Saleen knows all about power. As in S281 Mustangs, N2O Focuses and the
S7, America's first (and still the only) mid-engine exotic supercar.
When it went on sale in 2002, the S7 was the only street-legal car in
the U.S. with more than 500 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. The
media and S7 owners have raved about the car since it first smoked the
rear tires in anger. And it has been recognized by numerous automotive
magazines as the fastest production car in the world.
But during the past three years the automobile marketplace has witnessed
an explosion of performance with models from manufacturers including
Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Chevrolet touting power
numbers above the once magic 500 level.
Saleen is not an organization content to rest on yesterday's 0-60 mph
times or quarter-mile speeds. So for 2005 it's "goodbye S7" and "all
hail the S7 Twin Turbo!"
This is the first major change to the S7 since its introduction, and it
is a BIG change as in 750 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque, numbers
the competition will be chasing for a long while we predict.
What's New for 2005
It's pretty obvious to Saleen product planners during the late 1990s
that horsepower and torque numbers were trending upwards, especially
among the purveyors of supercars. And power figures that looked
spectacular at that time might seem quite ordinary a few years down the
road. So Saleen engineers have been planning for this day since they
drew the first line on a computer screen for the original S7's 7-liter
engine.
While there are a number of different roads Saleen's engine designers
could have traveled down to achieve those high-altitude horsepower and
torque figures, for this second edition of the S7 they decided to think
beyond atmospheric. And because this is Saleen, they added a double
twist to a tried and true racing technique for boosting power and
torque: twin turbos.
The aerodynamics has also come under scrutiny for 2005. Unless you place
the new S7 Twin Turbo next to one of the original 2002 models, you
probably won't notice that the 2005 version has a different
diffuser/rear spoilerpackage and reshaped front fenders to enhance the
S7s already sleek, swoopy and aerodynamic contours.
To complement the Twin Turbo's enhanced straight-line performance
envelope The S7 chassis has also undergone a fair amount of tweaking.
Virtually every suspension pickup point has been changed, and the
suspension geometry has been modified for less squat and dive during
acceleration and braking.
The Engine & Drivetrain
Designed by Saleen engineers, the S7's engine and drivetrain incorporate
the latest in modern racing technology. The new all-aluminum V8 engine
casting was engineered and tooled by Saleen to displace seven liters.
Redline is 6500 rpm. Space age materials and engineering are used
throughout, including stainless steel valves, titanium retainers,
beryllium exhaust valve seats, an aluminum throttle body, Saleendesigned
aluminum CNC-machined cylinder heads and 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, a 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 induction system. Air enters a roof intake, passes
through a 90-mm mass air meter and feeds into a carbon fiber plenum.
From the plenum the air is routed to the twin ball bearing turbos, is
pressurized to 5.5 psi max and then passes through an oval-bore throttle
body into an aluminum intake manifold with eight individual runners.
To feed juice to this setup, the injection system includes dual electric
fuel pumps and high-capacity, return-less, 52 lb/hr fuel injectors.
Neatly engineered and integrated into the S7's stainless steel, dual,
high-flow exhaust system are two, twin-ball-bearing, water-cooled
Saleen-Garrett turbos, featuring 44-mm wastegates.
The four exhaust pipes from each bank of cylinders merge into a
race-car-like high-efficiency collector. In addition, the exhaust
incorporates dual catalysts per cylinder bank, EGR and those
aforementioned twin wastegates. And because Saleen believes in power and
clean air, the emission control system features dual, heated oxygen
sensors per cylinder bank and a high-volume evaporative emission system
along with those four catalysts. Oh, and for good measure and clean air,
the system is OBD-II compliant.
When Saleen's engineers originally laid out the architecture of the S7's
7-liter V8, they purposely over designed all the major components
because they knew the car would be raced, and they were also planning
ahead for future increased street performance. So one of the few
internal changes to the twin-turbo engine is a swap from hydraulic to
solid lifters. This change allows the engine to rev higher and "harder."
Solid lifers don't "pump up" and "float" like hydraulic lifters can at
high rpm, and they also allow more aggressive cam profiles, which
results in more horsepower at the top end. As with the previous
hydraulic tappets, the valves are actuated by low-friction roller
rockers.
As is typical with turbocharged engines, the compression ratio has been
lowered. It drops from a very high 12.0:1 in the previous naturally
aspirated V8 to a still high 11.0:1. And for increased durability,
Saleen engineers also added oil squirters to cool the undersides of the
pistons.
A Saleen PowerFlashTM performance computer, recalibrated for 2005,
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.
And if you need any more proof of how Saleen engineers sweat the
details, the stroke of the already short-stroke shifter has been
furthered shortened for improved shifting feel. Say that five times
fast, once for each gear change!
Chassis, Suspension & Brakes
The S7 chassis and suspension incorporate decades of Saleen'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
structural, aerospace-quality, autoclave carbon fiber.
Suspension is via fully independent unequal-length double wishbones with
coilover 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 that use air to
help cool the bearings.
