Autoblog

Jay Leno's Garage welcomes the Hennessey Venom GT

Zach Bowman — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:26:00 EST

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

John Hennessey has stopped by Jay Leno's Garage for a second time to show off the 2012 Hennessey Venom GT. Last time the tuner-turned-supercar-maker visited the comedian's garage, Leno didn't get a shot behind the wheel of the Venom GT because the vehicle had yet to be legalized in the States. That was then. Now, the 1,200 horspeower beast has all of its paperwork in order, and Hennessey has been kind enough to hand over the keys to one very yellow Venom GT. Leno proceeds to take the machine out into the wild for a brief frolic through public streets.

What does he think? Surprisingly enough, Leno compares the vehicle to his Ariel Atom, albeit with considerably more power. That's high praise considering how lithe and well-balanced the Atom is. Leno also spends plenty of time pontificating on just how much cabin room the Venom GT offers, even for a six-foot tall comedian like himself. Hit the jump to check out the video.

Continue reading Jay Leno's Garage welcomes the Hennessey Venom GT

Jay Leno's Garage welcomes the Hennessey Venom GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Hennessey's own CTS-V Sport Wagon pull a sub-11-second quarter mile [UPDATE]

John Neff — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:32:00 EST

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

The image above is a perfect example of potential energy. What we have is famed tuner John Hennessey's own personal daily driver, a modified Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon called "Hammer Wagon," about to run down the quarter mile. Its twin-turbo V8 is producing upwards of 1,000 horsepower, but with the Christmas tree still glowing red, it's got nowhere to send that energy.

Watch the video to see the video's subsequent frames in which the Hammer Wagon hooks up its ridiculously meaty rear tires and tears down the tarmac to the tune of 10.69 seconds at 134 miles per hour.

Hennessey is known for pushing his daily driver to its limits. Last month he maxed out its speedometer at 189.7 mph while participating in the annual Texas Mile.

UPDATE: Hennessey wrote us to offer a point of clarification. His Hammer Wagon is not, as we reported, twin turbocharged, but instead features the company's V700 upgrade package plus a 75-hp dry nitrous shot. Together they're good for about 782 horsepower at the engine.

Continue reading Watch Hennessey's own CTS-V Sport Wagon pull a sub-11-second quarter mile [UPDATE]

Watch Hennessey's own CTS-V Sport Wagon pull a sub-11-second quarter mile [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hennessey Cadillac CTS-V Wagon breaks own Texas mile speed

Zach Bowman — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST

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

John Hennessey recently returned to the Texas Mile with his 700-horsepower Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon for another shot at high-speed glory. The long-roof rocket managed to clip off a top speed of 189.7 miles per hour in the standing mile, which beat out last year's figure by a safe margin.

That speed is certainly a feather worth sticking in the Hammer Wagon's cap, but it may not be the most impressive part of this story. Hennessey didn't trailer the CTS-V Sport Wagon to the track. Instead, the builder drove the car to the event, made his full-speed run, topped off the tank with pump gas and headed 175 miles home.

Could this be the perfect vehicle? We certainly hold a special place in our hearts for the stock CTS-V Sportwagon, and Hennessey's efforts with the platform have made the vehicle no less desirable. Hit the jump to check out a video of the Texas Mile run for yourself.

Continue reading Hennessey Cadillac CTS-V Wagon breaks own Texas mile speed

Hennessey Cadillac CTS-V Wagon breaks own Texas mile speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:00:00 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

Aaron Richardson — Sat, 07 May 2011 18:58:00 EST

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

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 building ZR1-powered HPE700 Chevy Camaro Convertible

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:27:00 EST

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

2011 Hennessey HPE700 Camaro Convertible - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is getting ready to take the stage at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, but John Hennessey and his band of tuners can't wait that long. Hennessey Performance has announced plans and specs for its upcoming, limited-edition 2011 Hennessey HPE700 Camaro Convertible.

HPE had a hit on its hands when it announced the 2010 HPE700 Camaro. That 725-horsepower coupe was limited to just 24 examples and they were all quickly spoken for. Since Chevrolet is bringing out the droptop Camaro, Hennessey has decided to produce another 24-car limited-edition run with the 2011 model. The 2011 Hennessey HPE700 will be available in both coupe and convertible form, and the cars stats are staggering.

