hennessey Archives

Report: Hennessey unveils C7 Corvette Stingray upgrades that reach 1,000 HP

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Specialty, Racing

The all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray hasn’t even arrived in showrooms, but that minor speed bump hasn’t slowed Hennessey Performance (HPE) from introducing a full suite of packaged (and à la carte) upgrades to the highly anticipated American sports car that will undoubtedly trump even the factory’s future high-performance Z06 and ZR1 models.

In base form, the C7’s new 6.2-liter V8 will be rated at 455 horsepower. While that’s a strong start, Hennessey’s first two packages bolt on a TVS2300 supercharger system and other miscellaneous upgrades to find upwards of 150 additional horses (both come with a 3 Year/36,000-mile warranty). The more aggressive packages start with an HPE custom balanced and forged engine that is accompanied by two ball-bearing turbochargers, forged pistons and plenty of other go-fast hardware to deliver up to 1,000 horsepower (both come with a 1 Year/12,000-mile warranty).

The company has announced four different upgrade programs (prices include professional installation):

HPE600 Supercharged ($12,495) 600 hp @ 6,300 rpm
HPE700 Supercharged ($18,450) 700 hp @ 6,300 rpm
HPE800 Twin-Turbo ($54,950) 800 hp @ 6,300 rpm
HPE1000 Twin-Turbo ($67,950) 1,100 hp @ 6,300 rpm

John Hennessey told Autoblog that his company has been planning the C7 upgrades “for over a year” and that his team is “confident that we will be able to adapt the same types of upgrades that we have been doing for the C6 models over the past several years.” While he was unable to offer any performance estimates, Hennessey reminded us that his HPE700 upgrade on the C6 Grand Sport ran 0-60 in 3.3 sec. and 10.7 sec. @ 128 mph. “I would expect similar performance on the C7 or possibly a bit quicker,” he said. “We prefer to be cautious on performance estimates and promises until we know for a fact what the numbers are.” Hennessey Performance plans to have the first cars in customer’s hands by the end of the year.

Hennessey unveils C7 Corvette Stingray upgrades that reach 1,000 HP originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jul 2013 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hennessey’s 650-hp Cadillac CTS-V Wagon does what it does best

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Wagon, Videos, Cadillac, Luxury

2010 Hennessey V650 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

And now for something completely awesome: the 2010 Hennessey V650 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon doing terrible things to expensive tires. John Hennessey’s love affair with all things Cadillac is no secret; his wife’s daily driver is an HPE700-equipped CTS-V sedan. We’ve also seen Mr. Hennessey’s insatiable lust for showing off his cars embarrassing more expensive metal.

This time, though, the car in question doesn’t need to dust a Porsche off the line to prove its mettle. No, the V650 does a fine job of that on its own. With exhaust cutouts, an increase in boost from 9.5 to 13 psi and a quarter mile of open track ahead of it, the car burns its tires through first and second gears without skipping a beat. If we had to guess, we’d say it could keep going through third, but the tires deserve just a little mercy. Click past the jump to see the madness on film. Continue reading.

Continue reading Hennessey’s 650-hp Cadillac CTS-V Wagon does what it does best

Hennessey’s 650-hp Cadillac CTS-V Wagon does what it does best originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 May 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hennessey supercharges Hemi-powered Ram

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Truck, Videos, Dodge

2009 Hennessey HPE 500 Dodge Ram 1500

2009 Hennessey HPE 500 Dodge Ram 1500 – Click above to view videos after the jump

The lunatics in John Hennessey’s Texas hoon asylum have run amok yet again, this time bolting a supercharger to a Hemi-packing four-door Ram 1500. The result is a 500-hp mulch hauler that will get you and your whole weekend DIY crew to Lowe’s and back faster than a leaky water heater can flood your basement.

The power boost comes courtesy of the Hennessey HPE 500 upgrade package, which relies on a TVS2300 blower to open the 5.7-liter Hemi’s lungs just a little wider. The standard kit also includes a revised intake, new fuel injectors, a cat-back exhaust and revised engine management. The resulting 505 horses can be hitched to any 2009-and-up Ram 1500 Hemi.

Options include a full long-tube header exhaust, high-flow cats, a premium wheel and tire package, and your choice of a lowered or raised suspension. Whether you go for the wheel/tire upgrade is up to you, but with all that power under your right foot, it seems like a fine idea. Click past the jump to see the Hennessey HPE 500 Ram 1500 in action on the street and on the dyno.

