Thursday 31st October 2019

Hennessey cranks Jeep Gladiator to the Max(imus)

Regular V6 Gladiator too puny? Hennessey will put a 1000hp Hellcat V8 in - for a price...

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Hennessey has a habit of producing cars that come with four-figure power outputs, but we wonder how many predicted that its latest 1,000hp creation would come in the form of the new Jeep Gladiator. The Texan firm has swapped the Wrangler pick-up's petrol V6 motor for the thumping supercharged 6.2 V8 it uses in the Cherokee HPE1000 Trackhawk, a process that turns the brand new truck into one capable of sprinting from 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds.

To produce its 1,000hp (and 933lb ft) the 6.2-litre engine works with an uprated ECU, wiring loom and radiator, as well as the HPE1000 fuelling system, like it does in the Trackhawk. In the Maximus, it comes mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox as well as heavy-duty driveshafts and differentials at both. Giving it the vocals to match the aesthetic and performance is a stainless-steel exhaust system.

As you may have noticed from the Maximus's stance, Hennessey has also uprated the Gladiator's chassis with a six-inch-higher off-road suspension kit to leave those thicker diffs visible for your viewing pleasure. It gets aluminium wheels and proper off-road tyres supplied by BFG, toughening up a car that was already butch to begin with. Naturally, the makeover continues inside, where there's new leather trim and embroidered seat.

It's fair to say this is a proper job, although with only 24 Maximuses set for production after a SEMA show debut in Las Vegas next week, Hennessey is asking interested parties to hand over $225,000 (£174k) to bag one. Ouch. Somewhat sets the tone for what we can expect with the company's upcoming Venom hypercar, the 'Fury' V8 of which was recently claimed to be producing 1,842hp, which is expected to contest for a new top speed record now that Bugatti has cracked 300mph with the Chiron.

 

 

[darnold1979]

Makes the G63 or 65 look like poser vehicles in no small way

[InitialDave]

Does the press release manage to sneak in "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?"

[Greg the Fish]

Holy moly!

That's a yes from me! Utterly bonkers

[simonbamg]

not another high powered SUV, wheres the drivers cars content

[Augustus Windsock]

InitialDave said:

Does the press release manage to sneak in "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?"

Or perhaps, as the passenger turns to the driver and says, just before the pedal hits the metal,
“At my signal.....unleash hell!”

[AmosMoses]

Yeeeeehawwwwwwww!

[cookie1600]

I guess John Hennessy has come full circle from the supposed 'tarnished times' then?

https://drivetribe.com/p/john-hennessey-has-respon...

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/wpqymry/

https://jalopnik.com/ex-employees-say-hennessey-is...

[Deranged Rover]

Utterly ridiculous and probably dangerous. One of the worst examples I've seen of this ridiculous craze for sticking stupidly powerful engines into vehicles that are completely unsuitable for the task and which will then be bought by clueless morons for posing in.

However, that said, i think I want one.

[Bill]

Augustus Windsock said:

InitialDave said:

Does the press release manage to sneak in "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?"

Or perhaps, as the passenger turns to the driver and says, just before the pedal hits the metal,
“At my signal.....unleash hell!”

I am Jeep Hennessey Maximus, leader of the 4x4s, powered by a 1000 horses, lifted by 6 inches, and I will propel you through this life or the next!

[Fire99]

Modern day Mad Max car/truck/ thing.. Love it..

[w00tman]

simonbamg said:

not another high powered SUV, wheres the drivers cars content

You can't grumble at someone producing a 1000HP car, regardless of what it is, can you??

In this day and age of eco-friendly (not bad thing in the main, maybe) at least it's pleasure-orientated!

[Glenn63]

simonbamg said:

not another high powered SUV, wheres the drivers cars content

It’s what petrolheads use to tow their ‘drivers cars’ to the track! No real use for it, but I want it.

[E65Ross]

simonbamg said:

not another high powered SUV, wheres the drivers cars content

Probably lost along with your apostrophe.

[Lt. Coulomb]

darnold1979 said:

Makes the G63 or 65 look like poser vehicles in no small way

Yea, like these won't be mall crawlers...

[ManyMotors]

This particular Jeep is a stupid vehicle. Plus, Hennessey has an awful reputation for being a fraud. Why even report on such garbage?
With the new PSA/FCA merger, Hennessey must be planning a Hellcat powered Peugeot 108. Put your money down now and never get it back.

[swampy442]

cookie1600 said:

I guess John Hennessy has come full circle from the supposed 'tarnished times' then?

https://drivetribe.com/p/john-hennessey-has-respon...

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/wpqymry/

https://jalopnik.com/ex-employees-say-hennessey-is...

Interesting reading!

[sidesauce]

darnold1979 said:

Makes the G63 or 65 look like poser vehicles in no small way

Nah, not really. Particularly when it comes to a G500 4x4²:-



Keep the Yank thing, I'll much prefer the Brabus thank you very much.

[SturdyHSV]

It's a yes from me.

Realistically anything with a Hellcat engine in is going to be a yes from me because I'm a child.

[Cacatous]

I'd rather have a Brabus Unimog thanks.

[rxtx]

I don't think those BFG Mud Terrains are speed rated for what that can do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBKIckjNvtQ