Ford Mustang goes Black Label

The wraps have come off the Saleen S302 Black Label Mustang at a gala event in Los Angeles, where its creators christened the Ford V8 muscle car as the most powerful production Mustang to date.

Boasting a striking new appearance inside and out, the hard-core 'Stang has been comprehensively modified to deliver a one-two sucker punch in the pony car performance and aesthetics departments.

Saleen's spanner men and women have worked Ford's supercharged 5.0-litre V8 hard, integrating a twin-screw supercharger, high-flow fuel-injectors and a tweaked ECU to take power from the standard Mustang GT's 303kW/525Nm to a tyre-shredding 544kW/812Nm.

That equates to 730hp and 600 lb-ft of torque – using low octane (91) petrol – and easily eclipses the most powerful version of the latest Mustang seen previously, the 465kW Ford Racing 'Super Pack' co-developed with Roush, which was first seen in the King Cobra concept at last November's SEMA aftermarket show in Las Vegas and is now available via US Ford dealers.

No acceleration time has been claimed by Saleen for its Black Label Mustang, but given the official Ford Racing kit is claimed to propel the Mustang over the quarter-mile in less than 11 seconds, it should be good for low 10s.

Apart from V8 Supercar-style power output, the Saleen S302 Black Label Mustang also benefits from revised suspension "that is equally fit for the street and track" says the US tuner, which has also dabbled in building bespoke cars, such as the S7R and S5S Raptor concept.

Wheels and brakes have also been modified, with the former offering more stopping power via new callipers and the latter now 20-inch five-spoke rims.

There's no mistaking Saleen's most powerful Mustang, which sports a bold new look characterised by more aerodynamic visuals that also improve engine bay thermal dynamics.

The bonnet features a central scoop and twin vents to improve cooling while a new front fascia gives the vehicle a more sinister look, complete with a lower carbon air splitter. At the back there's a new rear splitter, also carbon-fibre, and new side skirts are also fitted to finish the new suit.

Inside, the Black Label gets new Alcantara upholstery for the sport seats, a new instrument cluster, Saleen floor mats and plenty of other customisation including individually-numbered build plates.

While the S7R and S5S Raptor concept in December, the limited-edition Saleen model starts at $US73,214 ($A93,165) in the US.

Despite costing more than three times the most basic Mustang in the US (the $US23,800 2.3-litre turbo-petrol EcoBoost four-cylinder), Saleen says "the order bank has been filling up fast for this one".

"You simply cannot get a vehicle with this much power, style, performance, and exclusivity anywhere in the world at such a good value," stated Steve Saleen. "Except from us."

Alas, Saleen's hottest Mustang ever is unlikely to be sold in Australia.