[Source: Hennessey via YouTube | Image: Hennessey]

Continue reading Hennessey supercharges Hemi-powered Ram

Hennessey supercharges Hemi-powered Ram originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 May 2011 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hennessey beats 2011 Nissan GT-R again, this time with twin-turbo Escalade

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, SUV, Videos, Cadillac, Nissan, Luxury

Hennessey HPE1000 vs 2011 Nissan GT-R

Hennessey HPE1000 Cadillac Escalade vs. 2011 Nissan GT-R – Click above to watch video after the jump

The problem with being the standard-bearer for world-class performance is that you’re saddled with the burden of defending your crown at every turn. Take the 2011 Nissan GT-R, for example. This vehicle has the proud distinction of offering one of the highest performance-per-dollar ratios of any car on the planet, and as such, it’s the go-to challenger for any high-horsepower machine looking to make a name for itself.

Those would-be stars are typically low-slung tuner creations, but the team from Hennessey chose to line the big-bad Nissan up against something a little less traditional: its HPE1000 Cadillac Escalade. Whereas the 485-horsepower 2011 GT-R can dash to 60 mph in as little as 3.4 seconds, the big SUV packs two turbos, over 1,000 horsepower and 0-60 sprint of 3.3 seconds.

To be fair, the Godzilla in the video after the jump isn’t the new-and-improved 2012 model (stop us if you’ve heard this one before…), and the Caddy gets a massive jump on the Nissan, but the fact that a 6,000-pound SUV can manage to keep up with anything from the GT-R bloodline is an impressive enough feat. Click past the jump to check it out for yourself, and remember to keep your fender-to-fender shenanigans off the street.

[Source: Hennessey via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey beats 2011 Nissan GT-R again, this time with twin-turbo Escalade

Video: Hennessey beats 2011 Nissan GT-R again, this time with twin-turbo Escalade originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Hennessey Venom GT Chassis #03 dressed up in red

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, MISC

2011 hennessey venom gt in red

2011 Hennessey Venom GT in red – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve seen the silver-colored Hennessey Venom GT chassis number 01 out running about, and now, the tuning company has decided to show off its bright red chassis number 03. The 1,200-horsepower supercar can ran from 0-60 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds and has an estimated top speed of 267 mph.

We’ve stared at it, heard it, seen it belch fire on the dyno, Jay Leno’s had his time with it and now we say enough is enough. We’re more than ready for our test drive, and while the red paint job of this latest build is indeed sexy, we’d gladly drive one in beige if it meant some seat time was in order.

Click through the gallery below to see the 2011 Hennessey Venom GT looking resplendent in its shiny new red coat of paint.

Gallery: Hennessey Venom GT – Chassis Number 03

[Source: Hennessey Performance]

Pics Aplenty: Hennessey Venom GT Chassis #03 dressed up in red originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hennessey pits Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon against last year’s Nissan GT-R

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Wagon, Cadillac, Nissan, UAW/Unions

hennessey cts-v sport wagon versus nissan gt-r

Hennessey Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon versus 2011 Nissan GT-R – Click above to watch video after the jump

Hennessey is once again bringing its super station wagon out to the drag strip. The Texas tuner has taken Cadillac’s 556-horsepower fast family-hauler and tweaked it so that the 6.2-liter V8 now produces 650 hp. We previously showed you how it fared against an (outdated) Porsche 911 Turbo, and now Hennessey has brought the CTS-V Sport Wagon back to the track, and this time, the opponent in the other line is driving a Nissan GT-R.

A 2011 Nissan GT-R to be more precise. The model that produces 485 horsepower and runs down Hennessey’s track in 11.8-seconds. That’s a hair slower than the 11.7-second run ripped off by the Sport Wagon – an amazing time for the 4,398-pound American muscle machine.

However, the 2012 Nissan GT-R pumps out 530 horsepower, runs from 0-60 miles per hour in less than three seconds and will cover a quarter-mile in about 11.6 seconds. Now, you can take that to mean Hennessey should’ve run against the newer GT-R… or that they’ve built one hell of a station wagon. Click past the jump to watch the two cars run down the strip.

[Source: YouTube via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey pits Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon against last year’s Nissan GT-R

Video: Hennessey pits Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon against last year’s Nissan GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hennessey releases 602-hp Camaro HPE600 Convertible

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet

Hennessey HPE600 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Hennessey HPE600 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible – Click above to watch video after the jump

If for some strange reason you find that the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible SS doesn’t quite pack the punch you need, Hennessey has you covered. The Texas tuner has officially pulled the sheets back on the very first example of the company’s HPE600 Camaro Convertible, complete with a walloping 602 horsepower. That’s a full 172 ponies more than the most powerful production version, and the nudge in grunt comes courtesy of a TVS2300 supercharger and host of other upgrades designed to help the big V8 breathe a little easier.

