Thursday 21st December 2017

VelociRaptor 6x6 gets 602hp

Hennessey's latest Frankenstein gets 100hp per wheel from Ford's fantastically amenable V6

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You've got to hand it to hand it to the Americans; they don't do things by half. Only yesterday PH was collectively marvelling at the first image of the Boeing MQ-25, a drone large enough to carry out refuelling duties when launched from an aircraft carrier. Today, we're looking at the details of the VelociRaptor 6x6 - Hennessey's latest attempt to make something massive move unreasonably fast.

"Does my bum look big in this?"

We've seen the six-wheeled truck before, of course - it was revealed at this year's SEMA show, where the idea of stretching a Ford F-150 Raptor so that it might incorporate an additional axle is almost par for the course. Now though the tuner has enlightened us with some more details, including the identity of the engine responsible for making Goliath move.

And while it isn't quite as regal as the 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 powering Mercedes-AMG's equally bonkers G63 6x6, the heavily modified 3.5-litre V6 Ecoboost unit (shared with the standard Raptor) is unlikely to disappoint given that Hennessey has extracted 602hp and 622lb ft from it via new wastegates, intake, intercooler, exhaust and ECU.

Consequently, despite the 300kg weight penalty associated with the conversion, the firm claims a 0-60mph time of 4.9 seconds. It's not all about the performance on deserted black top though; Hennessey has made all three axles lockable, too - which ought to make for a fairly diligent amount of traction should you choose to smash the countryside into submission.

'Murica, truck yeah and so on

To that end the VelociRaptor's suspension is upgraded, the 20-inch wheels get proper off-road tyres and the bumpers and lights are clearly at the try-hard end of scale. Everything about the 602hp, six-wheel truck is try-hard - and it needs to be when Hennessey is charging customers at least $349,000 for the pleasure of owning one.

Production - occasionally a relative term at Hennessey if its detractors are to be believed - has apparently begun, although the 6x6 will ultimately be limited to just 50 examples. Making it slightly more likely that you'll see a Boeing MQ-25 before encountering one in the UK.

 

[cib24]

$349,000 for a Ford F250...Hennessey makes some cool stuff but that's just a stupid price.