2005 Saleen S281-E Preview

What It Is

Saleen is one of the best-known creators of aftermarket performance Mustangs. For nearly two decades, the company has been tweaking America's favorite performance car to extract more power, better handling, and improved braking. Garishly outfitted with signature decals, scoops and spoilers, Saleen Mustangs have sold in small but reliable numbers, enough to allow the small company to perform its magic on a wide range of Ford products from the Focus to the Thunderbird. Accompanying the 2005 redesign of the Mustang is the 2005 Saleen S281, originally introduced at the California Auto Show last fall. Three versions of the Saleen S281 are available to consumers: the standard S281, the S281-SC, and the S281-E. Each Saleen Mustang gets modified styling front and rear, boosts in power, suspension modifications, upgraded braking components, and unique interior trim. For extreme performance, enthusiasts will want to pony up at least $65,000 for the new 2005 Saleen S281-E, which is available as a coupe or a convertible.

What's Under the Hood

"E" stands for Extreme, and with a 500-horsepower engine generating about 480 lb.-ft. of torque, this Saleen S281-E has no problem living up to its name. Only the 4.6-liter V8 motor's original block is retained during the modification - Saleen replaces everything else and re-assembles the engine in-house. The S281-E contains a forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons, and special aluminum cylinder heads with unique valve springs and performance camshafts. The result is an engine with a higher redline and more power. Then Saleen installs a twin-screw supercharger to blow the horsepower and torque ratings into the stratosphere. With all this firepower on board, Saleen claims that the S281-E will run to 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds and can blaze the quarter mile in 12.1 seconds at 117 mph. Other engine modifications include a Saleen PowerFlash performance engine management system, a variable design muffler system that reduces engine backpressure while creating an intoxicating wail at speed, and a free-flow air cleaner. A heavy-duty, close-ratio Saleen six-speed manual transmission manages the muscular mill, shunting power through a high-performance flywheel and clutch disc assembly to a custom-balanced driveshaft and Saleen MaxGrip limited-slip rear differential.