Pizza Hut and Rockstar Games are teaming up for the launch of the upcoming video game Midnight Club: Los Angeles for Xbox 360 and PS3. In what has to be one of the better giveaways I’ve seen, they’re handing out a $100K+ Saleen S302 Extreme. Yeah, that car you see above. I guess it’s the new game’s mascot car.

Wouldn’t mind winning this myself, but keep in mind the gift tax you’d have to pay if you win could buy you another pretty good car.

Sweepstakes are open from now until November 10th, 2008. Go to pizzahut.com to enter into the contest.

Also be sure to check out the game, and keep your eyes open here on Automoblog.net for a full review of the game once it’s out on October 21st.

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1. Saleen Mustang S281 RF
2. Need For Speed ProStreet Trailer
3. Codemasters To Make Next-Gen F1 Video Game

Looks like Saleen was serious about the supercar business. First came the awesome S7 and S7 TT, which is still one of the fastest cars in the world. To many though, the S7 was too big and too…umm…fishy, with all those gills all over the car.

Now it seems Saleen’s next supercar venture will be the Raptor – a smaller, much more modern-looking exotic. While it does mirror the looks of a few other fast cars on the road, all but the rear of the car is very attractive. Not that it’s ugly, it’s just…very 80′s looking:

Despite the funny-looking rear, this thing is a beast. Propelled by a mid-mounted Supercharged 5.0-liter V8, the S5S Raptor is said to produce 650 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque. That massive power is what gets it from zero to 60mph in a mere 3.2 seconds, and gives it a top speed of over 200mph. These numbers are based on the gimmicky E85 ethanol fuel – something I’d rather stay away from.

Right now Saleen is just testing the waters with this concept, but if it gets enough attention they’ll bring it (or a similar car) into production. Expect it to cost somewhere around $185,000 if it gets the green light.

In case you were wondering, the funny-looking “S5S” designation means Saleen 5-liter Supercharged.

Get the high-res photos and full press release below…

High-Res Photos:

Press Release:

SALEEN REVEALS SUPERCAR CONCEPT THE “S5S RAPTOR” AT THE
NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
New York, NY (March 20, 2008) – Saleen’s all new concept vehicle, the S5S
Raptor made its world debut today on the floor of New York City’s Jacob K. Javitz
Convention Center. The S5S Raptor unveiling comes amidst several other
Saleen announcements including a partnership with Dan Gurney, Rockstar
Games and the integration of several first time seen ASC products, featured on
two existing Saleen vehicles.
“We are extremely proud of the Raptor. It is the car that enthusiasts are waiting
for America to produce and Saleen is just the company to answer that call,” said
Paul Wilbur, Saleen President and CEO.
The S5S Raptor represents the first ground up vehicle to be conceived by the
new Saleen management team and the most extensive demonstration of the
combined capabilities of Saleen engineering and the ASC creative team.
“The Raptor is just a glimpse of things to come from Saleen,” says Chief
Technical Officer, Chris Theodore. “Our company is unique in that we have the
experience and knowledge behind some of the most exciting performance
vehicles built over the past 20 years. Beyond the S7 Supercar, our team
members have been involved in the Viper, Prowler, Ford GT, and the products of
Chrysler SRT and Ford’s SVT performance groups. These ‘lessons learned’ are
evident in the Raptor concept and we will continue to build upon them as the
company evolves.”
The Raptor is a two seat mid-engine super car that competes in size and style
with core offerings from the most notable of Italian exotic car makes, but with a
segment leading 650hp and 630 lb-ft of torque provided by a Saleen 5.0L
Supercharged Engine – the source of the “S5S” designation. Unlike its
competitors, the Raptor is designed to digest cellulosic ethanol. “This is the
same ethanol formula,” states Wilbur, “that is the official fuel of the 2008
American Le Mans Race Series and the IRL.” The higher octane rating of E85
results in more power. It is a combination that will send the Raptor screaming to
60 mph in a g-force generating 3.2 seconds. With ethanol power, the car is both
mean and clean!
Saleen’s use of cellulosic ethanol is right for us for two reasons:
· It maintains consistency with our racing heritage, as many of the racing
formats (IRL, American Lemans, etc) are now adopting ethanol as the
racing fuel of choice.
· It also helps our environment through cleaner tailpipe emissions as well as
reducing America’s dependency on foreign oil.
While Saleen is a small, specialty vehicle maker, we share in the responsibility to
do what we can to support our environment, without compromising on our brand
values.
Compromise does not enter into the conversation at all. The Raptor’s hand-built
5.0L cubic inch engine with its patented twin-screw supercharger delivers its 650
horses at 6300 rpm and hits max torque at just 4400 RPM. This power sits on
call beneath the knob of a close ratio 6-speed manual, or optional paddle shifting
sequential gearbox. It’s a combination that send Raptor’s rigid aluminum chassis
screaming to a top speed of over 200 mph.
As power is nothing without control, the double wishbone suspension and rackand-
pinion steering of the S5S is augmented by ABS traction control and stability
control systems. The brake system features 15-inch (381 mm) front rotors with 6
piston calipers, and 13-inch (308 mm) rear rotors with dual piston calipers for
maximum stopping power. Road holding traction is provided by the 275/35 ZR20
and 315/35/ZR20 Pirelli Rosso tires that wrap the 20” forged aluminum front and
rear wheels respectively. The unique black-diamond and carbon fiber finish on
the wheels make them as stunning as they are strong.
“We spent a great deal of time on the design of the Raptor,” says Marques
McCammon, General Manager of Saleen Automotive. “The vehicle’s bold
shoulders are reflective of an aggressive American attitude, reminiscent of Can-
Am race car styling cues, but delivered with modern sophistication. If you see a
little Chaparral or McLaren design influence in this car, you are right.”
The aesthetics for the Raptor were developed by ASC Creative Services,
America’s largest independent automotive design firm. “This vehicle was an
aggressively compressed program that combined the traditional methods of
three-dimensional clay sculpting with sophisticated digital modeling tools,” said
Steve Nowicki, ASC Creative Services Director. “The vehicle is distinctive in a
way that I think the world is going to love. The primary designer on this program
was Dave Byron, a CCS graduate and passionate member of ASC’s Design
team”.
Raptor’s unique sun flair yellow paint accentuates the cars beautiful body forms.
The interior of the car can be illuminated by the sun or the city lights through the
solar-tented scenic roof that covers the cockpit. Detailing is transformed from
mere aluminum on the vehicles wheels and exhaust by their black-diamond
powder coat finish.
“In all the S5S Raptor is a work of art aimed to take your breath away,” said
McCammon. “It is aggressive and sexy at the same time.”
According to Saleen executives, the S5S Raptor could enter the market in as
little as two years, and should it go forward, it would carry a base price of
approximately $185,000 MSRP.