The HPE700 ditches the LS3 mill found in the standard Camaro SS and in its place sticks the supercharged LS9 from the Corvette ZR1. Hennessey says the motor has been tweaked to produce 755 hp and 763 pound-feet of torque. The 6.2-liter V8 is able to hit those numbers thanks to revised boost levels and a more robust fuel system. Thanks to all that power, Hennessey has listed a 0-60 mph time of just 3.3 seconds. A trip down the quarter-mile happens in 10.9 seconds at 130 miles per hour. Those figures are for the hardtop version when fitted with optional Nitto drag radials.

It's not just a straight-line shooter though, as Hennessey adds more than power to its HPE700. The car is fitted with lightweight HPE wheels, 15-inch brakes with six-piston front calipers, larger sway bars and an adjustable coilover suspension setup. The exterior is fitted with numerous carbon fiber trim pieces. Inside, the HPE700 Camaro receives Hennessey logos on the headrests and floor mats, an HPE race shift knob and upgraded shifter, a numbered dash and hood plaque and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel.

Currently, there is no set allocation plan for the coupe and convertible in the 24-car run. Pricing has been set at a stout $132,500, but that includes the cost of the base vehicle. It also includes a one-day performance driving course at Lonestar Motorsports Park. The quarter-mile dragstrip, which has been featured in many of Hennessey's videos, is located next door to the company's production facility and showroom.

Full details can be found in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Hennessey HPE700 LS9 Camaro Convertible

[Source: Hennessey]

Continue reading Hennessey building ZR1-powered HPE700 Chevy Camaro Convertible

Hennessey building ZR1-powered HPE700 Chevy Camaro Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quick Spin: Hennessey V700 is crazy, fast [w/video]

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Cadillac

2010 Hennessey V700 - Click above for high-res image gallery

There are two kinds of people in the world. The first kind drives Cadillac's supercharged CTS-V, experiences the thrill of 556 horsepower paired with 551 pound-feet of torque and declares, "This thing is a monster. This is the fastest, most incredible American performance sedan ever made." Then you have the other type of person, the kind that takes the 4,300-pound CTS-V to 60 miles per hour in just over four seconds, runs the quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds at 115 mph and says, "Meh." Should you fall into that second category, John Hennessey has got a car for you.

John's calling it the Hennessey V700 and, as you might have ascertained, it's a Cadillac CTS-V pumped up on the best auto-steroids available in the Houston area. One crank of the fake key and your ears quickly explain that the gnashing, metal-on-metal-on-lava sounds leaking out from beneath the floor pan don't come from some run-of-the-mill super-Cadillac. No, something special is going on under that thar tortured hood. Viciously special. Follow the jump to find out exactly what.

Gallery: Quick Spin: Hennessey V700

Continue reading Quick Spin: Hennessey V700 is crazy, fast [w/video]

Quick Spin: Hennessey V700 is crazy, fast [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hennessey Venom GT to debut at 2010 Geneva Motor Show

Drew Phillips — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show

Hennessey Venom GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's been two long years since John Hennessey announced plans to build his very own supercar, and we were beginning to wonder if it was ever going to happen. Apparently, Hennessey's plans are still a go as the Texas tuner just announced through its newsletter that the Venom GT will make its official public debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Since the initial press release, Hennessey has made a few changes to the car's proposed specs. Listed curb weight has dropped from 2700 to 2400 lbs and the engine is now a "Hennessey V8" rather than a twin-turbo Viper V10. Power rating is "up to 1,200 bhp" rather than the initially stated 1,000 and top speed has been listed as 272 mph. No matter what the final specifications, it sounds like the Venom GT will be sure to impress.

Gallery: Hennessey Venom GT

[Source: Hennessey Performance Engineering]

Hennessey Venom GT to debut at 2010 Geneva Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Commencing countdown, engine on for LS9-powered Hennessey HPE700

Drew Phillips — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Coupe, Videos, Chevrolet

Click above to view the video after the jump

Normally the twisting of an ignition key doesn't constitute news here at Autoblog, but this is one of the few exceptions. Back in January, Hennessey Performance announced the HPE700, a concoction born from the combination of an LS9 supercharged V8 from a ZR1 and a 2010 Camaro. The Texas-based company only recently shoe-horned the engine into the engine bay. A video camera was on when it was finally time to start the newly created monster, and the sound is nothing short of amazing. The result of open headers plus what appears to be a fairly aggressive cam makes for a sound that has the hairs on the backs of our necks standing on end. Have a listen for yourself by watching the video after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Brian!

