The folks at Saleen seem to have taken a shine to the product-striptease trick. In this case, its latest car, the 2015 Ford Mustang–based S302 is shaping up to be one of the firm’s most formidable creations despite the fact that we haven’t even seen a picture of the real thing, let alone driven it.
The base S302 “White Label” will be powered by the naturally aspirated 302-cubic-inch Coyote V-8 from the new Mustang GT, albeit tweaked a bit to produce 450 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque (rather than the factory’s 435 and 400), while “Yellow Label” and top-shelf “Black Label” models add a supercharger to the mix, bumping output to a whopping 640 horsepower and 565 lb-ft. A six-speed manual with a choice of 3.31:1 (standard), 3.55, or 3.73 rear ends or a paddle-shifted six-speed automatic with 3.15 or 3.55 rear axles will be tasked with power-shunting responsibilities, and a limited-slip differential will be standard on all models. Oh yeah, and each car will be numbered and marked with an engine plaque.
All models will ride on what Saleen is calling its Series S4 high-performance suspension, featuring retuned front and rear springs, while a fully adjustable coil-over suspension is optional. As on the Mustang GT, 13.9-inch front and 13.0-inch rear brakes, as well as four-piston front and single-piston rear calipers, are standard. A 15-inch, six-piston front and 14.0-inch, four-piston rear system is optional, with all rotors being cross-drilled and slotted. Staggered-width 20-inch wheels are the default and 19-inch Minilite-inspired wheels are optional, with all measuring 10 inches wide at the rear and nine inches wide in front.
The S302 profile rendering shows a Black Label model wearing big wheels, side skirts, a big spoiler, and Saleen’s trademark fender hashmarks—nothing surprising, yet it comes together pretty nicely. The Black Label model also gets its own front and rear fascias and a hood that features a “red butterfly” air intake. A convertible will also be offered, of course. We look forward to seeing the real thing sometime soon; we asked Saleen when that might happen, and it wouldn’t elaborate as to when it will produce an actual car or even a picture of an actual car. It’s all part of the striptease, remember?
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The spec sheet also outlines a variety of interior features and amenities; you can peruse that stuff in this PDF. Pricing for the S302 lineup will be announced at a later date, because of course.