Saleen S1 History

Unveiled at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, the S1 was the first car developed entirely by Saleen since the S7 ended production in 2009. It is a strict two-seater built on an aluminum tub wrapped in carbon fiber, weighing approximately 2,685 lb. Power comes from a Saleen-developed 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 450 hp and 350 lb-ft, mid-mounted and driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual. Saleen claimed a 0–60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a 180-mph top speed.

Customer deliveries began in 2018 at a starting price near US$100,000. Production was planned at up to 1,500 units annually, with a Chinese joint-venture (Jiangsu Saleen) intended to supplement North American output; that venture subsequently encountered significant difficulties.

Saleen also offers an S1 Race track-only variant, and launched a one-make Saleen Cup racing series with SRO Motorsports Group in 2019. The S1 represents the company's bid to compete in the boutique American sports car segment at a price far below the original S7.