Hennessey Performance Engineering turns "fast" into "insane." Based in Sealy, Texas, Hennessey is the world's premier modifier of American muscle and the manufacturer of the Venom F5 hypercar. From 1,000 HP trucks to 300+ MPH speed records, their philosophy is simple: too much horsepower is just enough.
Explore the current production vehicles.
The 300-mph American dream. The Venom F5 is a ground-up, bespoke hypercar built with one goal: to be the fastest road car on Earth. With its 1,817-horsepower, twin-turbo 'Fury' V8, it is the ultimate expression of homegrown speed and power.
The car that put Hennessey on the global hypercar map. The Venom GT was a heavily modified Lotus Exige, stretched and stuffed with a monstrous twin-turbo V8. It unofficially broke the world speed record, cementing Hennessey's reputation as a true giant-killer.
The Ford F-150 Raptor, unleashed. The VelociRaptor is Hennessey's signature, high-performance truck, a 6x6 or 4x4 monster with massively upgraded power and presence. It's the ultimate expression of off-road dominance and overkill.
The apex predator of the truck world, made even more ferocious. The Mammoth takes the already insane Ram 1500 TRX and cranks it past 1,000 horsepower, creating the quickest and most powerful pickup on the planet. Pure, unapologetic overkill.
The 1,000-horsepower answer to the Dodge Demon. 'The Exorcist' is a heavily upgraded Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, a tire-shredding monster built with the singular purpose of casting out and dominating its demonic rival from Dodge.
The legend that started it all. The original Viper Venom packages (650R, 800TT, 1000TT) were the foundation of the Hennessey brand, turning the already brutal Dodge Viper into a world-beating, record-setting performance icon.
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There is a sign on Interstate 10, just west of Houston, that leads to a facility in Sealy, Texas. In this facility, physics is not just respected; it is tortured. This is the home of Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE). For over 30 years, John Hennessey has operated on a singular, uniquely American premise: "We make fast cars faster." While other manufacturers worry about emissions and comfort, Hennessey worries about how to make a 7,000-pound truck fly or how to make a car break the 300 mph barrier without electric motors.
To understand Hennessey, you have to understand Texas. There is no subtlety here. Hennesseyâs customer isn't the person who thinks a Ford F-150 Raptor is "cool." It's the person who thinks a Raptor is "a good start."
Hennessey takes factory vehiclesâalready potent machines from Ford, Ram, Chevrolet, and Dodgeâand injects them with steroids. We are talking about high-flow superchargers, custom camshafts, and ECU tunes that unlock four-digit horsepower figures. But unlike a guy working in a shed, Hennessey offers something unheard of in the tuner world: A Warranty. Most Hennessey builds come with a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. This turns "risky aftermarket modification" into "investment-grade violence."
Hennessey is two companies in one. There is the tuner (HPE), and then there is Hennessey Special Vehicles (HSV). The latter builds the Venom F5.
The Venom F5 is not a modified Lotus (like the old Venom GT). It is a bespoke hypercar built from the ground up to do one thing: be the fastest road car on Earth.
The Engine: Named "Fury." It is a 6.6L Twin-Turbo V8 based on LS architecture but heavily modified. It produces 1,817 horsepower. It screams to 8,500 RPM.
The Speed: The goal is 300+ mph (482+ km/h).
The Experience: There is no hybrid system. No heavy batteries. Just rear-wheel drive, a carbon fiber tub, and you. It is the last of the "analog" hypercars, a mechanical middle finger to the silent electric future.
While the hypercars grab headlines, the trucks pay the light bill. Hennessey realized early on that Americans love big trucks, but they love fast big trucks even more.
The standard Ford Raptor is quick. The Hennessey Velociraptor 600 is devastating. By upgrading the intercooling and induction, they push the V6 to 600 hp.
And then there is the Velociraptor 6x6. Yes, six wheels. It costs north of $350,000. It is completely unnecessary. It is impossible to park. And they sell every single one they build. It is the ultimate "Zombie Apocalypse" vehicle.
When Ram released the 702-hp TRX, Hennessey saw a challenge. Enter the Mammoth 1000.
They swap the supercharger, upgrade the pulleys, and tune the engine to produce 1,012 horsepower. Seeing a truck the size of a studio apartment launch from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds is a religious experience. It defies logic.
When Dodge released the Challenger Demon, Hennessey responded with the Exorcist.
Based on the Camaro ZL1, the Exorcist package creates 1,000 horsepower. The name is a direct jab at Dodge (because an Exorcist kills a Demon, get it?). It represents the competitive spirit of the brand. They don't just build cars; they build rivalries.
