Saleen’s S5S Raptor was one of a few show stoppers at the 2008 New York Auto Show, and now it looks like the car has a serious shot at making the transition from concept to road car. If the car does get the green light, it could even show up in Saleen dealerships as early as 2011.
Chris Theodore, vice chairman and chief technical officer of Saleen, told Automobile that the S5S Raptor does have a legitimate shot at making production. “Yes, the car has the potential for reality. We are well aware that the sweet spot in supercars is between about $150K and $200K.”
While that endorsement falls short of guaranteeing the S5S Raptor’s production, it does indicate that Saleen execs are heavily considering production.
Theodore also says that if the project is given the go-ahead, prototypes could be on the road and testing within six months, with full production beginning two years after that. “If we decide to do it, sometime in 2009 we’d have a running prototype,” he said.
Saleen is touring the S5S Raptor with 200 of its dealers to gauge reaction. While we can’t speak for the dealers, as car enthusiasts, we sure hope Saleen decides to put the S5S Raptor into production.
04/30, 4:09 PM
posted by:
GIUGIK1
I said what what in the butt
I said what what in the butt
I said what what in the butt
in the butt..
04/30, 4:12 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
Breaking news…Nobody in the LLN forums to buy an S5S raptor. Why would you want one over a Ford GT anyway?
04/30, 4:18 PM
posted by:
bgco88
I would.
04/30, 4:29 PM
posted by:
AmericanMade
Speak for yourself jackass. I would too.
04/30, 4:49 PM
posted by:
e36m
People can afford there morgage payments let alone this car. Supercar market is going to be flooded soon.
04/30, 5:15 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
e36m: that’s about the dumbest comment I’ve heard in a while. People who can afford supercars likely don’t have mortgages. Alimony, maybe.
04/30, 5:41 PM
posted by:
Astonman12
they dont even make the Ford GT anymore, Madcapp. Finding a GT might even be hard.
04/30, 6:01 PM
posted by:
surya
I wish I had the cash for this car. IT is definitely an awesome piece of engineering. I have a lot of respect for Saleen. The performance must be insane with the looks to boot! I dont see this car NOT doing well.
04/30, 6:41 PM
posted by:
El Aleman
BUILD IT!!!!!
04/30, 6:52 PM
posted by:
Rafa LL
Madcapp: I would too, looks like you’re eating your own $h¡t.
I like this Gallardo… I mean, S5S.
04/30, 11:28 PM
posted by:
A4
they make saleen dealerships sound like theyre as common as fords
05/01, 1:18 AM
posted by:
GS400
Never seen one on the road in my life.
So who cares about these little niche cars.
Tired of car modders trying to be special and start building cars………… even Shelby can’t be successful (with Series 1). Failiure.
Just stop.
05/01, 3:37 AM
posted by:
Stridder44
This car looks badass.
05/01, 10:56 AM
posted by:
moto-racer13
saleens are just total garbage. Its an overpriced low tech sports car designed to look like a European exotic. The current Saleen S7 is such a copy of the Mclaren F1, no originality in its design. This Saleen homo calls himself an exotic auto maker, but all the parts on that car are built by other companies and he just puts it together. Who would want to spend $500,000 on a pushrod V8? A Ford pushrod V8!!!
05/01, 11:10 AM
posted by:
jumpoffit
the first Koenigsegg i believe used a Ford Engine, and that car was about half a mil as well, would you pay for that as well ? look at the Weber’s Faster One that uses a omg, wait for it….. a Chevy sourced LS7 engine!! *gasp*
05/01, 11:22 AM
posted by:
moto-racer13
well an LS7 engine I guess is ok, but a ford pushrod?? Never. Koenigsegg used to use a ford engine back when they were just starting up, but the Ford engines proved to be very unreliable and unable to handle to type of performance they wanted out of the car. Now Koenigsegg makes its own engines.