Yahoo Autos Saleen Reportedly Building a Mid-Engine Sports Car
Saleen, the California-based Ford tuning company famous for its ultra-fast S7 supercar, is reportedly building an all-new four-cylinder mid-engine sports car called the S1, set to premiere at the L.A. Auto Show later in November.
According to China Daily, the S1 will be built in China by Jiangsu Saleen Automotive Technology, a joint venture firm established by Saleen and its Chinese partners in 2009. The car will be powered by a 2.3-liter turbocharged Ford four-cylinder engine making around 450 horsepower and 425 lb.-ft. of torque, according to Auto Guide.
Charles Wang, chairman and CEO of Jiangsu Saleen, told China Daily there will also be an electric version of the S1 sports car, though specs have yet to be revealed.
The Rugao Jiangsu Saleen plant where the S1 will be built will have the capacity to produce up to 150,000 cars a year once construction is completed in 2018. The joint venture plans on producing "all sorts of passenger cars including sedans, SUVs and crossovers" in addition to the mid-engine sports car.
Wang confirmed the Saleen S1 will be sold in America. According to China Daily, the company is planning to introduce a new sales model unique from a traditional dealership and from Tesla's direct sales - though it's not clear exactly how it will do so.
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