Saleen opens orders for S1 supercar after nearly a decade of development
Saleen has opened orders for the mid-engined S1, first unveiled in 2017. In the US, the road-legal S1 Street starts at approximately €143,000, while the track-focused S1 Race starts at around €223,000. Both versions produce 331 kW and 576 Nm.
S1 retains 331 kW output
According to Saleen's current specifications, the S1 produces 331 kW and 576 Nm. The Street version accelerates from 0 to 96 km/h in 3.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 275 km/h. The Race completes the same sprint in 2.9 seconds and reaches 290 km/h.
Saleen does not specify the engine's displacement or origin on its current order page. At the 2017 unveiling, the company described an in-house-developed 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that also produced 331 kW, but torque at the time was 475 Nm.
The original car's aluminium structure and carbon-fibre body resulted in a weight of around 1,218 kg. Saleen still emphasises the carbon-fibre body and lightweight chassis, but has not published an updated, exact kerb weight.
Pricing puts the S1 up against serious competition
The S1 Street starts at $160,000, equivalent to approximately €143,000 at the exchange rate on 8 October. Saleen requires a refundable reservation deposit of $1,000, or around €893. The Race version starts at $250,000, or approximately €223,000, with a deposit of around €1,786.
At this price point, the S1 must compete in Europe with much larger sports car brands with more stable production networks. Saleen's advantage is therefore not price or outright power, but low production volumes, a mid-engined layout and a brand image derived from the S7.
Orders are open, but the production schedule remains unsettled
Saleen is now accepting reservations, but has not announced a firm start date for series production or dates for the first deliveries. Production volumes have not been confirmed either.
This is the most important caveat in the S1 story. The car was first shown to the public in late 2017, and the engine description, price and the company's production plans have all changed since then. Opening orders now brings the project a little closer to customers, but after nearly a decade of development, the next meaningful milestone is actual series production.
