Around back, the rear fascia wraps up and around the inset taillights and large gray license plate surround to tie the lower diffuser panel and its oval center-mounted exhaust outlets to the large rear decklid spoiler. Overall, the look is more subdued than Saleen Mustangs past, and not quite and stealthy as the SVT Mustang Cobra. Under the hood, the Mustang GT's 4.6-liter V8 engine is massaged to produce 325 horsepower, 25 more than stock. To get a real performance boost, try the Saleen S281-SC's 400-horsepower supercharged version of this motor. True power mongers with fatter wallets will want to wait for the upcoming Saleen S281-E, which the company says will generate a whopping 500 horsepower. Suspension modifications include Saleen Racecraft springs, shocks and anti-roll bars. Huge and handsome seven-spoke alloy wheels are stuffed into the wheel wells, wearing low-profile performance rubber and covering optional 14-inch brake rotors, which are the same size as those found on the Ford GT supercar. Inside, specially bolstered sport seats, high-grip racing-inspired pedals, a short-throw shift lever, a unique Saleen gauge cluster, special interior trim, and specific floor mats make the S281 different from a run-of-the-mill Mustang. Opt for the S281-SC or S281-E model, and you'll get a twin gauge pod atop the dash that displays supercharger boost pressure and air temperature. Ford Motor Company held the press conference for the unveiling of the 2005 Saleen S281, adding fuel to the rumor about corporate abandonment of the Special Vehicle Team (SVT) in Dearborn. Ford killed the SVT Focus after the 2004 model year, collaborated closely with Saleen to create the 2005 Ford GT, and last week announced that the 2006 SVT F-150 Lightning program was dead. With Saleen creating Mustangs with as much as 500 horsepower, does it make sense for Ford to align itself with Saleen in order to produce in-house performance products, the way Mercedes-Benz has done with AMG? Probably, but we really wanted the independent rear suspension that the next-generation Cobra was supposed to offer. Maybe that wicked Saleen S281-E will get it, instead. --Photos by Erik Hanson and Courtesy of Saleen
|
About Christian Wardlaw
Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
|
