Now that Steve Saleen has regained control of his namesake brand, as announced in April 2012, he’s ready to resume building Saleen Mustangs. At the Los Angeles Auto Show last November, he announced the new 700-horsepower Saleen 351, a name that brings back memories of the legendary Saleen S351s from the 1990s.
“Since regaining the Saleen brand, I really want to bring it all together with the heritage that Saleen is known for,” Saleen said. “With the current Saleen (with a Coyote 5.0L, or 302 cubic-inches) Mustang, it provides all the right features to bring back and update the S351 model.”
The Saleen 351 will be based on a Saleen-engineered, 351 cubic-inch version of the Coyote 5.0-liter. With a Saleen 296 supercharger system, it will produce 700 horsepower and 655 ft. lbs of torque. Saleen will also add a high-performance clutch to the six-speed transmission and provide a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio.
Other Saleen 351 equipment includes the S4 suspension, 20-inch wheel and tire package, multi-piston brake system, and Saleen design elements that include the Red Butterfly Center Ram Air Induction that allows cooler outside air into the induction system under open throttle conditions.
“Everything about this project has been mindful of the goal to create the most potent Mustang on the market,” said Al Wagner, VP of Engineering. “I think we have certainly pushed the bar in the production Mustang segment with our 351 offering. Once the project came together I couldn’t help but think - if the 302 Mustang is using a Coyote engine, the 351 is definitely the gray wolf of the class.”
To find out more about Saleen, visit www.saleen.com.