Saleen S7
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The Saleen S7 is a limited production, hand built high-performance automobile developed jointly by Saleen, Hidden Creek Industries, Phil Frank Design, and Ray Mallock Ltd. with RML taking full credit designing and developing the S7,[4] and produced solely by Saleen in Irvine, California. It is the first car produced by Saleen not based on an existing design.[citation needed] The S7 debuted on August 19, 2000 at the Monterey Historic Races. From 2000 until 2004, the S7 featured a naturally aspirated V8 engine with 550 horsepower. In 2005, the S7 was replaced by the S7 Twin Turbo, which featured a more powerful twin-turbo system that boosted engine power to 750 horsepower (760 PS/559 kW) and the top speed to an estimated 200 miles per hour (321 km/h).[5]
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[edit] Development
The Saleen S7 was Saleen's first car to be completely developed digitally using tools such as Unigraphics and Rhinoceros 3D.[citation needed] Steve Saleen, Billy Tally and Phil Frank are credited as the trio behind the concept, construction and creativity of the car with S.A. "Tony" Johnson a primary financial investor. Ray Mallock Ltd. (RML) of the United Kingdom was chosen to assist with the digital design of the chassis and suspension system, as well as to later build the first several S7-Rs for motorsport use. The engine development was headed by Billy Tally, borrowed some internal dimensions from an existing Ford 427cid engine casting and engineered to be eight inches (203.2 mm) shorter than its Ford counterpart. The exterior and interior design and development was carried out by long time Saleen design consultant Phil Frank of Phil Frank Design, LLC.
[edit] Overview
[edit] Exterior
The body of the car, made entirely from carbon fiber, incorporates the use of scoops, spoilers, and other aerodynamic features to create split-channel airflow throughout the car, and at 160 miles per hour (257 km/h), the car creates its own weight in downforce. Theoretically, the car produces enough downforce to drive upside down.[6]
[edit] Interior
The interior of the Saleen S7 was designed to be both luxurious and functional. Leather appears throughout the cabin, with aluminum accents, and the S7 comes with a set of custom-fit luggage. Because of the car's mid-engine layout, it has two trunks, front and rear. Other features include an LCD monitor, rear-view camera, quick-release steering-wheel and a 240 mile per hour (386 km/h) speedometer. The cabin is of an asymmetrical layout, with the custom-fitted driver's seat positioned toward the center both to improve the driver's visibility and center his weight in the vehicle.
[edit] Chassis
The chassis comprises a space frame-derived design consisting 4130 lightweight steel and aluminum honeycomb composite reinforcing panels. It is divided into bolt-fastened sub-assemblies to allow for rapid access to critical subsystems. The light weight of the chassis allows for the car to weigh a mere 2750 pounds (1247 kg).
[edit] Engine
The Saleen S7 sports a 7-liter (7008 cc/427.6 cu in), naturally-aspirated, all-aluminum OHV V8 engine, mounted at 90° approximately in the middle of the chassis for a balanced mid-engine layout delivering power to the rear wheels while keeping the center of gravity towards the middle of the car, improving overall performance. Each cylinder is lubricated via a dry sump system, has two stainless steel valves per cylinder, a compression ratio of 10.0:1, and a bore and stroke of 4.125 and 4.00 inches (104.9 and 101.6 mm), respectively.[7] It generates a maximum power of 550 horsepower (558 PS/410 kW) at 6400 rpm and a maximum torque of 525 foot-pounds (712 N·m) at 4000 rpm.[7] The redline rpm is indicated at 6500 rpm.[7]
The engine is connected to a 6-speed manual transaxle with full synchromesh, a 4-plate clutch, and a limited slip differential.
| Gear | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Final Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratio | 2.46:1 | 2.06:1 | 1.47:1 | 1.18:1 | 0.958:1 | 0.74:1 | 3.22:1 |
[edit] Performance
The S7 can accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in an estimated 3.4 seconds, and to 100 miles per hour in an estimated 8.1 seconds.[7] It can complete a standing quarter mile in an estimated 11.75 seconds, reaching 126 miles per hour (203 km/h).[7] The maximum speed of the car is above 200 miles per hour (322 km/h).[7]
[edit] S7 Twin Turbo
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The Saleen S7 Twin Turbo is an updated revision of the original S7. Although the initial concept for the S7 incorporated twin-turbochargers, they were not used on the production car. The twin-turbocharged version later developed in 2005 went on sale for $585,296 USD (approx. GB£295,559, c.2007/€435,203, c.2007), replacing standard S7 production.
