Saleen S7 $395,000

By : Micheal Frank

Exotic supercars are extreme in every sense. But what to make of this claim: According to the Saleen S7 press release, its aerodynamic ground effects are so effective, and create so much down force (what holds a car to the road at high speeds), that even if you drove the S7 upside down at 160 mph on some sort of Hot Wheels roller-coaster track that exploded into real-life scale, the car wouldn't lose its contact with the road. Of course they didn't explain how they know this, and, sorry, we're not volunteering to test out the theory.

Meanwhile, the S7 power plant is decidedly less outlandish than its ground effects. The motor is derived from a Ford Mustang, then deeply modified. It's made entirely of aluminum, has stainless-steel valves with titanium retainers, and a high vacuum dry sump and stainless-steel exhaust. It breathes through roof-mounted intakes and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Power output is a claimed 550 horsepower, with performance of less than four seconds to 60 mph and a top speed in excess of 200 mph.


The S7 can look beyond super--it can look cartoonish.

And the S7 has some fairly clever components: a video monitor instead of a rearview mirror (since how could you see anything aft via a conventional mirror, anyway?), and a removable steering wheel to ease entry and exit into the tight-fitting cabin.

But we still have to ask: With a new Lamborghini on the market, as well as a new Ferrari 575M Maranello coming, who wants a Ford-powered supercar?