It’s now six years since Hennessey first introduced its Exorcist package for the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Back then it was a response to Dodge Challenger Demon - because why make do with 840hp from a supercharged V8 when you could have 1,000hp? In 2023 the tone is somewhat more sombre, with both Challenger and Camaro coming to the end of their lives as combustion powered muscle cars. So Hennessey has donned the black armbands (and dug the black paint out again) for a Final Edition Exorcist.
There are plans to make 57 of these wild cars, referencing the 57 years since the Camaro went on sale. The mechanical package is familiar from the first Exorcist and the more recent Anniversary Edition, though when talking about a 1,000hp pushrod V8 one last time it seems worth sweating the details. The 650hp 6.2 is treated to a larger supercharger, a higher-flow induction system, upgraded injectors, a fiercer cam, stronger valves, better cooling and a ported head. Thanks to ECU work and an appropriately menacing exhaust on top (hear it in action here), the grand totals are 1,000bhp (or 1,014hp) alongside 966lb ft, which must be the sort of torque required by a space shuttle.
As before Hnnessey claims 0-60mph in 2.1 seconds, which just seems silly with two-wheel drive and that much mass - unless the roll out begins at 30mph. The claimed 9.54-second quarter-mile feels more on the money, because once it’s hooked up this Camaro is surely going to fly. Find the space and 217mph is reckoned to be possible.
Marking this Exorcist out compared to those that have come before are a unique ‘Final Edition X of 57’ engine bay plaque and some exterior graphics. All mechanical upgrades are backed by the company’s three-year, 36,000-mile warranty. Head honcho John Hennessey said “Our comprehensive upgrade to the Camaro ZL1 is one of my all-time favorites. The chassis, suspension, and powerplant work seamlessly together, so all the driver experiences is raw, unbridled horsepower. There’s nothing else like our Exorcist, so we’re eager to share this special limited edition with fans of this iconic car before it’s gone forever.” Amen to that, brother. It’s ain’t going quietly, that’s for sure…
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