Saleen Hands The Pen To The People For Its Next American Supercar

Two decades ago, Saleen was a headline act in the performance car world. The brand was synonymous with big-power Mustangs, tuner magic, and the mid-engined S7, a bona fide American supercar that dared to challenge Europe’s best.

Fast forward to today, and Saleen is still chasing that same dream, only now the formula looks a little different. The upcoming S11 aims to rekindle the brand’s supercar spirit, but this time the design process isn’t happening entirely behind closed doors. This one’s being shaped, at least partly, by committee.

Read: Rare Saleen S7 Supercar Connected To Paul Walker Up For Auction

Unveiled as part of The Birth of the American Supercar exhibit at LeMay America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, the S11 isn’t yet a running prototype.

Instead, visitors will find a full-size clay model surrounded by design sketches that preview what could become the next chapter in Saleen’s story. That’s right; you could play a role in how the S11 looks.

While the S7 was largely the vision of Steve Saleen, the S11 will break that tradition as museum-goers can vote on aspects of the final car’s interior and exterior styling.

More: Saleen’s Supercharged Pontiac Trans Am Tribute Truck Will Set Your Pants On Fire

“It’s an honor to debut our S11 design at LeMay,” said Saleen. “We’ll present enthusiasts with design choices throughout the year, and they can help decide what ends up in the final product.” Suffice it to say, this is a bold, and somewhat odd, move.

Design-by-committee isn’t exactly heralded in the supercar community for producing the most desirable cars. At the same time, for a small builder like Saleen, the approach could help it reconnect with fans, generate buzz, and get a better foothold in the space.

Here’s the craziest part, though: we still don’t know anything about the engine, suspension, or aerodynamic goals of the S11. Saleen simply promises that it’ll be “one louder,” whatever that means, than anything else on the market.

We love the confidence, but it’ll be genuinely surprising if Saleen can get back to the prestigious level it once enjoyed.

The exhibit, curated by founder Steve Saleen himself, chronicles over a century of U.S. performance engineering from muscle cars to modern exotics and will evolve quarterly with new vehicles and features.

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Thanks to KP for the tip!