Related posts:

1. Saleen Special-Edition Mustangs Confirmed to be Bad-Ass
2. Saleen Mustang S281 RF
3. Win a Saleen S302 Extreme Mustang

SSC Ultimate Aero

Top Speed: 256 mph

Horsepower: 1183

Torque: 1094lbs

On September 13th, 2007, the SSC Ultimate Aero broke the official top speed world record, traveling 256.18 mph down a closed section of a Washington State highway. Impressive, considering the Ultimate Aero’s engine is only a twin-turbo V8 – half the size and turbo count of the Veyron below.

Bugatti Veyron

Top Speed: 253 mph

Horsepower: 1001

Torque: 479lbs

No introduction is needed for the amazing Bugatti Veyron. Powered by a W-16 style, quad-turbo engine, the Veyron is commonly considered the Ultimate Supercar.

Koenigsegg CCX

Top Speed: 250 mph

900 Horsepower

My personal favorite of the bunch, the Swedish Koenigsegg CCX is pure adrenaline. I’d probably give up a kidney to own one.

Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo

Top Speed: 248 mph

750 Horsepower

The popular Mustang tuner Saleen has really made a name for themselves in the Supercar world with the amazing S7. The Twin-Turbo version really steps up their game. It should be exciting to see where they go from here.

McLaren F1

Top Speed: 240.14

620 Horsepower

Probably the most amazing car on the list, the McLaren F1 was first built over 13 years ago, and is still on this list.

Ferrari Enzo

Top Speed: 217 mph

657 Horsepower

I wonder how Ferrari felt when they sold the car for $660,000 new and were immediately sold second-hand for over $1.3 Million each.

Jaguar XJ220

Top Speed: 217 mph

549 Horsepower

Along with the McLaren F1, the Jaguar XJ220 has been around for a long time (1992,) and it’s amazing that it’s still on the list. Be sure to check out the Pininfarina version as well.

Pagani Zonda F

Top Speed: 215 mph

602 Horsepower

Right up there with the Koenigsegg on my “first cars I would own if I had the money” list, the Pagani Zonda F is one awesome car. The Zonda R is still close on the horizon, so expect to see the Pagani name higher up the next “fastest cars” list.

Hopefully that satisfies you all until the 2008 Fastest Cars list. Perhaps by then Pagani will build the Zonda R, McLaren will have made a decision on their next Supercar, and maybe Bugatti or Koenigsegg will decide it’s time to overtake the Ultimate Aero.

