Back in the saddle, Steve Saleen has returned to the car that made him famous through the past few decades. While he has recently spent some time working with Camaros and Challengers, his current company, SMS Supercars, has unveiled a prototype 2011 Saleen Mustang.
Photos: SMS Supercars
The normally aspirated 302 4V is said to make 440 hp and 400 ft-lb of torque through intake, cylinder head and exhaust improvements, along with a new calibration and some other refinements. According to Saleen, these result in a 0 to 60 time of 4.5 seconds and quarter mile data of 13.5 seconds at 116 mph.
The SMS Mustang is fitted with stiffer springs, new shocks, sway bars, bushings and a Watts link rear suspension. Pirelli PZero High Performance 275/35ZR20 tires on 20" x 9" five-spoke alloy wheels are found out front, while the 275/40ZR20 tires on 20" x 10" alloys look after the rear.
In the SMS cockpit, you'll find leather and Alcantara-upholstered seats, leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel and a 200 mph gauge cluster. The standard Shaker 500 stereo and Ford's SYNC interface are included. The typical model identification plates will be supplemented by Steve's own signature.
Revised bodywork, as you can see in the photos, includes redesigned front and rear fascia, side skirts and hood. Newly-interpreted quarter window panels shake off the "cover-em-up" approach and simply add some interesting detail. According to the company, an optional ram air hood will also be available, using throttle-actuated openings when the pedal meets metal.
Later this summer, the company will release a supercharged version that should reach 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and bless your time slip with 12.1 second and 119 mph data. An SMS-developed, Roots-style supercharger is expected to push the 5-liter's output over the 535-hp level, with 450 ft-lb. of torque as well. The patent-pending SMS Six Pack intercooler will also be a significant part of this model's design. Six cylindrical micro-fin intercoolers significantly increase cooling and airflow efficiency and use a single pass coolant flow.
Steve was also mumbling quietly about a future SMS Mustang version called 351X. No details were being handed out at this point, except for a promise of eye-popping performance.
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Latest Mustang from SMS
Originally Posted by Gordon McDonald
Back in the saddle, Steve Saleen has returned to the car that made him famous through the past few decades. While he has recently spent some time working with Camaros and Challengers, his current company, SMS Supercars, has unveiled a prototype 2011 Saleen Mustang.
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