[edit] Changes
The engine was upgraded with two Garrett turbochargers producing approximately 6 psi (0.4 bar) of boost, increasing the maximum power to 750 horsepower (760 PS/559 kW) at 6300 rpm, and the maximum torque to 700 lb-ft (949 N•m) at 4800 rpm. The front and rear diffusers and the rear spoiler were also reworked to increase downforce by 60%.[9]
| Gear | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Final Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratio | 2.86:1 | 1.61:1 | 1.14:1 | 0.96:1 | 0.81:1 | 0.64:1 | 3.70:1 |
[edit] Competition package
In 2006,[10] Saleen offered an optional competition package for the S7 Twin Turbo. The package offers a 33% increase in power, to a total of an approximate 1000 horsepower (1014 PS/746 kW), as well as changes to the suspension, a revised front and rear diffuser, and an optional aerodynamic package with carbon fiber front and rear spoilers.[10]
Performance:
- 0-60: 3.2 sec[11]
- 0-100: 6.2 sec[11]
- 0-200: 27 sec
- Quarter-mile: 10.6 sec[11]
- Top speed: 248 mph (399 km/h)[11]
[edit] S7-R
The Saleen S7-R is a racing version of the standard, naturally-aspirated S7, produced from 2000 to present-day. It was designed to compete in grand tourer-style motorsports series and events such as the American Le Mans Series, FIA GT Championship, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ray Mallock Ltd. originally built the S7-Rs in their workshops in Britain, before Saleen assumed S7-R assembly with the French Oreca squad executing final outfitting in 2006. A total of fourteen S7-Rs have been built so far.
[edit] Development
The S7-R was developed as a replacement for Saleen's efforts in grand tourer racing with modified Ford Mustangs, in an attempt to take on the Dodge Viper GTS-R and Chevrolet Corvette C5-R in the more powerful GTS/GT1 classes. Unlike its two main rivals, the S7-Rs would not require as much modification in order to become competitive. The exterior was only slightly modified to meet racing regulations, including the addition of a small wheel lip on the front fender, a revised wheel well diffuser vent and the addition of a race wing to compensate for the loss of downforce resulting from the use of a regulation diffuser.[12]
The overall weight of the S7-R was lowered to a regulation minimum of 2535 lb (1150 kg).[12] This was achieved by removing production equipment or replacing it with lightweight materials, including lightweight versions of each of the individual carbon fiber pieces that constitute the body. Like the production S7, it uses the same 7-liter (7000 cc/427 cu in), naturally-aspirated, all-aluminum V8 engine, mounted at 90°.[12] However, it produces a greater maximum power of 600 horsepower (608 PS/448 kW) at 6400 rpm and a maximum torque of 550 foot-pounds (746 N•m) at 5400 rpm, although this is restricted by organisers with restrictor plates.[12]
[edit] Racing history
The first S7-R produced by RML was completed in late 2000, then immediately shipped to the United States to make its debut in the American Le Mans Series event at Laguna Seca. Run by Saleen-Allen Speedlab, the car finished in 26th place. For 2001, the first customer chassis would be completed, and their respective teams would enter various championships: Fordahl Motorsports ran in the Grand American Road Racing Championship, RML would run the European Le Mans Series, and Konrad Motorsport would run both ALMS and ELMS.
The S7-R would quickly show its capabilities, when Konrad finished in sixth place at the 12 Hours of Sebring, earning their first class victory. Fordahl would win seven Grand American events en route to finishing second in the class championship, while RML won four ELMS events and won that championship by a mere point over the Konrad Saleens. Saleen-Allen Speedlab would also earn a podium finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with an 18th place finish overall.