It all started with a Mitsubishi 3000GT (believe it or not), but John Hennessey became famous for the Dodge Viper. In the 90s, the Hennessey Viper Venom 1000 was the only car on the cover of magazines that could beat a Bugatti Veyron to 200 mph. That legacy of V10 tuning established the "Hennessey recipe": forced induction and massive rear tires.
Hennessey owns its own drag strip and test track, the Pennzoil Proving Grounds, right next to the factory. Every car they build is dyno-tested and track-tested before delivery. This isn't just for quality control; it's for theater. Buyers often fly in to take delivery and watch their car shred tires on the strip before driving it home.
As modern cars become more locked down with encrypted ECUs (Electronic Control Units), Hennessey is fighting the good fight. They work directly with manufacturers to crack the codes. The H850 Mustang Dark Horse is a prime example. While Ford locked the computer, Hennessey found a way to supercharge it, proving that the aftermarket will always find a way.
You choose Hennessey because "stock" is a dirty word to you. You are the person who buys a steak and asks for extra butter. You believe that excess is a virtue.
Buying a Hennessey is buying bragging rights. It is the ability to pull up next to a Lamborghini in a pickup truck and know, with absolute certainty, that you can leave them in the dust. It is American engineering unleashed, unconstrained by corporate lawyers or fuel economy mandates.
Hennessey is the ultimate expression of the American automotive id. It is loud, brash, and incredibly capable. Whether it is the world-beating Venom F5 or a Mammoth 1000 daily driver, a Hennessey badge signifies that you have graduated from "car enthusiast" to "horsepower addict."
Hennessey operates as both. Primarily, Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) is a world-renowned "tuner" that modifies vehicles from Ford, Dodge, and GM to produce extreme horsepower.
However, with the creation of the Hennessey Venom F5, the company established Hennessey Special Vehicles, becoming a fully accredited low-volume manufacturer of bespoke hypercars, distinguishing them from a standard aftermarket shop.
The Venom F5 was engineered with one singular goal: to be the absolute fastest road car on earth. It is powered by a custom-built 6.6L twin-turbo "Fury" V8 engine producing 1,817 horsepower.
Hennessey targets a top speed exceeding 300 mph (500 km/h). Unlike its predecessor (the Venom GT), the F5 is built on a unique carbon-fiber chassis, not a modified Lotus platform.
The VelociRaptor® is Hennessey's best-selling upgrade package for the Ford F-150 Raptor and Bronco Raptor. It transforms an already capable truck into a supercar-killer.
Packages typically boost power to 600+ horsepower via upgraded intercoolers and induction systems. Hennessey also offers the famous VelociRaptor 6x6, a six-wheel-drive conversion that serves as the ultimate "go-anywhere" status symbol.
Yes, and this is a key differentiator between Hennessey and a local speed shop. Most turnkey vehicle packages come with a 3-year / 36,000-mile limited warranty.
This warranty covers the modifications installed by Hennessey, providing peace of mind that the 1,000-horsepower upgrade won't leave you stranded without support. Always check the specific warranty terms for each build level.
The Exorcist is a high-performance package for the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, created specifically to rival the Dodge Demon. As John Hennessey famously said, "The Exorcist was built to kill the Demon."
By upgrading the supercharger and camshaft, the Exorcist produces 1,000 horsepower and 883 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to hit 0-60 mph in just 2.1 seconds.
The Mammoth 1000 is Hennessey's answer to the Ram 1500 TRX. While the stock TRX is powerful, the Mammoth takes it to the extreme.
It boosts the Hellcat V8 engine to 1,012 horsepower. The package often includes heavy-duty front and rear bumpers, LED lights, and a leveling kit, making it one of the quickest and most aggressive pickup trucks ever sold to the public.
The company is headquartered in Sealy, Texas, just west of Houston. The facility is situated on the Pennzoil Proving Grounds.
This location is critical because it includes a dedicated drag strip and test track, allowing engineers to test and tune every vehicle on-site before it is delivered to the customer, ensuring real-world performance validation.
Generally, you order directly through Hennessey Performance or through a select network of authorized dealers. You have two options:
Most of Hennessey's packages, like the VelociRaptor and Mammoth, are designed to be fully street legal and emissions compliant in most states.
However, some of the most extreme race-spec packages (often labeled with "Off-Road Use Only") may lack catalytic converters or exceed noise regulations. It is important to verify the specific package compliance with your state's laws, especially in strict regions like California (CARB).
Yes, Hennessey is preparing for the electric future with "Project Deep Space."
While they are famous for V8s, they have announced plans for a six-wheel-drive electric Hyper-GT. Their goal is to apply their philosophy of "making fast cars faster" to the EV segment, likely focusing on weight reduction and aerodynamic efficiency alongside raw power.