It hasn’t been since the much-lauded Saleen S7 have we seen a bespoke sports car from the California based aftermarket Ford specialist but now that Steve Saleen has partnered with a savvy businessman with collateral in China, we get to see the birth of a new model, the S1. According to Car News China on their report of this unlikely of partnerships earlier yesterday (Nov. 15, 2017) Steve Saleen no longer has head seat at the table of his own company but instead is now Vice Chairman. Take a look at this all-new Saleen S1 model that debuted earlier this week in China, slated to make an appearance in Los Angeles.
Saleen to Debut Four Cylinder S1 Supercar at LA Auto Show – https://t.co/VCQlvIot8i pic.twitter.com/YmrqVOEJhq
— AutoGuide.com (@AutoGuide) November 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Jue/status/930270534822256640
The Saleen S1 itself isn’t an all-new design and takes its chassis from the now-defunct Artega GT which stole a couple of headlines back in 2009. In place of the V.W. sourced 296 HP V6 is 2.3 L turbocharged four-cylinder from Ford’s lineup of Ecoboost engines with 310 HP and 320 lb-ft. Back when the Artega GT was being reviewed, the nearest rival was the slightly smaller Lotus Evora so we can glean a general understanding of how this car will perform.
Saleen’s new owners, Jiangsu Secco Automobile Technology Corporation, is headed by Dr. Wang Xiaolin. Jiangsu has poured a significant amount of money into the construction of a $1.2 Billion auto plant that, when up and running, will have the capability to produce 150,000 units a year. Although the S1 will be made as a Halo car, Jiangsu hopes to use the Saleen name to produce a whole lineup of vehicles including sedans, SUV’s, and crossovers.
It seems its real niche, however, will come from electric cars, which the government of China seems to be pushing for. According to a speech from Dr. Wang Xiaolin on Saleen’s direction.
Electric cars at this time are being pushed by the government’s guidance. We hope to push new energy vehicles from China to be the forefront manufacturer to the world.”
As for Steve Saleen, this dream of building cars in China and importing them to the United States has been an idea brewing in his head for quite some time. According to Motor Authority, as far back as 2007, Steve Saleen worked with a New Jersey-based automotive company to help import Chinese vehicles into the United States, ultimately establishing a dealer network.
As the S1 proven chassis and bulletproof engine, I’m sure it’ll be a hit once it starts making its rounds. I’ll be curious as to how Saleen grows from here.
