| WHOA! |
| By Marcus Amick |
Published
05/7/2008
|
Living
| Unrated |
|
|
|
2008 Saleen Sterling Edition
Chances are that, like most, I’ll never get an opportunity to ride in a spaceship, after dreaming about it as a kid. But after taking a spin in the 2008 Saleen Sterling Edition, I’m guessing I now have a pretty good idea of what the experience might feel like.
The limited edition car, built in honor of Saleen’s 25th anniversary, features a twin-screw supercharged V-8 that pumps out 620 horsepower and 600 lf.-ft. of torque with a 0-60 time of 4.2 seconds. And you can feel it as soon as you hit that push button start and press on the gas. The Sterling’s speedometer shows a top speed of 200 mph, but the car is governed to not exceed 150 mph. No comment on how we found that out.
The Sterling, a limited edition spin on Saleen’s S302 Extreme, is built from the shell of a Mustang as part of the manufacturer’s partnership with Ford Motor Co. But practically everything else on and in the Sterling is built by Saleen or exclusive to the Troy based car company.
Distinctive exterior features on the Sterling include an aluminum hood with heat vents, front carbon splitter, rear spoiler and wing, and 20 forged aluminum wheels. Other exterior features include brushed billet badges milled with Saleen’s 25th anniversary wreath, hand painted gunsight exterior accents and serialized engine by Plaque and front bumper are exclusive to the Sterling Edition S302 Extreme.
The car also features the Saleen windshield badge, pretty much a standard for Saleen vehicles. And it’s only available in two-tone Sterling Silver. Not that you want it in any other color. The name is fitting because it is practically impossible to take your eyes off this vehicle at a light.
Much as the exterior, the inside of the Sterling features a number of elements commemorating Saleen’s 25-year run in the car industry, such as leather performance driving seats with Alcantra inserts and contrast stitching, silver accent stitching on the door inserts, and a 4 oz. genuine sterling silver serialized plaque on the dash. Other interior features include a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and short thrower shift, 6-gauge instrument cluster and chrome dash vent Bezels, and performance driver pedals with driver foot brace.
Technology features include a Rockford Fosgate Punch audio system, navi and an iPod docking station. Nice touch considering that Saleen could as easily justified not having some of these features with the push to pull off a heavyweight performance muscle car.
Performance features unique to the Sterling package include a Racecraft Suspension that features, among other things, sport-tuned coil springs and special sway bars and front struts; 15 slotted and vented front disc brake system with 11.8 slotted and vented rear disc brake system; and ultra high performance Pirelli tires. True performance buffs will surely recognize the significance.
Safety features include dual-stage airbags, a drivers seat position sensor, crash severity sensor and lower anchors and tethers for children.
The gas mileage on the Sterling is rated at 14 city/21 highway. But considering how the car eggs you on to really push it, I’m not sure how accurate that rating is. We went through a tank of gas and then some on a run from Detroit to Toledo and back in the car during our test drive. But what else would you expect from a car pushing out that kind of horsepower?
One of the most unique features of the Sterling package is what Saleen calls the VIP treatment, which includes first class air fare for two to Detroit with hotel accommodations to tour the Saleen assembly plant with a top executive, and other perks like a custom Saleen leather jacket.
Good luck on getting a Sterling Edition, though. Saleen has only produced 25 of the limited edition cars and the few left on the market are being sold for up to $50,000 more than the $100,000 sticker. That is, if you can even track one down.
If not, you can still order the Saleen S302 Extreme for about $80,000, which has some of the features available on the Sterling as options. Just don’t expect the VIP treatment with the purchase. That is reserved for that elite 25.
Marcus Amick is an automotive consultant and co-host of an automotive entertainment website, www.MotorRocks.com.
SPECS
$100,000
MPG: 14 city/21 hwy
VIP Treatment
Twin-Screw Supercharger
|
