On September 17, 2016, Saleen announced a limited run of S7s for 2017. This new iteration, called the S7 LM, was designed to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the start of Saleen’s championship run from 1996 to 2002. Saleen racked up more than a dozen championships during this time, some of them with the original S7.

Saleen announced that only seven examples of the S7 LM will be produced and the price tag is expected to reach $1 million. The S7 LM will be powered by a (you guessed it) 7.0-liter twin-turbo engine rated at 1,000 hp. The LM will get a unique paint scheme, wheel set, interior and other unnamed performance enhancements. Otherwise, the LM will most likely be identical to the last S7 produced back in 2009.

If the S7 LM is produced, there’s no doubt it will be a serious performer. The twin-turbo version of the S7, produced from 2005 to 2009, produced 750 hp, resulting in a 10-second quarter mile and 2.8-second 0-60 time. Tack on an extra 250 hp and proposed electrical performance enhancements, and the S7 could contend with the best once again.

The S7 LM could also potentially turn things around at Saleen. The company has had financial and legal troubles since the late 2000s, including the cancelation of the S5S Raptor, lawsuits and a sale of select intellectual property and assets.

With mind-numbing horsepower and a proven track record to back it, the Saleen S7 is the quintessential American mid-engine supercar. For that reason, we’ve got our fingers crossed for the S7 LM.

-Dean Larson

Photo courtesy of Saleen Automotive