Saleen S281 "Extreme" Mustang appears as Evil Decepticon in "Transformers!"
Saleen Inc. teamed up with DreamWorks and Hasbro to design and produce several vehicles for the new hit movie “Transformers.” After months of conceptual development, Saleen’s Troy production facility took numerous black-on-black S281 Extremes right off of the production line to star as Decepticon hunter, “Barricade,” in the movie. Saleen Troy also built two 2009 Chevrolet Camaros for General Motors to star as “Bumblebee” - Barricade’s arch rival in the movie.
The movie car built as “Barricade” was constructed as a Saleen S281 “Extreme” with stock performance and body components; the same car
that you can find in a dealership today. The only element the movie cars lack is the 550 horsepower engine that normally comes as standard equipment on the Extreme. To give the character its evil alter ego, Dream Works also outfitted each Extreme as a Decepticon police car, including a push bar, white doors, emergency lights and Transformers/Police badging.
Barricade was originally scripted as a Formula One race car in the comic book and Japanese cartoon series, but never made it to the animated series aired in America by the time it went off the air in 1987.
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) was responsible for transforming the Saleen S281 Extreme into the Barricade robot. It took a team of 18 artists to build the Extreme on the computer and 11 weeks to transform it into the Barricade robot.
“We essentially cut up the vehicle,” Dave Floger, model supervisor at ILM explains. “We cut up a standard door panel into five or six sections, and we would cut the hood up into 10 sections. Other animators would take the car in one hand and the robot in the other hand and started moving stuff around until a panel on the car would fly up and become a panel on the robot’s
arm. It’s a pretty involved process.”
2007 Saleen S281 Coupe Technical Specifications
GENERAL
- Curb Weight, lb. est 3356
- Weight Distribution, F/R 53/47
- Fuel Capacity, gal. 15.7
- Wheelbase, in. 107.1
- Track, F/R 62.8/63.9
- Width 74
- Length 189.1
- Height 56
- Trunk Space, cubic ft. 13.1
ENGINE
- Type 4.6L, 3V, SOHC V-8
- Bore and Stroke 3.55 x 3.54 in.
- Displacement 4.6 liters, 281 cu in.
- Crankshaft Special Saleen Forged Steel
- Connecting Rods Saleen Forged Steel
- Pistons Saleen Forged Aluminum
- Exhaust System Saleen Stainless, 2.5 in. Variable Exhaust
- Horsepower 550 bhp @ 6100 RPM
- Torque 525 lbs-ft Torque @ 4900 RPM
- Fuel Premium Unleaded 91 Octane
- Saleen Intercooled Supercharger Saleen Series VI Integrated TwinScrew Supercharger With Two-Stage Water-to-Air Intercooler System; Cast 356-T6 Aluminum Alloy Construction
- Radiator Saleen Performance dual-core radiator and high flow cooling system
- Calibration Saleen PowerFlash™ performance calibration
- Intake Saleen Design Hi-Flow Inlet Tube and Air Box
- Fuel Injectors 39 lbs.
- Mass Airflow Sensor 98mm
DRIVETRAIN
- Transmission Saleen Quick Ratio 6-Speed Transmission
- Differential Saleen 4.10:1 Maxgrip™ Differential
- Clutch High performance clutch
- Flywheel Light Weight Aluminum
- Driveshaft Balanced Aluminum
AIR MANAGEMENT DESIGN
- Saleen Aluminum Hood w/ Heat Ventilation
- Saleen Design Injection Molded TPO Front Facia
- Saleen Carbon Fiber Front Splitter
- Saleen Front Aero Ducting
- Saleen Design Injection Molded TPO Side Skirts and Door Cladding
- Saleen Design Injection Molded TPO Rear Facia
- Saleen Carbon Fiber Rear Diffuser
- Saleen Design Front Grille
- Saleen Integrated Front Turn Signals
- Saleen Center Body Panels (rear)
- Saleen Design Rear Spoiler and End Caps
- Saleen High Intensity Headlamps (HID)
Saleen Designed Quarter Window Trim Optional
This Saleen designed quarter window panel gives the S281 “Extreme” a unique race inspired profile by adding a body colored panel on the outside of the quarter window as well as a Saleen branded black-out panel on the inside.
Saleen Scenic Roof
Extend your driving pleasure with the installation of a high quality tempered glass roof. The structurally sound glass roof is tinted and has been tested to meet all federal safety requirements. This option completely replaces the roof of your coupe and
SUSPENSION
- Springs Saleen specific rate front and rear springs
- Struts Saleen front struts (N2)
- Shocks Saleen rear shocks (N2)
- Control arms Boxed lower control arms
- Axle Three link live rear axle panhard rod
- Front MacPherson strut with lower control arm;
- Saleen Racecraft system including N2
struts with linear-rate coil-over springs;
1.38-in. tubular stabilizer (anti-roll) bar
with urethane pivot bushings; specially
calibrated suspension settings
- Rear Live axle located by three links plus
a Panhard rod; Saleen Racecraft
system including direct-acting,
linear-rate coil spings and N2 shocks;
0.79-in. stabilizer (anti-roll) bar; specially
calibrated suspension settings
STYLING AND INTERIOR
- Saleen leather sport seats with louvered head rest
- Saleen 200 MPH speedometer with black faced gauges
- Saleen twin gauge pod; boost and air temperature
- Saleen design dash vents and bezels
- Saleen steering wheel badge
- Saleen performance driving pedals with driver foot brace
- Saleen close ratio shifter
- Saleen shift knob
- Saleen door sill plates
- Saleen S281E graphics and identification
- Saleen windshield graphic
- Saleen fender badge
- Saleen serialized engine bay plaque
- Saleen serialized bumper number
- Saleen serialized dash plaque
- Saleen championship wreath
- Saleen S281 custom floor mats
- Saleen key fob
- Saleen "Eagle One" detail kit
- Saleen owners document portfolio and warranty guide
- Saleen tire pressure monitoring system
- Rockford Fosgate "Punch" Sound System Upgrade
Additional 150w amplifier with 12” long-throw subwoofer. Contoured to fit the coupe and convertible trunk perfectly. The sound quality of this system is superior to the Shaker 1000 and requires less trunk space.
BRAKES
- Saleen Brake System Standard
- Saleen ABS 6-Piston Calipers
- Saleen 15.0 in. Slotted & Vented Disc (Front)
WHEELS AND TIRES
- Saleen Forged 5 Spoke One Piece Wheels
- 20 in. x 9 in. Front Standard
- 20 in. x 10 in. Rear Standard
Chrome Wheels Optional
Ultra High Performance Pirelli P-Zero Rosso Tires
275/35ZR20 (Front) Standard
275/40ZR20 (Rear) Standard
Michilin Ultra High Performance Tires Optional
