The 2005 S281 is Saleen's first all-new car in this market segment since they began manufacturing automobiles more than two decades ago. And by 'new', that means changes are more than skin deep. There is an all-new all-aluminum 281-cubic-inch 3-valve V8 matched to a slick-shifting 5-speed manual gearbox. The suspension is totally new with an advanced MacPherson strut design up front and a three-link live rear axle with a Panhard rod at the rear. The improvements in handling have to be driven to be believed.

The wheelbase has been stretched six inches and the wheels are pushed closer to the corners of the car, especially up front. Not only has this allowed us to significantly improve the S281 Mustang's ride characteristics, but also its overall handling and balance. And there's a lot less weight on the nose of the car for better weight distribution.