Related posts:

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2. 2007 Hyper-Cars: What’s New?
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Saleen announced they will be releasing a special edition Mustang only available to 100 lucky customers who have an extra $49,995 burning a hole in their pocket. Available in black or alloy, the Saleen S281 RF will boast 465 horsepower from a supercharged SOHC 4.6L V8. All the power gets to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission.

Additional performance enhancements include an upgraded CPU, new MAF sensor, and a dual-stage intercooler. The air comes in through a high-flow air intake and filter, and exits through a 2.5″ stainless steel exhaust system. Suspension improvements come from added coil springs and sway bars.

There are many other enhancements provided by Saleen; check out the official specs below:

ENGINE
281 CID (4.6L) 3-Valve SOHC V8
465 HP @ 5800 RPM
425 lb-ft TQ @ 4000 RPM
3.55” x 3.54” Bore & Stroke
39 lb/hr Fuel Injectors
98 mm MAF
Port Matched Series VI Integrated Twin-Screw Supercharger
Dual-Stage Water-to-Air Intercooler System
Hi-Flow Inlet Tube, Air Box Cover & Filter
PowerFlashâ„¢ Performance Calibration
2.5” Stainless Steel Center Exhaust System

DRIVETRAIN
5-Speed Manual Transmission
with 8.8″ Differential, 3.31:1 Final Drive
RACECRAFT SUSPENSION
Linear-Rate, Coil Springs (F/R)
Sway Bars, 1.38″ with HD Bushings (F), 0.79″ (R)
Front Struts (N2), Rear Shocks (N2)
Three-Link, Live Rear Axle with Panhard Rod

INTERIOR
Leather Performance Driving Seats with Red Stitching,
6-Way Power Adjustable Driver’s Seat & Power Lumbar
6-Gauge Instrument Cluster with 200 MPH Speedometer
& MyColor Feature
Chrome Dash Vent Bezels
Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel with Badge
Leather Shift Boot with Red Stitching
Leather-Wrapped Billet Shift Knob & Short-Throw Shifter
Performance Driving Pedals with Driver Foot Brace
Serialized Dash Plaque
S281 Floor Mats & Aluminum Door Sill Plates
Saleen Key Fob
One-Touch Up/Down Power Windows
AM/FM/CD Sound System
Two Power Outlets
Variable-Speed Windshield Wipers
Air Conditioning
Rear Window Defroster
Dual Power Side-View Mirrors
Saleen/Eagle One Detail Kit
Owner’s Document Portfolio & Warranty Guide

BRAKING SYSTEM
Power Assisted 4-Wheel Disc Brakes with ABS
12.4” Vented Front Disc Brake System
11.8” Vented Rear Disc Brake

WHEELS & TIRES
20” Chrome Finished Alloy, 7-Spoke Wheels
High Performance Dunlop Tires
Tire Pressure Monitoring System

EXTERIOR
Injection Molded Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO)
Front & Rear Fascias
Injection Molded TPO Side Skirts & Door Cladding
Front Grille
Integrated Front Turn Signals
Rear Center Body Panel
Rear Spoiler & End Caps
S281 Supercharged Graphics & Identification
RF Red Saleen Windshield Graphic
RF Red Saleen Bumper Insert
RF Red Serialized Front Bumper
Serialized Engine Bay Plaque
Championship Wreath Graphic

SAFETY & SECURITY
Dual-Stage Airbags
Driver’s Seat Position Sensor
Crash Severity Sensor
Lower Anchors & Tethers for Children (Latch) Safety Seats
Remote Keyless & Illuminated Entry System
3-Point Safety Belts for All Seating Positions
Side-Impact Door Beams

COLOR COMBINATIONS
Exterior Color/Graphic Color/Wheel Color
Black Clearcoat/Red/Chrome
Alloy Clearcoat Metallic/Red/Chrome

GENERAL DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES (COUPE)
Vehicle Weight: 3620 lbs
Weight Distribution: 53/47 (F/R)
Wheelbase: 107.10 in
Track: 62.8 in/63.9 in (F/R)
Width: 74.0 in
Length: 189.1 in
Height: 56.0 in
Trunk Space: 13.1 cu ft
Fuel Capacity: 15.7 gal

Source: Motor Authority and Saleen

Related posts:

1. Win a Saleen S302 Extreme Mustang
2. Saleen Raptor Concept
3. Saleen Special-Edition Mustangs Confirmed to be Bad-Ass

Last update to this list: December 8, 2010

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

Top Speed: 268 mph

1200 Horsepower

Not to let SSC’s Ultimate Aero supercar keep Bugatti in second place for long, the French supercar company slapped bigger turbos and intercoolers on their previous world record holding Veyron to produce a seriously impressive 1200 horsepower. The Veyron SS still houses the same 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine, but now produces 200 more horsepower. To handle the extra speed and power, Bugatti also had to revise the chassis and suspension. Only 30 Veyron Super Sport models are expected to be produced. Interestingly, the 30 cars sold to the public will be electronically limited to “only” 258 mph.

