Hennessey tunes Chevrolet SS to 1,000 hp

Forget the Camaro Z/28 for a minute: Hennessey is offering performance packages for the Chevrolet SS that boost the car from from a not-unreasonable 475 hp to the "there's-just-no-way" 1,000 hp. That's right, Hennessey Performance saw a gap in the market for rear-wheel drive domestic sedans with 1,000 hp on tap, and like any smart business, went for it. In fact, we don't know why this niche hasn't been filled until now.

In any case, Chevrolet SS buyers who purchase the 415-hp stock SS from their local Chevrolet dealership and later find it a bit anemic now have some options. On the appetizer section of the menu is the Hennessey HPE475, which gives the SS sedan an extra 60 hp courtesy of new HPE air induction system, stainless steel long tube headers, stainless steel mid-pipes, a tweaked ECU, and high-flow catalytic converters. Hennessey offers this package along with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty, in addition to some optional appearance and performance options that include suspension and brake upgrades (not a bad idea), a custom interior, carbon fiber trim accents, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and premium wheels and tires.

Further down the menu is the HPE550 package, with a list of enhancements on top of the HPE475 package including CNC ported cylinder heads, upgraded valve train parts, a custom camshaft, and a 160-degree thermostat. As the name suggests, this package produces 550 hp.

Performance parts such as a TVS2300 supercharger system, fuel system upgrades, high flow injectors, new intake manifolds, and a Hennessey Twin Turbo system make appearances in the HPE600, HPE650, and HPE800 performance packages.

The apotheosis of these incremental upgrades is the HPE1000 performance package, which consists of a 7.0-liter LSX V8 engine, forged low-compression pistons, steel connecting rods, a Callies 4340 forged steel crank, CNC ported cylinder heads, a FAST LSX intake manifold, twin turbochargers, dual wastegates and an air-to-air intercooler, among a number of other parts. Diners who choose this menu item have a choice of a six-speed manual which is reinforced with a dual friction clutch upgrade, or an automatic, which includes a torque converter upgrade. A one-year/12,000-mile limited warranty is standard with this option, and buyers should probably save room for additional suspension and brake upgrades.

Hennessey hasn't released pricing for these performance upgrades just yet, though we think its closest competitors would probably be the cost of several other performance Chevrolet cars put together.

By Jay Ramey