The 1300 Horsepower, $1 Million Saleen S7 LM is Revealed
After nearly twenty years, the Saleen Automotive tuning shop based in Southern California is re-releasing their famous supercar, the Saleen S7. This updated model of the S7, known as the S7 Le Mans Edition, offers greatly improved horsepower over the original supercar released in August 2000. Coming in at a price tag of $1 million, with a run of only seven cars, Saleen Automotive continues to be the definition of exclusive. Luckily, America’s “only true supercar” – according to Steve Saleen – offers a plethora of awesome features that justify the sky-high price.
Engine and Drivetrain
The new S7 will still have the traditional 7.0-liter V8 engine. The original S7 produced about 550 horsepower on this block. When the S7 Twin Turbo was released, they boosted this to about 750 horsepower. But the Le Mans beats them all with an astonishing four figures of pure horsepower.
That’s right, four figures. The new S7 LM will produce around 1300 horsepower – combined with the lightweight steel and composite body, it will really be able to tear around the track. Or I suppose it could get you some astronomically-high speeding tickets, if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time!
This beast of a motor will be paired with a longitudinal, six-speed manual transmission, offering you the best control over your shifts. It also will include a limited-slip differential for better turn control. The S7 LM is built to be a high-performance, high-speed machine with great handling (due to the aerodynamic body, wheel track, and overall mechanical design).
The Numbers
With 1300 horsepower under the hood, the new Saleen S7 will probably make better track times than its predecessors. For example, the original S7 had a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds, whereas the S7 Twin Turbo’s 0-60 time was about 2.8 seconds.
For the new S7 Le Mans, boasting nearly double the horsepower of the Twin Turbo, we could probably see 0-60 times in the 2.0-2.5 second range. This will put the Le Mans right up there with other famous supercars, like the Bugatti Veyron, Lamborghini Huracan, and the Porsche 911 Turbo S.
The best practical test of a car’s speed has to be the traditional quarter-mile run. Because the S7 Twin Turbo had a quarter-mile time of about 10.5 seconds, we will likely see the S7 LM run sub-10 times on the drag track. This kind of speed is what puts the Le Mans into that “American supercar” category!
The Features
The S7 LM won’t only be fast, it will be comfortable and stylish as well. According to Saleen himself, the new S7 will be equipped with standard convenience features including power windows, power locks, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and a heated windshield. After all, any millionaire looking to purchase a Saleen vehicle will likely want to drive in comfort – not in a car with aggressive and excessive weight-saving measures.
More confirmed features for the Le Mans include cabin air conditioning, a digital tachometer, and an LED dashboard. You will also be able to easily navigate the car in reverse with the included backup camera. Not to mention you will be sitting on fine leather seats, gripping a suede steering wheel!
The S7 LM will come with only one paint scheme: black, silver, and clear-coated carbon fiber. This gives the car the mean, supercar look that Saleen enthusiasts have come to know and love over the last couple of decades. In addition, this car will sit on four five-spoke forged wheels. This gives the car that classic high-end look. Not to mention the full set of high-performance tires that will be included in each of the seven supercars.
The Verdict
You might not be able to scrape together a million dollars to buy the S7 Le Mans, but you’ll sure wish that you could. With the four-figure horsepower, beautiful design, and numerous awesome features, this car is a great candidate for anyone’s dream car list.
Of course, Saleen Automotive also offers the S1, which comes in at only about a tenth of the price that the S7 Le Mans will fetch. Starting next year, you would be able to pick up a Saleen S1 for only about $100,000. That’s a much more achievable goal – but you’ll still need to be well off to afford it.
Saleen Automotive is all about creating top-of-the-line cars. If you want the best performance offered by any American vehicle manufacturer, and price is no object, you can’t really go wrong with a Saleen supercar. Not to mention, you will look like a high-roller driving one of these down the road. You will become the envy of any you pass!