SSC Ultimate Aero

Top Speed: 256 mph

1183 Horsepower

Boutique supercar maker Shelby Super Cars (SSC) unleashed the Ultimate Aero in 2007, destroying the more expensive Bugatti Veyron’s top speed record. The car in question was a 2007 model – since then, SSC has upgraded the Aero to include an all-new twin-turbo V8 engine (half the size of the Veyron,) producing 1287 hp, giving the car a theoretical top speed of 290 mph. Nope, that’s not a typo. It’s also theoretical. SSC says given a long enough road, they could get the car up to 270 mph. That would break the Veyron’s record again, but let’s see if they ever get around to it.

Koenigsegg CCXR

Top Speed: 250 mph

1018 Horsepower

Although the Koenigsegg CCR broke the top speed record in 2005 on a totally unfair circular track, the updated CCXR has a better engine, aerodynamics, and, well, pretty much everything else. I’d love to see the Swedish company get this out on the VW test track, which is the same track on which the Veyron was tested (and a straight line, not a circle.)

Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo

Top Speed: 248 mph

750 Horsepower

Saleen’s first car not based on an existing model, the S7 supercar grabbed a lot of attention when it was released in 2000. An updated Twin-Turbo model followed shortly afterward, providing 750 hp and a 248 mph top speed. Saleen offers a competition package increasing power to 1000 hp, which brings the top speed up to a rumored 260 mph. Interest has dropped for the S7, but if they can come back and claim a top speed close to Bugatti and SSC, we might see some more of Saleen’s supercar in the near future.

McLaren F1

Top Speed: 240.14

627 Horsepower

Can you believe this? The McLaren F1 was made in 1994, and it’s still one of the fastest cars in the world. This happens to be the first car on this list I would purchase if I had the cash. Produced from 1993 to 1998, the F1 still sells for well over $1 million each, and I have a feeling it will only appreciate over the years. This is a timeless car and will remain on the all-time greatest car list for decades to come. Even though it’s no longer the fastest production car in the world anymore, it’s still the fastest naturally-aspirated road car in the world, sporting a special 6.1-liter V12 capable of biting your head off.

Ferrari Enzo

Top Speed: 226 mph

651 Horsepower

Ferrari’s most recent mega-car seems to have people crashing it left and right, but the drivers always walk away fine (physically.) With only 400 Enzos ever made, the value of the car goes up with each wreck. Sporting a naturally-aspirated 6.0-liter V12, the Enzo is beginning to show its age, but remains one of the fastest cars in the world. Until Ferrari’s next mega-ultra-super-duper-car, of course.

Aston Martin One-77

Top Speed: 220 mph

750 Horsepower

The newest entry in our list, the Aston Martin One-77 is a very limited edition (only 77 made, who’d have thought?) supercar. Originally the top speed was estimated at a relatively paltry 200 mph but later tests confirmed a top speed of 220.007 mph. The 3,307 lb car can rocket from zero to sixty in 3.5 seconds thanks to its 750 horsepower, 7.3-liter V12 engine and six-speed automated manual gearbox.

Pagani Zonda F Clubsport

Top Speed: 215 mph

640 Horsepower

Powered by a 7.3-liter AMG-built V12, the 640 horsepower Pagani Zonda F Clubsport created ripples in the car community when it lapped the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife test track in only 7:24.7 seconds. A very impressive car – I’m actually confused as to why it’s not higher on the list, although Pagani claims that without the car’s aerodynamic equipment (added to increase cornering ability,) the Zonda F Clubsport would have a top speed of 220 mph.

Jaguar XJ220

Top Speed: 213 mph

549 Horsepower

Even older than the McLaren F1, the Jaguar XJ220 has been on this list since 1992. Sporting a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, the XJ220…wait…a 3.5-liter V6? 217 mph in 1992? That’s some seriously impressive engineering. Be sure to check out the Pininfarina version as well.

Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SV

Top Speed: 213 mph

661 Horsepower

Another car I’m surprised isn’t higher on the list. The Murciélago LP 670-4 SV is not only the fastest Murcielago ever produced, but the fastest car Lamborghini has ever made, sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in only 2.8 seconds and hitting that 213 mph top speed. This is the last Murcielago variant Lambo is making – there have been plenty of rumor of a successor.

