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The Saleen S7 is to feature a new type of braking system from Newtech. The revolutionary full-contact brake system will be installed as original
equipment on the 2002 Saleen S7 supercar, making Saleen the brake company's first OE customer.
The full-contact brake system, fully developed by NewTech and its French affiliates, is composed of sensors and an Intelligent Braking System (IBS)
and a radically different single, circular pad that distributes pressure over the full 360-degree surface of the disc.
Compared to conventional brakes that use pads to apply pressure to only a small percentage of the disc, the NewTech brake is much higher
performing, virtually fade-free, costs less to install and produce and is much more durable.
Under the agreement, Saleen will handle the certification process by conducting an extensive road-testing program. NewTech, meanwhile, will
continue to develop its braking system to meet the needs of its customers, to whom it sells the system under licensing agreement.
Californian based Saleen have got together with British motorsport engineers Ray Mallock Limited, to produce a brand new sports coupe that might
just break the stereotype. Saleen are known in the US for small volume manufacture but are little known in the rest of the world as yet. Ray Mallock
Limited have been heavily involved in the British Touring Car series as well as providing consultancy to Aston Martin amongst others.
Carbon Fibre
The visually stunning car is a completely new design based on a space frame chassis onto which honeycomb composite reinforcing is grafted. The
whole chassis is then adorned with the carbon fibre bodywork.
The body is not just a stylists wet dream either. Extensive wind tunnel testing has resulted in the inclusion of full ground effects sculpting underneath
the car. The total ground effects package will allow the car to be driven at 160 mph upside down and still stay attached to the (theoretical upside
down) road! A no compromise approach was taken to the styling with maximising the top speed a key choice in the process.
Seven Litre V8
The weight distribution is 60/40 biased towards the rear of the car with the engine sitting amidships. Being an American car it is of course is a V8.
Seven litres of dry sumped V8! This subtle little powerplant is good for 550bhp which launches the car to 60mph in less than four seconds and onwards to speeds in excess of 200mph.
Given the job of stopping the 1250kg car are 14 and 15 inch vented discs with six pot calipers. These are mounted behind centre locking 19 inch alloys with skinny 275/30-19 and 355/25-19 tyres front and rear.
The interior features an unusual seating arrangement with the driver positioned slightly closer to the centre of the car than the passenger. This is
intended to improve the driver's ergonomics, and weight distribution. It also helps accommodate taller drivers.
Video 'Mirror'
The interior is trimmed in leather and suede with aluminium and body coloured detailing. Creature comforts include air-con, electric windows,
adjustable pedals and CD changer. The S7 also features a gimmicky live video rear view 'mirror' system with a camera mounted in the rear of the car
feeding video images to a screen in the front. In true supercar style, the car sports gull-wing doors which makes getting in and out whilst in small supermarket car parking spaces so much easier.
Luckily for us the Saleen will be available in the UK as well as in the USA, Europe and the Middle East. It will be built in Saleen's Californian factory for
the US market and in a factory in the UK for the European and Middle Eastern sales. The cars will be churned out at a rate of about a hundred a
year. Production is targeted for four years. The US retail price is is $375,000 (~£250,000) which some might say is a little on the steep side for a car with no direct heritage to speak of.
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