Saleen has decided to deck out a EV (Electric Vehicle) in full tuner clothing. What are they thinking?
Well, they were probably thinking something like, cha-ching. And they were also likely considering what a grand opportunity it would be to get into the EV tuner market as it is just emerging—and the Tesla S is the perfect car to kick off this new page in performance history.
As you may know, the Tesla S can sprint to 60 mph in around 4.4-seconds, and on a good day a P85 can hand a 2014 Corvette Stingray its butt on a platter. The Tesla Model S “P85+” features a larger 85 kWh battery and a beefed up high performance drive inverter that can deliver more power. A lot more power. Yeah, that sounds like a pretty good base from which to create a new Saleen to me.
What Saleen will be doing with the FourSixteen is giving it a nice little cosmetic upgrade, as you can see above. However, that is not the most interesting part. They are also delivering it with a new 3-phase, four pole AC induction motor and upgraded driveline. The result will be quicker acceleration and better torque management. Keep in mind that full torque is delivered at around 0 RPM, which is a clever way of describing the moment right before you mash your foot to the floor.
The Foursixteen’s suspension has been upgraded, stability control has been improved, and carbon ceramic disc brakes can be supplied for extra security. The dash gets some carbon fiber accents and the seats receive Alcantara suede inlays. The center console has been redesigned, contrast stitching adds a little pizzazz, and a cup holder finally makes it into the Tesla S design.
$152,000 rounds out the package deal, along with a 4-year/50,000 warranty. Get your own sweet sixteen right here.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech
Eric has written for over a decade. Then one day he created Urbasm.com, a site for every guy.