Steve Saleen unveiled his latest project on the lawn at Pebble Beach this weekend: The Saleen FourSixteen, his touch on the Tesla Model S. Yep, someone’s started hot-rodding Teslas. It’s not like the Model S needs any hot-rodding anyways…the motor in the car was already pretty optimized for power compared to it’s driving range and the car comes pretty well equipped. So what, then, did Saleen get to play with to make this car more interesting?
For once, not much to the engine. The rear gear ratio was changed to 11.39:1 to make the power work better, and gets a locking rear differential. This will also ramp up that electric motor “whine” a bit, which anyone who has raced a golf cart around knows well. The new nose is the most noticeable part, but the car also gets a redesigned under tray, rear diffuser, rear spoiler, a reshaped and vented hood for the looks.
Now, for the real bits: The cooling system gets a larger radiator with improved fans, an improved water pump, and a ton of suspension and brake tweaks, revised ABS and traction control parameters to cope with the rear gear changes, and inside, the seats get bolstering and the car gets…cupholders. Seriously. Cupholders.
Ok, it’s not traditional in any sense. But here’s what I’m seeing: someone is trying to make it work. The Model S is really the first truly worthy modern electric car to come along, having found an audience, a buying public, and a following. It’s not a niche product either, it’s actually viable, with factory support that some standard manufacturers only dream of. If any electric car was going to demonstrate the viability of modifications for performance, this was it. Is it “buried under the hood” modifications? No. But it’s a great start: suspension tweaks, improved cooling, brakes…things that will make the car more fun to drive. Besides, it’s hard to improve on an electric motor that can whip a BMW M5’s ass at the dragstrip.
Hmmmn… hot rodding an ancient BMW Z8 platform based EV pos thats been giving everyone from its owners right on down to the pundits doing long term testing fits galore .. not to mention spending more time on trailers than being driven … along with on the fair occasion either trying to burn itself or its owners homes down to the ground … being run by the 21st Century version of John Z DeLorean [ in more ways than one I might add 😉 ] … and subsidized from development … to manufacture .. right up to point of sale … by … the US Tax Payers
An exercise in futility … not to mention no doubt yet another nail in Saleen’s rapidly assembling financial …. Coffin .
Yet another fine example of pretentious and unfounded , blinded by [ fake ] science American over optimism and enthusiasm … albeit a Tax Payer funded one
And… another one for the text books for disproving/debunking the myth of the Powers of Positive & Magical Thinking
In reality … the ONLY real and valid way to hot rod a pos TESLA S is to pull a Fisker/Lutz … yank all the EV crap the hell out of it … and replace it all with some good ole ‘ Mericun V8 ICE iron in its pretentious over sized , poorly made [ and even worse painted ] snout
wow, more hate from the BSslinger, whodathunkit? In fact so much hate it wouldn’t just fit in one post.
Please stick your damaged head back into the ground (or back up your ass) where you can keep denying/hating all progress in transportation (and other) technology. Better yet, please just go away, this site HATES YOU.
“albeit a Tax Payer funded one” Loan paid off.
“hot rodding an ancient BMW Z8 platform based EV pos” Not one spec of BMW in a Tesla other than the Land Rover electric rack and pinion.
Gun…errr, BSslinger is the brownie hound.
Saleen needed a game changer to show how up he is on the latest technology and the Tesla is it. The Tesla is also a prime example of how a company can come out of nowhere and produce something better than the big three are willing to offer.
A better car shouldn’t need taxpayer funded credits to purchase; it should be able to stand alone in the marketplace.
Diesel is my preferred alternative fuel, and I’m not a big fan of Saleen, but the work here is well executed and thought out. The Teslas are already exclusive due to the price and the Saleen mods will ramp up the exclusivity for those that can afford it. The only thing I would add would be pulling a Colin Chaplin by replacing the body, wheels, and suspension components with exposed carbon fiber to maximize the efficiency and speed.