Los Angeles, CA – (November 29, 2012) Hot on the heels of Steve Saleen
regaining his namesake brand comes the first model announcement since
the news was released. Making his announcement at the Los Angeles Auto
Show, the well known man of Mustangs announced the Saleen 351 Mustang.
"Since regaining the Saleen brand, I really want to bring it all
together with the heritage that Saleen is known for", said Steve Saleen.
"With the current Saleen [302] Mustang model it provides all the right
features to bring back and update the S351 model."
After nearly 13 years since a Saleen production vehicle has been
powered by a 351 c.i.d. powerplant, this new model debut has an exciting
list of technological and design offerings under the Saleen 351 model
name.
Power
The most notable component in the 351 is the Saleen engineered 351
cubic inch V8 engine which will produce 700 hp and 655 ft-lb of torque
when paired with theSaleen 296 supercharger system.
"Everything about this project has been mindful of the goal to create
the most potent Mustang on the market", said Al Wagner, V.P. of
Engineering. "I think we have certainly pushed the bar in the production
Mustang segment with our 351 offering. Once the project came together I
couldn't help but thinking; if the 302 mustang is using a coyote
engine, the 351 is definitely the gray wolf of the class."
Transferring all of that power requires the use of some specialized
equipment as well. The Saleen 351 will utilize a 6-speed transmission
equipped with a high performance Saleen clutch system, and a 3.73:1
final drive ratio to ensure that the power will be where its most
required, on the ground.
Brakes, Wheels and Tires
Working in conjunction to the wheel, tire, and Saleen S4 suspension
are the Saleen 15" brake package which are a well-placed component of
this 700 hp Saleen vehicle. "A multi-piston brake caliper setup is
critical to a high performance vehicle of this caliber", added Wagner.
"The amount of power that this vehicle can deliver is astounding and
needed to have a well composed counterpart allowing it comparable
stopping power."
Rounding out the performance system on the 351 are the Saleen 5-spoke
alloy wheels wrapped with high performance tires. Setup in a staggered
formation of 20x9 front and 20x10 rear, the slalom performance times and
corning capabilities are set to be on-par with levels approaching those
of pure bred racecars.
Design
Building on the design elements from the Saleen 302 Mustang, the 351
will feature the Red Butterfly Center Ram Air Induction system which has
become a signature of the Saleen brand. A truly functional system, the
Red Butterfly hood allows cold air to intake through the butterfly scoop
design as they open-up under throttle. Once the air passes through the
butterfly openings it is directed through the engine compartment to the
351's powerplant where it becomes a tributary to the air intake system.
Additional design components include full carbon fiber front and side
splitters, as well as a carbon fiber rear diffuser which houses the F-1
style tail lamp. A complete treatment of Saleen 351 badging and graphics
will also be included to complement any one of the standard or custom
Saleen paint schemes available on all Saleen vehicles.
Saleen – Born of Racing
Steve Saleen's high-performance history delves beyond the first Saleen
Mustangs that went on sale in 1984. As a race car driver, Steve
launched his racing career in 1969, where he competed in his first time
trial. He then proceeded to win the first race he entered in 1970, and
then moved to a professional racing career from the 1970's through the
1980's and 1990's ranging from the Formula Super Vee, to the Formula
Atlantic, and later to sports cars, truck and Indy car series. Based on
his racing and manufacturing successes, Steve catapulted the company to
new heights by entering the luxury supercar niche in 2000 with the
Saleen S7, at the famous Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance in Monterey,
California. By the following year in 2001, the race version was
introduced – the S7R, and was quick to dominate racetracks around the
world, including a Win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010.
Saleen – The Specialty Vehicle Manufacturer
As a Specialty Vehicle Manufacturer since 1984, Saleen offers a range
of White, Yellow, and Black Label high-performance vehicles: The Saleen
302 & 351 Mustang,Saleen 570 & 570X Challenger, and Saleen 620
and 620X Camaro. Everything at Saleen is literally built from the
ground-up, by skillful hands. The Saleen staff consists of a wide range
of designers, R & D engineers and production team members that works
together pushing the envelope of development, manufacturing, and
certification of high-performance specialty vehicles.
Source: Saleen