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The Saleen S7 is a limited production, hand built automobile developed jointly by Saleen, Hidden Creek Industries, Phil Frank Design, and Ray Mallock Ltd. with RML taking full credit designing and developing the S7, and produced solely by Saleen in Irvine, California. It is the first car produced by Saleen not based on an existing design and is considered to be the first true American production certified supercar. The S7 debuted on August 19, 2000 at the Monterey Historic Races. From 2000 until 2004, the S7 featured a normally aspirated V8 engine with 550 horsepower. In 2005, the S7 was replaced by the S7 Twin Turbo, which featured a more powerful twin-turbo system that boosted engine power to 750 horsepower (760 PS/559 kW) and the top speed to an estimated 250 miles per hour (402 km/h).
The Saleen S7 was Saleen's first car to be completely developed digitally using tools such as Unigraphics and Rhinoceros 3D.[citation needed] Steve Saleen, Billy Tally and Phil Frank are credited as the trio behind the concept, construction and creativity of the car with S.A. "Tony" Johnson a primary financial investor. Ray Mallock Ltd. (RML) of the United Kingdom was chosen to assist with the digital design of the chassis and suspension system, as well as to later build the first several S7-Rs for motorsport use. The engine development was headed by Billy Tally, borrowed some internal dimensions from an existing Ford 427cid engine casting and engineered to be eight inches (203.2 mm) shorter than its Ford counterpart. The exterior and interior design and development was carried out by long time Saleen design consultant Phil Frank of Phil Frank Design, LLC.
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