Saleen S5S Raptor

With the Ford GT no longer being produced Saleen sees an opportunity for a genuine American supercar to challenge the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini. Demonstrating its seriousness is the S5S Raptor it unveiled on day two of the New York Auto Show. The mid-engined machine is powered by an E85 ethanol fuelled supercharged 5.0-litre V8, which produces in the region of 650bhp. That's enough - Saleen suggests - for the Raptor to offer a 0-62mph time of well under four seconds and a top speed in excess of 200mph. It'll be built on an aluminium box section chassis with a composite body, this lightweight construction allowing it to deliver those extraordinary performance figures.

Production is pencilled in for around 2010, Saleen having plenty of experience of producing supercars - being involved both in Ford's GT build and also having produced its mighty S7 in the past. And it's looking to Europe for sales. If the Raptor promises to deliver all that performance at the anticipated £100,000 being mentioned as a sticker price then Saleen will undoubtedly cause a bit of an upset among the established supercar hierarchy.

Tuesday March 25

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Paris Motor Show 2008Paris Motor Show, 4-19th October 2008