This mid-engine American supercar was faster than a Lamborghini – but very few were actually sold
- When you think of supercars, a few brands come to mind
- But in 2000, a small US automaker launched a top-notch vehicle
- The supercar was faster than Lamborghinis and Ferraris of that era
Published on Mar 16, 2025 at 9:35 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Mar 14, 2025 at 12:49 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This mid-engine American-made supercar was faster than a Lamborghini – but very few were actually produced and sold.
When we think of supercars, there are several marques that come to mind first – Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati… you get the idea.
But in 2000, US carmaker Saleen launched its own mid-engine supercar with some impressive stats.
However, the vehicle wasn’t a huge commercial hit and these days you’re very unlikely to see one on the road.
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The American-made supercar could hit impressive speeds
When it comes to supercars, we all have our favorites – maybe you dream of owning a Maserati MC20 or have always wanted a Ferrari SF90 Stradale in your garage.
However, when you’re thinking of your dream supercar it’s unlikely to be the Saleen S7 – and that’s a bit of a shame really because it’s a very cool car.
The car was created by US-based Saleen Automotive, which was founded in the early 1980s by former racing driver Steven Saleen.
Saleen Automotive was mainly known for modifying Mustangs, but in 2000, it launched its flagship car: the Saleen S7.
The hand-built supercar was only America’s sixth mid-engine production sports car – following on from the likes of the Pontiac Fiero and the Vector W8.
It was unveiled at the iconic Monterey Motorsports Reunion in August of 2000 and came with an all-aluminum engine that was built entirely in-house paired with a lightweight carbon fiber body.
The Saleen S7 was originally released with a 7.0 liter V8 engine that kicked out 550 horsepower.
The Saleen S7 was faster than Ferraris and Lambos
And it was fast. So fast, in fact, that it could outpace Lamborghini or Ferrari models of the era.
The standard S7 could do 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in 2.8 seconds, and hit 100 mph (0-161 km/h) in an estimated 7.1 seconds.
In 2005, Saleen released a twin-turbo version that came with a boosted powerplant that could produce up to 750HP and was faster again with a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) of just 2.7 seconds, a 0-100mph (0-161km/h) in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 248mph (399km/h).
For context, the Lamborghini Murciélago can do 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 205mph (329km/h).
The Saleen S7 also looked incredibly cool, with sleek aerodynamic lines further boosted by scoops and spoilers that created Split Channel airflow throughout the car and butterfly doors.
But all that power didn’t come cheap, and when new, the Saleen S7 cost a little under $300,000.
Saleen produced the flagship model until 2009 and these days you don’t see too many of them on the road – but if you did fancy getting your hands on one, the S7 costs more today than it did originally, so you’d be looking to part with at least $500,000.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
