Hennessey Camaro Tames a Hellcat (Video)
Custom ZL1 Uses Minor Upgrades to Reach Hellcat-Besting Speeds
Custom car builder John Hennessey of Hennessey Performance is no stranger to making already fast cars even faster. So when Chevy rolled out the ZL1 version of its Camaro, we knew it was only a matter of time before he got his hands on one. (And now you can get your Hennessey Camaro ZL1 in a variety of flavors, from a modest 40 hp bump up to 1,000 raging ponies.)
Not that the ZL1 is slow out of the box, but with “only” 650 horsepower from the factory, it’s down 57 hp on the Dodge Challenger Hellcat. And getting outrun by a Mopar in your new Camaro won’t cut it. That’s where the HP comes in. To prove the ZL1’s worth as an opponent to the Hellcat, Hennessey did what any red-blooded American would do: He lined them up for a race.
This is actually the second video depicting a Hennessey Camaro ZL1 and Challenger Hellcat going against each other. In the first video, the Hellcat used had an automatic transmission. After rightfully getting called out by the Internet, Hennessey headed back to the drawing board with a six-speed, manual-equipped Dodge.
To further ensure a fair race, Hennessey used a HPE750, with, you guessed it, 750 hp. Simple, minor upgrades help it reach that Hellcat-besting number. They include things like a different supercharger pulley, headers, free flowing catalytic converters and an intake upgrade. And it even comes with a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty.
Each race begins from a rolling start. And the ZL1 clearly walks away from the Hellcat each time, even with a bit of a head start in the second race. Not really surprising considering the fact that the ZL1 is a lighter car with more horsepower. But it will ensure a win against any Hellcat in the wild, and that’s worth every penny the Hennessey ZL1 costs.