As we’ve come to expect from Hennessey, the company’s wrenches also turned their attention toward the vehicle’s suspension, and buyers who opt for the muscle-bound droptop can expect to find a KW adjustable coilover suspension and wider 20-inch wheels wrapped in super-sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

Hennessey says that the topless wonder is good for dashing to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds and can clip off the quarter mile run in 12 seconds flat at 118 mph. That’s moving. Hit the jump to take a look at a video of the car in action as well as the full press release.

Gallery: Hennessey HPE600 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

[Source: Hennessey]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey releases 602-hp Camaro HPE600 Convertible

Video: Hennessey releases 602-hp Camaro HPE600 Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo pits apples against (old) oranges

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Wagon, Videos, Cadillac, Porsche, Specialty

Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo – Click above to watch video after the jump

While the Nürburgring circuit seems to be today’s venue of choice for sports car bragging rights, the drag strip remains king when it comes to acceleration contests. With that in mind, the folks over at Hennessey Performance have released a video of their latest hopped-up Cadillac V650 Wagon taking on Porsche’s venerable 911 Turbo. As expected, the 650-horsepower “Family Station Wagon” nudges the lighter 480-horsepower “Germany’s Finest” coupe for the win.

Wait a second.

The video clearly states the Porsche has a “Tiptronic” transmission. This means it is an older, pre-2010 model (note the lack of LED brake lights) that’s missing the current lightning-fast dual-clutch PDK gearbox and standard limited-slip rear end. We don’t know for sure, but it could even be an aged 2006 model. Thanks to launch control, today’s standard 500-horsepower 997 Turbo does 0-60 in less than three seconds… easily. It is also disclosed that the V650 is riding on drag radials – a big advantage over street compounds on a well-used strip.

Nobody’s downplaying the ferociousness of the blown wagon, and we welcome this type of challenge, but let’s be sure to choose our words more carefully and keep the contestants in the same era. Follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Hennessey Performance]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo pits apples against (old) oranges

Video: Hennessey V650 Wagon vs. Porsche 911 Turbo pits apples against (old) oranges originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hennessey Venom GT rocks the dyno, spits fire

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Videos, MISC

Hennessey Venom GT dyno run

Hennessey channels Top Gun with its Venom GT – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Hennessey Venom GT is a beastly two-seater that produces as much power as a small sun. An LS9, taken from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, is massaged to produce an astonishing 933 horsepower and 874 pound-feet of torque at the rear wheels. If those numbers don’t scare you, we’re guessing you’re probably a naval aviator who is used to seeing the bright flash of afterburners coming to life. If so, you’re in luck because the Venom GT also spits hot fire.

We’ve seen it run on the dyno and we’ve also seen it produce a few flames from just off idle. Now we have video of Hennessey upping the ante by combining the two. While at full ~~song~~ scream, the Hennessey Venom GT belches a massive jet of fire out of its twin-exhaust outlets. Neato. Grab a stick, some marshmallows and click past the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Hennessey Venom GT

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey Venom GT rocks the dyno, spits fire

Video: Hennessey Venom GT rocks the dyno, spits fire originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hennessey Venom GT visits Jay Leno’s Garage

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Celebrities, Specialty

Jay Leno drives the Hennessey Venom GT

Jay Leno drives the Hennessey Venom GT – Click above to watch video after the jump

In his quest to get his mitts on every piece of covetable sheetmetal on the planet, Jay Leno has just had a Hennessey Venom GT in his modest little garage. With 1,200 horsepower packed into a lightweight chassis supplied by the gurus at Lotus, the machine is what our supercar dreams would be made of – if only we took LSD before bed. John Hennessey, the man behind this beast, says that the original goal for the Venom GT was to create a vehicle that made no apologies for its performance and power-to-weight ratio. As a result, don’t expect too many creature comforts to crop up in the cabin.

At around 2,700 pounds, the Venom GT provides one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any vehicle made today – production or otherwise. The biggest surprise is that even with all that power, the engine is sucking down about 18 psi of boost and runs off of pump gas. Sounds tasty to us. Hit the jump to see the late night funny man’s take onthe Venom GT.

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: Hennessey Venom GT visits Jay Leno’s Garage

Video: Hennessey Venom GT visits Jay Leno’s Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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