Saleen gets fined $700k for selling uncertified cars in Cali
Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Coupes, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Etc., Recalls/TSBs, Saleen

The California Air Resources Board has sent Saleen a $700,000 bill for making non-compliant changes to three of its aftermarket products. Saleen's Focus N20, Focus S121, and Mustang S281 were altered in ways that weren't legal under ARB guidelines. Based on the release, it appears that Saleen's offenses were altering emissions control systems on the N20, and not getting the other two models certified.
The size of the fine and the fact that the ARB expressly states it is using the fine as a deterrent for other aftermarket tuners makes it sound like Saleen knew it wasn't in compliance. However, the ARB release says that only the Focus N20 must be recalled and reconfigured. The other two models "were ultimately certified for use in California," but the ARB gives no indication that they had to be recalled in order to do so. Regardless, if you've got an N20 in SoCal that hasn't been fixed, get it off the road and back to Saleen.

 

if you have a focus N20, you should get it off the road because its ugly and slow...

 

...even after having N20 added.

 

right..WITH the nitrous hooked up, its only ALMOST as fast as a stock SRT4.

 

As long as we are talking about the "SVT version" and noting that it would be as long as the tires don't literally fall off in the process if you know what I mean.

 

the SVT model is even slower!

 

Really? Was that one of those wagon versions, excuse me "hatchback" versions?

 

im pretty sure that they are both offered as "3-doors", or a two door hatchback (saleen and svt), although the svt model (i believe) also comes as a "5-door".

the saleen model is a very low 14 second car, and the SVT models are in the mid/high 15 to low 16 second range depending on the year...[:'(]

 

Sounds like Ford abused the SVT badge on the Focus like Dodge abused the R/T badge on the Caliber. However, abusing the SVT badge was more significant as the SVT badge is the highest level badge of any Ford; meanwhile, the R/T badge is second to the SRT level these days and the SRT-4 Caliber is worthy of the SRT badge.

 

if they ever release it...[&:]

honestly, "ford" doesnt really have much to do with SVT vehicles...granted, sVT is a division of FMC, but their projects are supposed to be seperate from regular vehicle planning. basically, what PVO did for DCX...but they dissolved PVO.