Hennessey tunes the McLaren MP4-12C

Texas tuner Hennessey Performance will offer an upgrade package for the McLaren MP4-12C. The result is an 800-hp machine that looks even more sinister than the car it came from. The blood-red paint, carbon-fiber aero kit and blacked-out wheels in the rendering all say supercar to us.

The twin-turbo 3.8-liter stays, but we'd bet the 43:57 front-to-rear weight ratio is out the window. Hennessey upgrades the turbos, intercooler and air-intake system. They add a titanium exhaust, new waste gates and blow-off valves. The transmission gets worked over to handle the extra 208 hp.

To get the slick look, you'll need Carbon Aero body kit, Hennessey monoblock wheels and a custom interior. If the car can perform like a hypercar, it may as well have the look.

The numbers are impressive. Those extra horses will bump the 0-to-60-mph time from 3.3 seconds to who knows what. The top speed of 205 mph is increased as well.

Hennessey does admit that it left the brakes and the suspension alone. Even the company can say that some things just can't be improved upon.

The engine parts will be available as a package or in piecemeal, but pricing hasn't been announced yet. They do come with a warranty that carries a two-year/24,000-mile guarantee on everything Hennessey installs.

By Jake Lingeman