A major improvement in ride is achieved for 2005 with the use of coil
springs that are a dual-stage design. The first spring has a lower rate
than the single springs fitted to the current S7, resulting in softer
ride during normal street driving. But if you remember your history, you
know that the S7 is a flat-bottom, downforce car. The faster you go,
the more downforce the S7 develops. In the case of the S7's new
dual-stage springs, the second stiffer spring starts coming into play at
around 100 mph when the car begins to develop serious downforce.
Chassis tuning also includes revised shock valving front and rear.
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.
Geometry changes, along with new tires, result in about a 30 percent
increase in mechanical grip... which is substantial. In a seeming
contradiction to current performance tire practice, the 2005 S7 Twin
Turbo is fitted with "taller" tires, 275/35R19s up front and 335/30R20s
at the rear, replacing the 275/30R19s and 345/25R20s fitted to the
normally aspirated S7. While the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires have
higher aspect ratios, they also lay tire patches that are nearly an inch
wider up front and almost 1.5 inches wider at the rear.
Body Design
The S7's beautiful shape was "designed" 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 "full
tray" body sculpting underneath.
Longtime Saleen design consultant, Phil Frank, and Steve Saleen 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.
For the 2005 S7 Twin Turbo, the redesigned front and rear diffusers,
along with the new rear spoiler, result in a 40 percent reduction in
aero drag and a 60 percent increase in down force. Those of you who know
anything about aero forces recognize the significance of that last
statement. Typically, you would have to trade down force to reduce aero
drag.
The mid-engine Saleen S7 has front and rear trunks and comes with
Mulholland Brothers(R) custom-made, 3-piece, fitted luggage. In true
supercar style, the doors open up and away from the body.
The 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's ergonomics and the side-to-side weight distribution. Because
the S7 features a custom fitted driver seating position with 6
adjustable pedals and a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, it
comfortably accommodates tall drivers. While Shaquille O'Neal would have
a tough time fitting behind the wheel of an S7, drivers as tall as 6
feet 6 inches can enjoy the S7 driving experience.
To further improve driving comfort and ergonomics, the S7 Twin Turbo
incorporates a revised pedal box. The clutch and throttle lever ratios
pedals have been changed for lighter pedal efforts. In addition, the
three pedals have been spaced farther apart without impinging upon the
dead pedal.
Seats and other interior surfaces are covered in elegant leather and
suede. Air conditioning, power windows, power door locks with remote
keyless opening for the doors and both trunks, an electric-headed front
windshield, variable intermittent windshield wipers, a leather-wrapped
steering wheel and an AM/FM/CD/DVD/TV system are all standard. The
Saleen S7 also has one unique interior feature: a video "rearview
mirror" - there is a small video camera inconspicuously mounted in the
rear of the car.
A navigation system and polished wheels are among the few available features.
The Background
The Saleen S7, America'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's more
than two decades 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's most respected and
technologically advanced automotive suppliers, the Saleen S7 went from
prototype to first customer deliveries in less than two years.
Dual Personality
The Saleen S7 Twin Turbo 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.
Racing Successes
Unlike most exotic supercars, the racing version, the S7R, has already
proven itself on the international motorsports stage. During the past
three years, the racing version has won more than 50 poles, set fastest
race lap over 50 times and has been victorious well over 40 times,
winning seven GT Championships. This incredible record includes winning
the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring and setting a new track record at
the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The S7R has won a number of FIA GT races so that victory stands as one
among many. What was more significant is that the race took place at
Imola, Italy, home track of Ferrari and Maserati, and the big story that
weekend was supposed to have been the heralded debut of the Maserati MC
12s. Instead, Saleen S7Rs dominated qualifying, placing 5 cars in the
top 10 and added insult to injury when the Vitaphone S7R finished the
race with a 43-second advantage over the second-place Maserati. It was
not a happy day for Ferrari-Maserati management or any of the Ferrari,
Maserati and Lamborghini racing teams.
Best-in-Practice Design
While the S7 is an American supercar, the vehicle itself reflects a
"best-inpractice" philosophy, where Saleen has incorporated superior
components from around the globe in order to manufacture the best
vehicle possible. For example, the Saleen S7 uses Saleen-engineered/
Brembo-supplied brakes from Italy as well as numerous high technology
pieces from companies located in the Midlands area of the United
Kingdom, a region that is to motorsports what the Silicon Valley is to
computers. Initial wind tunnel testing was conducted at the University
of Glasgow in Scotland.
The
Saleen S7 is a high-performance sports car that was jointly designed by
RML and Saleen, Incorporated and is currently being built at Saleen's
headquarters factory in Irvine, California. It is constructed with a
unique hybrid of a steel spaceframe and aluminum honeycomb panels
encased with autoclave-cured carbon fiber bodywork. Engineering of the
unique engine that is used in the S7 was headed by Billy Tally, Saleen's
current Vice President of Advanced Engineering.
Engine
Chassis/Body
Performance