Pushed off the Top 10 List:

Porsche Carrera GT – 209 mph
McLaren Mercedes SLR – 207 mph

Related posts:

1. Fastest Production Cars in the World – Quick Update
2. 2007 Hyper-Cars: What’s New?
3. The Ten Most and Least Expensive Cars to Insure in 2011

I’ve been a pretty big fan of the Saleen Mustangs for a while now, but the 2005-current versions have been anything but exciting, until now. There will only be 25 of these made total. The 25th will be given to the winner of the Great American Run, and the other 24 will be sold only to participants of the Cannonball World event. 11 have already been sold.

“Surprising” specifications are an understatement here. With 600 horsepower, this Mustang can do 0-60 in under four seconds, and has a top speed of 200mph! Whether or not a Mustang can handle the 600 horsepower is a different question. I can’t wait to see the final specs on this beast; they’re bound to be very impressive. Plus it’s really sexy looking. I don’t think they’ll have a problem selling all of these, I don’t care how much they cost. Anyway, if you want to enter the race, it’s $10,000 and there are only 400 spots available. Better hurry!

via GTSpirit

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Ferrari…Lamborghini…Aston Martin? These are all child’s play when you put them next to a hyper-car; a different breed of supercar exclusively for the ultra-rich, usually costing over $350,000 or so. Ferrari makes one (the Enzo) and so does Porsche (Carrera GT,) but usually they are from car makers with names you don’t hear in normal conversation. Almost always made in very limited editions, you cannot turn to your car dealers or normal car review websites for information regarding these fantastic machines.

So for those who are familiar with these cars, how do you keep up on the news regarding them? Well, you turn here of course, at AutomoBlog.net Anyway, what’s the news on these cars? Read on…

Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Not only is this the most expensive production car ever made, it’s also the fastest (although a couple cars are giving it a run for it’s money, keep reading for those.) Priced at approximately $1,700,000 this car has a W-16 style engine with 4 (yes, that’s four) turbos, pushing an amazing 1001 hp. So what’s new for 2007? Absolutely nothing. Most of us will never see one in our lifetime anyway. Sorry to be a Negative Nancy on that one.

Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo

So what are the cars giving the Bugatti a challenge? The $589,950 Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo is one of them. Powered by a 750 hp twin-turbo V8, this funky looking car can rocket to 60 from a standstill in only 3.4 seconds. Still slow when compared to the Bugatti’s 0-60 time of 3 seconds flat, but a rocket-ship by any other standards. How does it do this with half the Bugatti’s cylinders and half the turbos? Well, partly because the Saleen only weighs 2950 lbs, while the Bugatti tips the scales at 4162 lbs. Plus, look at all the alien-looking vents on the S7, every one of those are functional.

Pagani Zonda F

The first time I saw the Pagani Zonda was actually on Gran Turismo 3 for the PlayStation 2 and I was instantly amazed. “Look at the exhaust, look at the two spoilers, the headlights, the shape” and so on. This car is awesome, and has only been getting better over the years. It’s ultra-rare, and costs anywhere from $614,268 to $719,644 at today’s exchange rate. The picture above is from the awesome Zonda F, with a Mercedes-built 650 hp V12 that helps the car move from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds. And in case you’re wondering, the Zonda F weighs 2711 lbs, less than even the Saleen S7 TT covered above.

Koenigsegg CCX

Last but not least in this story in the Koenigsegg CCX, quite the beast of a machine. I just posted an article about the lucky bastards from Autoblog getting to test drive this car, and I’m still jealous. Check it out here. It’s the most likely contender with the Bugatti Veyron, as it’s 0-60 time is only 3.1 seconds, weighs only 2601 lbs and has 806 hp from a Supercharged V8. It just came to America only to be sold at one dealer in Las Vegas for a measly $700,000. Out of all these cars, I would feel the most comfortable calling this one a bad-ass. The road test I saw from Top Gear was amazing, and that was from the 2002 Koenigsegg CC, not the recent CCX.

I know you’re saying “where is such-and-such car,” but I decided to stop here because these four cars were the most popular of the hyper-cars and are currently available for sale. There are a lot of cars in this category I would like to cover like the Enzo, Carrera GT, McLaren F1 and the Mercedes SLR, but they are older models and will be saved for another article.

Did I miss out on any you would have liked to see? What are some of the other hyper-cars from years past that you are a fan of?

Related posts:

1. Fastest Production Cars in the World – Quick Update
2. Top 10 Fastest Cars in the World
3. Coolest Concept Cars – Detroit Auto Show 2007