Saleen Unveils His Version of the Ford Explorer
3 November 1997
Long time SSCA competitor and forward thinking buinessman Steve Saleen, Irvine, CA, the man who has designed/built and sold 3,500 high performance Ford Mustangs has now turned his attention to the hottest segment of the market, and has debuted a Saleen Ford Explorer SUV.
Steve has his pulse on the market, just as he did when racing Mustangs to national titles...."we know 'em, 'cause we race 'em." He estimates he will retail about 500 Saleen Explorers through Ford dealers in 1998, which, while only a pimple in the 2 million united SUV marketi, is not too bad for a special niche vehicle.
Prices start for the Saleen model at $42,000 and go up with the addition of extras. This Explorer has a lower profile than the stock showroom models. According to someone's research, consumers spend $3 billion per year restyling their vehicles, and, while I am certain this number is inflated, we do know the scope of the hang-on goodies and trick mods is very big.
Here's what you get when buying a Saleen Performance Utility Vehicle. Revised styling with enhancements, and the unit can be 2-wheel or 4-whel drive. To improve handling and ensure safety, the Explorer has been lowered 2 inches and is fitted with 18X8.5-in Saleen mags and Pirelli Scorpion tires. You can also get a fiber hood, racing brakes and 4-piston brakes.
Enginewise Saleen offers a 211 hp 4.0 liter V6; a 222 hp 5.0 V8 and a supercharged 5.0 liter puting out 286 hp. Way to go Steve !
Visual changes include custom graphics and badging, Saleen co-co floor mats and a 150 mph speedo. Available are Recaro leather seats.
Price-wise the Saleen unit is a few grand step up from the top-of-the-line Eddie Bauer model with V6 which goes over the curb for $31,000, but Steve did his homework and knows who his customer will be. It's the guy'gal that doesn't take his sport ute off road, and that's a lot of people. It's the station wagon cat that wants performance and macho-mania. It's a "value added" vehicle He got the idea for the redesign while cruising freeways and being passed...well passed by drivers in sport utes who really didn't realize they were driving a truck and not a sports car and it could be a dangerous ride.
Case in point: We rcently tested/reported on the Infiniti Qx4 sport ute which carries a sticker close to Saleen's hot rod Explorer, and we moaned about the lack of performance and pick up. That's wher the Explorer shines. Saleen says he is really a mini-Ford as a company and is subject to all the federal and state regulations re safety and sales that any other manufacturer must adhere to including warranties and emmissions.
Though he offers a couple of new colors on the PUV nothing comes close to the very special Rainbow hue he designed for a few of his special Saleen Mustangs. It is a knockout. The rainbow paint costs $900 per gallon.
Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel
