Two decades ago, the name Saleen meant something. It was shorthand for big-horsepower Mustangs, tuner wizardry, and the outrageous S7—an American-built, mid-engined supercar that actually scared Europe’s best. Back in the early 2000s, the S7 wasn’t just a bold claim; it was proof that a U.S. startup could play in the same league as Ferrari and McLaren.
Fast-forward twenty years, and Saleen is trying to capture that lightning again. The difference this time? The next act, called the S11, isn’t being dreamt up in total secrecy behind California shop doors. Instead, it’s being shaped—quite literally—by committee.
Unveiled at The Birth of the American Supercar exhibit at LeMay America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, the S11 currently exists only as a full-scale clay model surrounded by sketches. There’s no engine, no performance data, no screaming prototype—just a bold idea and a sculpted promise. Visitors are invited to weigh in on what the final car should look like, inside and out.
Yes, really: Saleen wants you to help design its next supercar.
“It’s an honor to debut our S11 design at LeMay,” said founder Steve Saleen. “We’ll present enthusiasts with design choices throughout the year, and they can help decide what ends up in the final product.”
It’s a daring move. In the history of performance cars, “design by committee” hasn’t exactly yielded poster-worthy results. Supercars are usually the vision of a single obsessive mind—part genius, part lunatic—who refuses to compromise. Opening that process up to the public feels risky. But for a small-volume builder like Saleen, it might also be the smartest possible marketing play.
After years of radio silence and limited production, the company needs buzz, engagement, and cash flow—and letting fans shape the S11’s silhouette could tick all three boxes.
What we don’t know could fill an owner’s manual. Saleen hasn’t shared a single detail about the S11’s powertrain, chassis, or aerodynamic goals. All we’ve got is the cryptic promise that it’ll be “one louder” than anything else on the market—a callback to Spinal Tap and a wink at the brand’s trademark bravado.
We love the confidence. But we’ll admit, it’s hard not to be skeptical. The S7 was a bona fide supercar built in a different era—one where outrageous claims and hand-built ambition could still get you headlines. The modern world is tougher, stricter, and far more competitive. If Saleen truly wants to stand shoulder to shoulder with the greats again, the S11 will need more than nostalgia and fan votes.
Still, it’s good to see the name back in the conversation. The LeMay exhibit, curated by Steve Saleen himself, traces a century of American performance—from classic muscle to carbon-fiber dreams—and will evolve quarterly with new cars and features. Somewhere in that lineage, the S11 hopes to write its own chapter.
If Saleen can make it happen, we’ll gladly turn the volume up to eleven.
Source: Seleen