Tuesday 7th February 2023

Hennessey announces 'H700' C8 Corvette Stingray

LT2 V8 gets supercharger and more than 700hp - watch out, Z06...

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It can’t have been long after the Corvette was first seen in 1953 that tuning them began in earnest. Like almost every American sports car, there’s always been some untapped potential for curious owners to explore. That remains true for the current, mid-engined, C8 generation, too, or at least according to Hennessey. Because it’s made a 700hp one.

The H700 kit uses a supercharger for its big gains, a method employed to such great effect on small block Chevy V8s over the years. Where the standard 6.2-litre LT2 makes just under 500hp and 465lb ft, the Hennessey car cranks out 718hp and 638lb ft, a 44 per cent increase in power and 37 per cent boost in torque. Which is quite a lot. More even than the spectacular Z06, which screams its flat-plane cranked heart out to 680hp and 460lb ft. It’s probably not fair to compare forced induction with 8,500rpm atmospheric engines, but as an indicator of just how potent the H700 Corvette is there’s not much better.

The supercharger requires no more than an ECU tweak and an intercooler to reach those incredible numbers, indicative of the potential in the standard 6.2-litre engine. Hennessey is also offering an uprated exhaust as an option, but every H700 car will get a three year, 36,000-mile warranty. The dual-clutch gearbox is left untouched, as is the chassis, which does feel brave given the huge uplift in torque. There is a track testing video, showing off the speed and the sound and the donut ability, but there’s not much cornering - so don’t say you weren’t warned…

Hennessey claims this Corvette is arguably the best value high performance supercar in the world, and it’s pretty hard to contest that. A full H700 package - comprised of the supercharger, intercooler, ECU tune, exhaust, graphics and lightweight wheels - is $49,950. Those just after the power can have it for $35k (just over £29k). Even adding that number to the £100,000 or so of a UK, right-hand drive car from the classifieds - there’s international shipping available - gets a brand new, 700hp+, mid-engined supercar for less than £150k. Because not everyone wants a McLaren 720S, right? The H700 package is on sale now.

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[sidesauce]

Not sure why but something about the styling, now having seen them in the metal, isn't quite right. Just can't put my finger on it...

[tomsharp78]

This……. or the BMW M3 (E30) Johnny Cecotto Edition?

[SimmoJon]

35k for a bolt on supercharger and a map hardly ‘screams’ value to me.

[apx7]

How frequently do we get articles about Hennessey here? Much like the regurgitated marketting articles on Abt, Manhart etc.

SimmoJon said:

35k for a bolt on supercharger and a map hardly ‘screams’ value to me.

Assuming Hennessey doesn't take bits off your shiny new vette and sell to someone else

Edited by apx7 on Tuesday 7th February 11:39

[WCZ]

for me they've been forever tarnished in my mind from all the stuff they did to customers early on

[GreatScott2016]

sidesauce said:

Not sure why but something about the styling, now having seen them in the metal, isn't quite right. Just can't put my finger on it...

Agreed, but I think it's the rear quarter, looks oddly proportioned.

[Gecko1978]

Hmmm in the US how much is a Mclaren with similar power because the corvette which I like a lot is hardly the same mix of exotic materials so 49k for some bits an bibs seems steep but the EUC was supposed to be uncracelkable guess its not now

[ManyMotors]

apx7 said:

How frequently do we get articles about Hennessey here? Much like the regurgitated marketting articles on Abt, Manhart etc.

SimmoJon said:

35k for a bolt on supercharger and a map hardly ‘screams’ value to me.

Assuming Hennessey doesn't take bits off your shiny new vette and sell to someone else

Edited by apx7 on Tuesday 7th February 11:39

Right on. I had this same thought, which you wrote first.

[ManyMotors]

WCZ said:

for me they've been forever tarnished in my mind from all the stuff they did to customers early on

I agree with you. Since Hennessey is in Texas, they likely have a huge source of dopes to buy their products.

[AmyRichardson]

Seems fairly tame - aren't there variants of the SC 6.2 running ~800hp from factory?

[Oliver80]

I don't care what engine is in any of them, the styling is an absolute disaster.

For a blank sheet design, I'm astounded that that complete mess got signed off for production.

Unforgivable.

[ate one too]

.... and it still doesn't look anything like a Ferrari ....

[BogBeast]

I was under the impression that the ECU was (so far) uncrackable. I wonder what tweaks Hennessey have come up with

[nismo48]

ate one too said:

.... and it still doesn't look anything like a Ferrari ....

+1

[dam.arionj]

Hennessey's announcement of the H700 C8 corvette stingray with a supercharger and over 700hp sounded exciting. However, overall it is mixed opinion about Hennesseys offering and the Corvette's styling. I just love the Corvette C8. You can go here https://c8corvetteblog.com/ to find more details about Hennessey's offering and the Corvette styling.

Edited by dam.arionj on Sunday 25th June 20:18

[swisstoni]

Oliver80 said:

I don't care what engine is in any of them, the styling is an absolute disaster.

For a blank sheet design, I'm astounded that that complete mess got signed off for production.

Unforgivable.

Agreed. The primary job of a Corvette is to look fantastic. Something they’ve managed pretty well over the years.

But to fluff a mid-engined opportunity is hard to believe.

I assume it’ll be getting a refresh fairly soon as its 3 years old now.