Saleen’s Foursixteen makes Tesla’s Model S even more slippery

By Stephen Edelstein August 18, 2014

Saleen chose the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to unveil its modified Tesla Model S. Called the Foursixteen, it’s completely new direction for a company known for high-horsepower muscle cars and the S7 supercar.

Saleen put its mark on the Foursixteen by replacing the trademark Tesla fascia with… nothing, really. There isn’t even a hint of a grille, making no bones about this car’s electric powertrain.

Other visual changes include functional air intakes in the front bumper, a trunk-lid spoiler, and carbon fiber rear diffuser. Saleen says the new parts improve the Foursixteen’s aerodynamic performance over the already-slippery stock Model S.

The Foursixteen is based on the top 85-kilowatt-hour Model S Performance (or P85, for short), and has the same 416 horsepower as stock. However, Saleen added an 11.39:1 final-drive gear, which it says will improve acceleration.

Related: Empty your bank account with this $205,820 Tesla Model S

To improve handling, Saleen added a locking differential and upgraded the suspension with monotube coilovers. A fully-adjustable suspension setup is also available, as are carbon-ceramic brakes.

On the software side of things, Saleen altered the electronic stability control programming, allowing drivers to keep the power on longer while cornering. Perhaps this will pave the way for some drifting Model S YouTube videos.

Pricing for the Saleen Foursixteen starts at $152,000 for the complete, although buyers of this performance-focused electric vehicle will likely still qualify for Federal, state, and local incentives.

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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