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Art for the Gearheads - the 2010 SMS 460 Mustang
Steve Saleen, head of SMS Motors, is an artist. His paintbrush is a ratchet; his canvas, an aluminum sheet. His latest sculpture is the 2010 SMS 460 Mustang, a rendition of Ford’s newest Pony. “Everything [Saleen] stands for,” the 460 Mustang is the sole SMS vehicle receiving Saleen’s handcrafted emblem. Like other art it is gorgeous and unique. But it has a leg up on paintings and photographs. It moves. Real fast.
Debuting at the 2009 Mustang Northwest Roundup in Seattle, Washington, the 2010 SMS 460 Mustang is ponied up enough to run down competition and naysayers. Saleen says, “It reflects … my passion and love for the Mustang brand.” The two trims, a powerful base and a beefy 460x, contain more power and panache – and price – than a regular Mustang ever glimpses. The base trim will likely cost at least 40k-45k, while a fully-equipped 460x could run as high as 90k.
Two colossal engines are available. The base one is a 4.6-liter, 470-hp V8 shoving out 427 lb-feet of torque. Its bigger brother, with the help of an upgraded internal assembly and head work, boasts a 5.0-liter, 655-hp V8 with a whopping 600 lb-feet of torque. Standard transmission is a five-speed automatic, replaceable by a 5-speed manual on the base trim or a 6-speed SMST manual on the 460. Both engines use the SMS 296 Supercharger. The 460x sports more aluminum and forged alloys in the engine and a patent-pending Steve Saleen Red Butterfly Induction System.
The exterior bristles with raw Mustang muscle and striking furnishings. Phil Frank, SMS Chief Creative Officer, notes, “Steve Saleen’s new SMS 460 Mustang is a dramatic, timeless and iconic visual statement.” Rolling on 20-inch 5-spoke wheels, with aggressive front and rear fascias, the SMS Red Butterfly Air Induction Hood, front and side splitter and a high down-force inducing rear wing, the 460 Mustang unabashedly dares challengers, “Come get me.”
But the style does not stop with shiny splitters and 5-spoke wheels. The interior brims with premium Alcantra leather, bedecked with the Signature Series chevron stripes. The features rivals a 9-year old kid’s Christmas wish list, offering state-of-the-art amenities like a stolen vehicle recovery system, premium navigation system, high-tech stereo and other options.
So is the 460 Mustang fast? No. It’s blisteringly, swelteringly fast. The base trim rockets to 60-mph in under 4.5 seconds, while the 460x nearly hits a flat four. Riding a SMS Watt linkage suspension and sporting all-wheel brakes, the 460 Mustang refuses to let go of the asphalt, careening around corners with impervious ease.
Saleen’s creation will never be displayed at the Louvre. Good – it should be glimpsed on the streets, a red Mustang with a deep-throated neigh.
Be on the lookout for more articles on the 2010 SMS 460 Mustang from the house of Steve Saleen.