Skip to main content

In the name of the king: Hennessey announces 717-horspower Mustang HPE700

Hennessey Mustang
Image used with permission by copyright holder
When John Hennessey gets his hands on muscle car, you know it’s going to be something special. This is the man responsible for the Hennessey Venom GT, aka the fastest production car in the world, after all.

Hennessey’s esteemed reputation means that his upgraded Ford Mustang, dubbed the HPE700, is easily one of the most anticipated tuned pony cars out there. That’s high praise considering revered competition like Saleen, Shelby, and Roush.

Like the Saleen 302 Mustang, the Hennessey features an array of dynamic upgrades, choice style enhancements, and an aftermarket supercharger system.

Hennessey Mustang
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It more resembles the 2015 Roush Mustang, though, as both share a sinister black color scheme and an aggressive front end.

The HPE700 has the Roush beaten in several areas, however. For one, I think the Hennessey looks more athletic and poised, and the mesh grill looks much better than the Ford Fusion-esque slotted piece on the Roush.

The Hennessey has its counterparts beaten in power as well, as the American tuner has managed to extract a Hellcat-humbling 717 horsepower from the ‘Stang’s 5.0-liter V8. A Roots-type supercharger provides the added grunt and brings torque output up to 632 pound-feet, beating its closest challenger, the 640-hp, 565 lb/ft Saleen.

Hennessey Mustang
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mr. Hennessey is so stranger to the dragstrip, and his latest Mustang stacks up with a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.6 seconds. The quarter mile is impressively dealt with as well, with a time of 11.2 seconds.

Related: Saleen’s upcoming 302 Mustang offered with up to 640 horsepower

Hennessey will produce 500 examples of the HPE700 for the 2015 model year, with the package starting at $59,500. This includes the price of a base Mustang GT, but options like carbon-fiber bodywork, 20-inch Hennessey wheels, and a Brembo brake package are also available.

For those who prefer turbines to belt-driven power, though, you’re in luck. An upgraded version of the 2.3-liter EcoBoost Mustang is on the way.

Topics
Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
The Kia EV3 could be the cheap electric SUV we’ve been waiting for
White Kia EV3

The Kia EV9 was already one of the cheapest ways to get an electric SUV, but now the company is taking things to the next level. After teasing the Kia EV3 last year, the car is now official.

The EV3 is built to be a slightly smaller, cheaper version of the EV9 -- following the path of the Rivian R2, which arrived after the Rivian R1S. It's certainly not as technologically advanced as the EV9, but it still looks unmistakably like a modern Kia, and is clearly a sibling of the larger SUV. On the outside, the vehicle has the same split taillights and very similar Tiger Face front. But it is quite a bit smaller. The vehicle will be available in nine finishes -- however only "Aventurine Green" and "Terracotta" are being announced right now.

Read more
Kia EV3: release date, performance, range, and more
White Kia EV3

Kia is on a roll. Hot on the heels of the success of the Kia EV6 and EV9, the company is already announcing what could be its cheapest electric vehicle yet -- the Kia EV3.

The Kia EV line seems to follow the rule of lower numbers indicating a lower price — and if so, the EV3 will end up being the cheapest electric car Kia has released to date. That, however, thankfully doesn’t mean that the EV3 will be a low-end car — it just means that Kia may be pushing the boundaries on electric car pricing.

Read more
Kia EV3 vs Tesla Model Y: Can Kia’s new entry-level car take on Tesla?
White Kia EV3

The Kia EV3 is finally coming, and it could well end up being the best small-size electric SUV to buy when it finally rolls out. It's smaller than the Kia EV9, but it offers many of the same design elements and features. But there's another small-size electric car that's currently one of the most popular vehicles out there -- the Tesla Model Y.

How does the Kia EV3 compare with the Tesla Model Y? And is one vehicle actually better than the other? We put the Kia EV3 and the Tesla Model Y head-to-head to find out.
Design
The design of the Kia EV3 is very different than that of the Model Y, though they're both reasonably good-looking vehicles.

Read more