Thursday 22nd December 2011

Hennessey's 823hp Cherokee

Seven-litre Cherokee hits 0-60 in 3.1 seconds, doesn't leave time to ask why you'd want it to

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God bless America. Just when you think they might start embracing four-cylinder hybrids en masse comes news of a V8-powered SUV that'll show a clean pair of heels to a Porsche 911 Turbo.

Not just any SUV either: this a Jeep Grand Cherokee, its good ol' boy V8 bored out to seven litres and given twin turbos by barmy Texan tuner Hennessey.

The same nutters that gave us the 1,200hp, Lotus Exige based Venom GT have managed to extract a still-mighty 823bhp from the standard SRT8 V8 engine. And that, they claim, is good for a 0-60mph time of just 3.1 seconds. Which is 0.2secs better than the Porsche 911 Turbo S.

It's also a whole heap more expensive, costing the equivalent of £151,000 if you were ballsy enough to want to import one. Wisely, production numbers are low, with just 24 undergoing the derangement process.

That also includes swapping the standard suspension for a lowered set-up, a transmission upgrade and bigger brakes with six pistons front and four out back. Hennessey also jazzes up the interior to give it a Texas tasteful leather/Alcantara custom leather makeover.

Who'd own a car like this? Owner John Hennessey has a very specific idea of the HPE800's customer. "This vehicle is designed for the performance-minded driver who lives in Aspen or Moscow and wants to be the fastest in all weather conditions."

[johnpeat]

Awful rendering but it's not actually as ugly as a Cayenne - which is surprising really...

[sparkster8]

blimey charlie !

[redtwin]

doogz said:

Does it actually exist? And can it produce the goods to back up the stats?

Or is it a picture and some numbers that someone's made up?

The 620bhp version exists, not too much of a stretch to think that they can add another 200bhp with an over bore and a healthy dose of cash.

http://youtu.be/WWP1F9BUlWc

[soad]

Mentally tuned!

[XitUp]

John Hennessey said:

This vehicle is designed for the performance-minded driver who lives in Aspen or Moscow and wants to be the fastest in all weather conditions.

On those tyres?

[MX7]

redtwin said:

The 620bhp version exists, not too much of a stretch to think that they can add another 200bhp with an over bore and a healthy dose of cash.

http://youtu.be/WWP1F9BUlWc

So much like the 1,200hp Lotus Exige, which I don't think has ever been seen to produce 1,200hp.

It's hideous.

[slacker172]

Could I just buy this for 3000 euros and do the same?

http://link.marktplaats.nl/514107670

(Oh by the way anyone not used to the Dutch road tax bills, take a look at how much PER QUARTER this would cost to tax. (Which is why we all drive around in bloody Priuses and Toyota Aygo's !!!!!)

[Agent Orange]

Having seen a Jeep Limited 5.7 wallow up to within an inch of my bumper this morning on the M27 and A31 I'd hate to try and control this thing with over 800bhp!

With half that power this Jeep looked out of control on a straight flat road. Constantly bouncing and wallowing all over the place. Sounded wonderful but seemed to be a lot of hard work and noise for not much return in acceleration.

None the less - doffing my cap for making it.

[The Donster]

Did they deliberately make that chin spoiler look like the front end of a snowplough??

[anonymous-user]

That is one mean mother....'watch your mouth'

I am sure the drug dealers and pimps will all be driving one.

[redtwin]

doogz said:

I know, but they're claiming 0-60 figures. Which kinda leads me to assume they've actually built one, or these figures are just guesses?

The 620 version does a 0-60 in 3.4 so they probably just entered the extra 200bhp figure into one of those drag racing calculator programs and arrived at the 3.1 second time.

Who knows for sure though, the point I was making is that it seems plausible.

[TommyBuoy]

I would like to go on record to say I would have one - I dislike the X5M & X6M, but this would get my cash, as long as I had it.

[mazdajason]

Bonkers, but I want it!

[oagent]

For that money you could get a couple of nice group B cars on snow tyres and actually be the fastest in all weather conditions.

[mylesmcd]

Ah balls............. Ill take one too, its nearly Christmas sure......

[JohnG1]

oagent said:

For that money you could get a couple of nice group B cars on snow tyres and actually be the fastest in all weather conditions.

^^ this!!

[M666 EVO]

mazdajason said:

Bonkers, but I want it!

What he said. x 10... Brilliant and a looker!

[don logan]

M666 EVO said:

mazdajason said:

Bonkers, but I want it!

What he said. x 10... Brilliant and a looker!

M666EVO you are meant to be having a go in an ML63 first!!!!!!! :-)

[EDLT]

oagent said:

For that money you could get a couple of nice group B cars on snow tyres and actually be the fastest in all weather conditions.

[Zad]

I would like to see a real one (not a rendering obviously Photoshopped in) but with proper real world wheels and chunky tyres. Oh, and with the ridiculous front splitter removed. If it really can make 823bhp then surely the big 1000 can't be that far away?

Anyone into proper(ish) off-roading might like to see a recent Top Gear USA where they had a play in Alaska with some old trucks: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b017z1kn/Top_...