News Source: topspeed.com

The Chevrolet Camaro  and the Ford Mustang  may get all the muscle car headlines, but anybody who knows their ponies know that this is a three-car battle. It seems a little strange to say that the Dodge Challenger  is the most understated of the three, but the Dodge  muscle car  has proven to be as capable as its Chevy  and Ford  counterparts. Hennessey  definitely knows what’s up, and that is why it has programs for all three muscle cars. This one, though, is about the Challenger, specifically the Challenger SRT Hellcat  version, considered as the most powerful Challenger ever.

So what happens when you take the “most powerful Challenger ever” and hand it over to Hennessey? Magic happens, that’s what. The tuner’s new program for the Dodge muscle car pushes past all of the cosmetic upgrades and focuses solely on making the Challenger’s supercharged, 6.2-liter, V-8 mill more powerful. That might sound excessive for some people considering that the muscle car already has 707 horsepower at its disposal. But, last I checked, the word “excessive” is completely foreign to the same company that gave us the Venom GT.  There’s no such thing as excess to Hennessey!

Needless to say, the Challenger Hellcat received a series of performance modifications, each offering different output levels depending on what a customer can handle. There’s an HPE800 kit, an HPE850, and for those who really want their Challengers to fly, an HPE1000 program. I know what might interest a majority of Challenger owners, but in the interest of full disclosure, that HPE1000 kit is really something else. Ever wanted to feel what it’s like to cover a quarter-mile in under 10 seconds? The answer: HPE1000.

The exterior was left in standard configuration so don’t anticipate any modifications that’ll change the way the Challenger Hellcat looks. There are some Hennessey  badges placed on the car. These badges count as the only exterior modifications, which isn’t that bad considering that Hennessey’s badge is now prominently displayed in the rear while the “Powered by Hennessey” badges can be seen in the side and rear of the muscle car. At least people will know why the Challenger Hellcat has so much power under its hood. I suppose it’s only right that Hennessey’s interior upgrades are also limited to embroidered headrests, premium floor mats, and a Hennessey serial numbered plaque that’s been signed by John Hennessey himself. If that doesn’t signify the exclusivity of this program, I don’t know what will. Other than these additions, the cabin of the Challenger Hellcat remains the way it was when it left the production facility.

Hennessy has never been known for being a world-class cosmetic tuner. It made its bread with performance modifications and this one is no different. The Challenger Hellcat has three separate modification stages, beginning with the HPE800. It’s by far the simplest engine tune with the only notable additions being a high-flow air filter, a new ECU, an upgraded tuning software, and a lower pulley upgrade that increases boost by 1-2 psi. The result of these modifications is an extra 98 horsepower, bringing the total output from the Challenger Hellcat’s 6.2-liter, supercharged V-8 engine to 805 horsepower.

The next level engine upgrade is the HPE850. This one comes with the same new and improved components as the HPE800 program. The only difference is that Hennessey used the tuning software to bring the muscle car’s output to a fiercer 852 horsepower. As impressive as the HPE800 and HPE850 kits are, neither compare to the coup de grâce of the entire program for the Challenger Hellcat.

This is where the HPE1000 comes into the picture and, as far as upgrades go, this one is as extensive as it gets. For instance, Hennessey  installed a pair of ball-bearing turbochargers running at 15 psi to work in collaboration with the stock supercharger already found in the car’s power-packed V-8. A new high-flow air to water intercooler system was also installed, as well as a stainless steel turbo headers and downpipes, upgraded high-flow fuel injectors, and a tuned ECU. All these additions helped bring the muscle car’s output to an estimated 1,032 horsepower and 987 pound-feet of torque. According to Hennessey, those numbers help the car sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.7 seconds to go with a quarter-mile time of just 9.9 seconds at 142 mph. No mention was made on a new top speed, but with these changes in tow, the Challenger Hellcat should have no problem exceeding 200 mph. Hennessey doesn’t typically release pricing details of its programs, opting instead to have prospective customers reach out to discuss the details on price and turnaround time. The SOP for this program will be the same. It should be noted that those who do end up buying a program will receive a free lifetime membership in the official Hennessey Vehicle Registry and a one year / 12,000-mile limited warranty on their tuning kits.