For 2002, Konrad Motorsport would concentrate mostly on the American Le Mans Series (the ELMS having been dissolved following 2001), while Park Place Racing took over Fordahl's entry in Grand American. Newcomer Graham Nash Motorsport would both the British GT and Spanish GT Championships. Park Place won four races and earned their first championship title, while Graham Nash would win nine British GT and four Spanish GT races, earning them the title in both series. Konrad Motorsport however struggled against a stronger Corvette Racing team and could not score any victories, but were able to finish second in the championship.
Konrad Motorsport chose to move their Saleen squad to Europe in order to compete in the FIA GT Championship in 2003, leaving North America without a full-season competitor for the S7-R as Park Place abandoned the Grand American championship. Graham Nash would join Konrad in FIA GT, earning a sixth place finish in the championship. For 2004, Saleen would have a resurgence of teams as RML returned to run FIA GT, Dominique Dupuy's DDO team entered the FFSA GT Championship, Konrad assisted the new Vitaphone Racing, and ACEMCO Motorsports purchased two brand now S7-Rs, modified to better competed in the American Le Mans Series. Vitaphone would earn three victories in FIA GT en route to a fourth place in the championship, while DDO earned two victories in FFSA GT.
Fortunes would quickly turn for the S7-Rs in the 2005 season. Konrad and Graham Nash would see their racing efforts downsized as the teams hit economic problems. Vitaphone Racing moved on from the S7-R and raced a Maserati MC12 to the FIA GT championship. This left ACEMCO to take second in the American Le Mans Series, while DDO would earn the only Saleen wins that year with three.
In an attempt to rebound from 2005, Saleen chose to concentrate on select series and events. ACEMCO would drop from the American Le Mans Series in order to concentrate solely on entering the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans where they earned an 11th place finish, the best ever by a Saleen. Oreca would be chosen to built new S7-R chassis with upgrades to make them more competitive, which led to the team earning two victories in the Le Mans Series. In FIA GT, Zakspeed would take over as the factory squad with Balfe Racing running as a privateer. Zakspeed would manage to earn two victories and earn themselves fourth in the championship.
For 2007, Zakspeed was forced to abandon their FIA GT effort as the team went bankrupt during the off-season. ACEMCO also was forced to withdraw and offer their S7-Rs for sale. Oreca would build two more chassis, with one going to the Italian Racing Box squad who would compete alongside Oreca in the Le Mans Series. Oreca would win four races during the season.
[edit] References
- 2001 Saleen S7 Introduction. The Auto Channel. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
- 2006 Saleen S7 Specifications. Saleen, Incorporated. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
[edit] Citations
- ^ a b Concept Carz: 2001 Saleen S7. Concept Carz. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
- ^ Robson, Graham. The Illustrated Directory of Sports Cars. MotorBooks, pp. 430–433. ISBN 0-7603-1418-9.
- ^ Lamm, John. Velocity: Supercar Revolution. MotorBooks, pp. 236–237. ISBN 0-7603-2596-0.
- ^ Wallace A. Wyss (June 2005). At Ford, a Supercar Delivers a Super Headache. Car and Driver. Retrieved on 2007-11-11.
- ^ Kim Wolfkill (September 2006). First Drives - Saleen S7 Twin Turbo. Road & Track. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ Gorzelany, Jim (2005-10-20). 2006 Saleen S7 Model Update: Gone in a Blink. ForbesAutos. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
- ^ a b c d e f Motor Trend: Saleen S7 pp. 1-4. Motor Trend. Retrieved on 2007-06-05.
- ^ a b c Concept Carz: Saleen S7 TT. Concept Carz. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
- ^ Kenny Jr., David; Walker, Howard & McCann, Elizabeth (2007), “Exotic Car Buyers Guide 2007: Saleen S7 Twin Turbo”, Exotic Car Buyers Guide: p. 121
- ^ a b Fast-Autos: 2006 Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo Competition. Fast-Autos. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
- ^ a b c d Supercars.net: Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo. Supercars.net. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
- ^ a b c d Road Test: 2002 Saleen S7R. Motor Trend. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
[edit] External links
- Saleen - Official S7 Twin Turbo website
- Ray Mallock Ltd. (RML) - Developers of the S7
- Phil Frank Design, LLC - Designers of the S7
- World Sports Racing Prototypes - Saleen S7-R chassis history
