Saleen Sterling Edition S302E review

       The Saleen Sterling Edition S302E begins with what amounts to a Mustang GT in an official partnership with Ford Motor Company. But Saleen automobiles are no ordinary Mustangs. They come as highly polished, fully realized sports cars with the technical knowhow of the recently retired Steve Saleen, responsible for designing the legendary Saleen S7 supercar.

            Power comes from a 620hp twin screw supercharged V8 engine that generates more than 600 lb-ft of torque. Transmission is a short throw, six-speed manual. With this powerhouse growling beneath the hood, the car jumps from zero to 60mph in less than 4 seconds and completes the quarter mile in nearly 12 seconds. With such a powerful beast under the hood, engineers at Saleen had to ensure that the power generated was relayed to the tarmac, this led to a host of performance upgrades.

           The hand painted gunsight exterior accent aims your attention from the rear of the car to the 25th Anniversary wreath that adorns the hood. The Saleen engineered front carbon wind splitter and rear air diffuser were designed to enhance the aerodynamics of the vehicle. The vehicles sub 4 second 0-60 performance is arrested by massive 15 inch cross- drilled vented rotors that are also unique to the "Sterling Edition".

Specifications

            * Type of engine: Modular 3-Value SOHC V8

            * Transmission: Close-Ratio 6-Speed Manual Transmission

            * Displacement: 5.0 Liters

            * Horsepower: 620 hp @ 6300 RPM

            * Price (est): $100,000

Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo review

    

       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 and it has been recognized by numerous automotive magazines as the fastest American car in the world.

          None of the S7's major supercar competitors, such as the Ferrari Enzo, the McLaren F1 and the Maserati MC12, are a match for the S7 Twin Turbo's prodigious horsepower and torque figures: All are at least 100 bhp and more than 200 lb-ft in arrears of the S7. Chalk up another victory for good old American V8 engine ingenuity.

          It's also no contest when it comes to price. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2005 S7 Twin Turbo is $555,000. That's $100,000 less than an Enzo (which is out of production and escalating in price) and nearly $300,000 fewer dollars than the Maserati. And you could have Her and His S7s for the price of the McLaren F1.