Gallery: Hennessey Camaro HPE700

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Commencing countdown, engine on for LS9-powered Hennessey HPE700

VIDEO: Commencing countdown, engine on for LS9-powered Hennessey HPE700 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Want to hear what Hennessey's ZR1-powered Camaro will sound like?

John Neff — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Supercars, Chevrolet

Click above to watch video after the jump

Back in January, we showed you an early rendering of the Hennessey HPE700, a car we called the bastard love child of a Camaro SS and Corvette ZR1. Development of the "ZR1 and then some"-powered Camaro is well underway, and John Hennessey of Hennessey Performance Engineering just sent us this video of the HPE700 powertrain being manhandled by the recently retired John Heinricy on a track in Texas. For now, the 705-horsepower LS9 engine tuned by HPE is living in its native home beneath the hood of a yellow ZR1. In the hands of Heinricy, it propels he and the car up to 145 mph on one of the back straights at MSR Houston. The engine sound is sonorous and quite unlike what we're used to hearing from a Corvette, which means it should sound downright alien in the Camaro. Follow the jump to watch the video and hear what we mean.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Want to hear what Hennessey's ZR1-powered Camaro will sound like?

VIDEO: Want to hear what Hennessey's ZR1-powered Camaro will sound like? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hennessey Performance ready to tap 2010 Ford Taurus SHO's potential

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Sedan, Ford

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Charles, one of our eagle-eyed readers, came across this page on the Hennessey website announcing plans to offer upgrades for the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. A quick email and a subsequent phone call from Mr. Hennessey himself confirmed that the power-obsessed tuner is hoping to exploit the new SHO's potential later this year.

John, a former first-gen SHO owner himself, was impressed with the new SHO's specs when it was revealed last week, and the hope is that enthusiasts will start looking for modifications once sales begin later this year. At the onset, expect intake and exhaust mods, followed by a boost controller, turbo and intercooler upgrades and possibly some suspension tweaks.

Since Ford is primarily marketing its line of EcoBoost engines towards fuel-conscious consumers, there's little doubt that the automaker left something on the table. We're sure tuners are ready to take up the challenge, and it looks like John and his team will be at the forefront.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

Hennessey Performance ready to tap 2010 Ford Taurus SHO's potential originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snake Skin Green Hennessey Venom 1000TT up for sale

Drew Phillips — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:03:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Coupe, Performance, Supercars, Dodge

Click above for a high resolution image

As if 1000 horsepower, 0-60 mph in 2.25 seconds and the huge rear wing didn't attract enough attention. It just had to be in Snake Skin Green. According to Hennessey, this is the first and only Venom Twin-Turbo in this color, and it's listed for sale on HennesseyPerformance.com. It comes with the 1200-horsepower upgrade option, VenomAero body kit, KW adjustable coilover suspension, Brembo brakes, lightweight wheels, and more. The car's new owner will also be able to make Bugatti Veyron owners green with envy as they see this Viper's taillights fading into the distance. Click away in the full-res gallery below.

BONUS: Video of said Venom Viper spinning out while racing a Porsche 911 added after the jump.

Gallery: Hennessey Venom 1000TT SRT Coupe

[Source: Hennessey Performance]

Continue reading Snake Skin Green Hennessey Venom 1000TT up for sale

Snake Skin Green Hennessey Venom 1000TT up for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 May 2008 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More views of the Hennessey Venom GT

John Neff — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Supercars

click above for more images of the Hennessey Venom GT

We showed you an initial concept sketch of the Hennessey Venom GT last month, and the tuner best known for building ridiculously powerful Dodge Vipers has released another pair of pics, this time showing the mid-engine concept's rear with its retractable spoiler both up and down. In our previous post, we mentioned the undeniable likeness that the Venom GT shares with the Lotus Elise, which is also on display from this angle. We can also see just how extreme the car's design is, with a carbon fiber rear diffuser that we're sure isn't just for show and twin tail pipes that exit up high between the taillights. Carbon fiber skirts also peek out the sides below the massive air intake for the mid-mounted twin-turbo Viper engine and the extra-wide air extractor vents behind the front wheels. It seems clear to us that Hennessey intends to make a go of building its own exotic, just like Saleen did with the S7, and we hear two cars will be built to show potential customers in 2009. With a power-to-weight ratio of 2.7 lbs. per horsepower, a 2,700 lbs. curb weight, and an estimated 0-62 time of 2.5 seconds, we don't expect the Venom GT will be a tough sell.

[Source: Hennessey]

Gallery: Hennessey Venom GT

More views of the Hennessey Venom GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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