and-stroked derivative of Ford's 351 Windsor small-block, not a big-block) is remarkably tractable and flexible for such a high-output unit--550 hp at 6400 rpm. In 2005, the S7 was replaced by the S7 Twin Turbo, which featured a more powerful twin-turbo system that boosted engine power to 750 horsepower and the top speed 248 mph.
asymetrx
Sat Jan 19 2013 01:04:43 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Saleen has said that the S7 is the most aerodynamically efficient street car ever built. For the S7's early development, his team spent two months testing in Scotland at the University of Glasgow's wind tunnel. He says the S7 body makes so much downforce that the car can drive upside down in a tunnel at any speed above 160 mph. Yet, he adds, the shape is slippery enough that the car can reach redline in sixth gear, which works out to 223 mph.