What Is It?
2005 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo
What's Special About It?
It's hard to improve on a carbon-fiber supercar with Formula One suspension and a hand-built all-aluminum 7.0-liter V8 that cranks out 500 horsepower. Saleen managed to do just that by adding twin turbochargers, new internals and a reprogrammed engine management system to its already blisteringly fast coupe. The result is 750 hp and 700 pound-feet of torque, making the S7 the undisputed horsepower king of the supercar world. The suspension geometry was tweaked to compensate for the big boost in power, and the rear wing and aerodynamics were also modified to create a more stable feeling at speed. A video-linked rearview "mirror" was also added that allows the driver to see behind the car, since the new turbo system blocks rearward visibility.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Southern California performance guru Steve Saleen has been turning out a few S7 supercars a year since he introduced the road-going rocket in 2002. Back then a slinky sports car with 500 hp was impressive, but an escalating power war between Detroit, Germany and Italy has made 500 ponies a common claim. By engineering a forced induction system for his exclusive 7.0-liter V8, Saleen can now claim that the 750-horse S7 is the most powerful street car sold today. Each car is custom-made to order, and at $550,000 not many people can actually afford one.
Recent racing victories against Ferrari have helped prove the S7's mettle, and now that the Enzo is out of production the supercar club just got a little smaller. Sure it's large, ungainly, insanely expensive and totally impractical…but so what? If you've got the cash and a hankering for the most powerful street car money can buy, this would be one E-ticket ride. — Dan Kahn
2005 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo
What's Special About It?
It's hard to improve on a carbon-fiber supercar with Formula One suspension and a hand-built all-aluminum 7.0-liter V8 that cranks out 500 horsepower. Saleen managed to do just that by adding twin turbochargers, new internals and a reprogrammed engine management system to its already blisteringly fast coupe. The result is 750 hp and 700 pound-feet of torque, making the S7 the undisputed horsepower king of the supercar world. The suspension geometry was tweaked to compensate for the big boost in power, and the rear wing and aerodynamics were also modified to create a more stable feeling at speed. A video-linked rearview "mirror" was also added that allows the driver to see behind the car, since the new turbo system blocks rearward visibility.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Southern California performance guru Steve Saleen has been turning out a few S7 supercars a year since he introduced the road-going rocket in 2002. Back then a slinky sports car with 500 hp was impressive, but an escalating power war between Detroit, Germany and Italy has made 500 ponies a common claim. By engineering a forced induction system for his exclusive 7.0-liter V8, Saleen can now claim that the 750-horse S7 is the most powerful street car sold today. Each car is custom-made to order, and at $550,000 not many people can actually afford one.
Recent racing victories against Ferrari have helped prove the S7's mettle, and now that the Enzo is out of production the supercar club just got a little smaller. Sure it's large, ungainly, insanely expensive and totally impractical…but so what? If you've got the cash and a hankering for the most powerful street car money can buy, this would be one E-ticket ride. — Dan Kahn
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