Saleen S5S Raptor

[venom800tt]

Yar, new Saleen!

Originally Posted by Autoblog

Though Saleen won't be officially unveiling its new supercar, the S5S Raptor, on stage until tomorrow, we've got pics and details for you now. Though slated to slot below the hardcore S7 in Saleen's lineup, the S5S Raptor looks no less the part of a high-powered high-performance sports car. It's powered by a supercharged 5.0L engine mounted amidships producing around 650 horsepower and 630 lb-ft. of churn on a steady diet of E85 ethanol.

Developed as a collaboration between Saleen and specialty builder ASC -- both of which are owned by the same private equity firm -- the car is plenty of tech and a bit of throwback. The aluminum chassis 2-seater can get from 0-60 in a supercar-standard 3.2 seconds. When it's time to stop, six-pot calipers hidden by 20-inch wheels clamp down on 15-inch rotors up front. The retro bit: a six-speed manual gearbox. A paddle-shifting sequential is also in the works and may be ready when the car goes into production in 2010. Compared to the S7, the S5S is another relative domestic bargain at only $185,000.

We'll bring you live shots of the S5S Raptor tomorrow when it officially debuts, but until then, check out the gallery of shots below.

New York 2008: Saleen S5S Raptor revealed - Autoblog

This car amuses Venom greatly. One of the more original looking modern supercars too...

[Dr. Feelgood]

Oh snap...

Looks a touch like a Volkswagen W12. The basic shape is a bit bland I think. I reckon I'd pass on it. I like the S7 more...

[Nik]

I do not like it but are you suprised about that Venom .

[DenimTiger]

Wow. This really is a stunning car, certainly an American vehicle taking the aesthetics fight to the Europeans. There are a few problems from what I've seen though...

I admire Saleen and they make great muscle cars and superb straight-line speed cars. I just don't think their engineers can create a suspension setup worthy of a car that looks like this. Compact, aggressive. You'd expect it to go around corners like an F430, but you know it won't.

There also appear to be a few... Erm... Well, look, there are certain images that do not flatter this car. Like the ones where the body panels look mismatched and loose. Not a good thing.

The rear lights are cute, attempting the European style of LED lamps, but the cluster-lamps on this thing look tacky and second-rate. They're not neat and clear like on an Audi, they're not really accentuating the shape, more just... Well, being a cluster of lights in the fashion of the sort you put on a Christmas tree.

It's definitely pretty though, probably the first American car to attempt a sensible European style for a sportscar. For that it gets the thumbs up from me ^_^

[pedro.malheiro]

what a car just dont like very much the back view... but the car looks realy good

[venom800tt]

Originally Posted by DenimTiger

Wow. This really is a stunning car, certainly an American vehicle taking the aesthetics fight to the Europeans. There are a few problems from what I've seen though...

I admire Saleen and they make great muscle cars and superb straight-line speed cars. I just don't think their engineers can create a suspension setup worthy of a car that looks like this. Compact, aggressive. You'd expect it to go around corners like an F430, but you know it won't.

There also appear to be a few... Erm... Well, look, there are certain images that do not flatter this car. Like the ones where the body panels look mismatched and loose. Not a good thing.

The rear lights are cute, attempting the European style of LED lamps, but the cluster-lamps on this thing look tacky and second-rate. They're not neat and clear like on an Audi, they're not really accentuating the shape, more just... Well, being a cluster of lights in the fashion of the sort you put on a Christmas tree.

It's definitely pretty though, probably the first American car to attempt a sensible European style for a sportscar. For that it gets the thumbs up from me ^_^

Well, the S7 was definitely NOT a straight line car, and was capable of excellent handling, especially in race trim. I have no doubts the S5S will handle well if they decide to produce it.

[DenimTiger]

Originally Posted by venom800tt

Well, the S7 was definitely NOT a straight line car, and was capable of excellent handling, especially in race trim. I have no doubts the S5S will handle well if they decide to produce it.

You can't honestly compare an S7 to a Ferrari. There's been an American car that could compete with the breed of European supercars. No offense, but take a good look at the C6 Corvette. Rear suspension by leaf springs? Are you kidding me?

[crazy 989]

erm doesnt matter what the hell they use, its how its utilised - the c6 covette is an amazing car, and yes it can corner, and S7 dude. that thing can corner much like a ferrari, I mean otherwise it would do very poorly in GT races id imagine - which it does not

[Red Spar]

Originally Posted by DenimTiger

You can't honestly compare an S7 to a Ferrari. There's been an American car that could compete with the breed of European supercars. No offense, but take a good look at the C6 Corvette. Rear suspension by leaf springs? Are you kidding me?

Someone has had their mind corrupted by watching too much Top Gear and listening to every word Jeremy Clarkson says as gospel.

The Corvette uses a transverse monoleaf spring. This is not a 60's truck setup, it's much more sophisticated than that.

This is what the system looks like:





Advantages to leaf spring setups:

* Less unsprung weight. Coil springs contribute to unsprung weight; the less there is, the more quickly the wheel can respond at a given spring rate.
* Less weight. The C4 Corvette's composite front leaf weighed 1/3 as much as the pair of conventional coil springs it would replace. Volvo reported that the single composite leaf spring used in the rear suspension of the 960 Wagon had the same mass as just one of the two springs it replaced.[7]
* Weight is positioned lower. Coil springs and the associated chassis hard mounts raise the center of gravity of the car.
* Superior wear characteristics. The Corvette's composite leaf springs last longer than coils, though in a car as light as the Corvette, the difference is not especially significant. No composite Corvette leaf has ever been replaced due to fatigue failure, though steel leafs from 1963 to 1983 have been. As of 1980, the composite spring was an option on the C3.
* As used on the Corvette, ride height can be adjusted by changing the length of the end links connecting the leaf to the suspension arms. This allows small changes in ride height with minimal effects on the spring rate.
* Also as used on the late model Corvette, the leaf spring acts as an anti-roll bar, allowing for smaller and lighter bars than if the car were equipped with coil springs. As implemented on the C3 and C4 rearend with a rigid central mount, the anti-roll effect does not occur.

Disadvantages

* Packaging can be problematic; the leaf must span from one side of the car to the other. This can limit applications where the drivetrain, or another part, is in the way.
* Materials expense. Steel coils are commodity items; a single composite leaf spring costs more than two of them.
* Design complexity. Composite monoleafs allow for considerable variety in shape, thickness, and materials. They are inherently more expensive to design, particularly in performance applications.
* Cost of modification. Due to the specialized design and packaging, changing spring rates would require a custom unit. Coil springs in various sizes and rates are available very inexpensively.
* Susceptibility to damage. Engine fluids and exhaust modifications like cat-back removal might weaken or destroy composite springs over time. The leaf spring is more susceptible to heat related damage than conventional steel springs.
* Perception. Like pushrod engines, the leaf spring has a stigma that overshadows its advantages.



On what is this you can't compare an S7 to a Ferrari?!?!

Lets see...

Saleen S-7 PERFORMANCE DATA
Acceleration: 0-60 mph, sec 3.9
Acceleration: 0-100 mph, sec 8.1
Quarter mile, sec/mph 11.75/126
0-100-0 mph, sec 12.6
Braking, 60-0 mph, ft 120
Skidpad, g 1.0
600-ft slalom, mph 65.0


Top speed, mph 200-plus

^ This isn't supercar status enough for ya?!?!?! (and this was back in 2000)

[DenimTiger]

Straightline speed is not what I was referring to. Also, the Corvette has a rubbish interior, like most American cars. And I think it was on Top Gear where they pointed out that the whole back of the car is made of what appears to be some sort of 0.5mm thick plastic.