Suburban Terror: Hennessey offers upgrade packages for GMC SUVs

Lest you think that Hennessey Performance Engineering will only tune up your Dodge Viper or Cadillac CTS-V, feast your eyes on this little number showing one of the company's souped-up SUVs taking on a 2011 Nissan GT-R.

It's really an unfair fight: The Cadillac Escalade sports a 6.2-liter V8 which in stock form makes about 400 hp. But Hennessey, not looking for a beatdown, drops a twin-turbocharged 427 cubic-inch LSX engine with high-flow cylinder heads, intake and exhaust upgrades, a performance camshaft and a laundry list of other parts to bring the truck's output to 1,000 hp. From 0 to 60 mph, the SUV takes just 3.3 seconds, while the quarter-mile is done in 11.3 seconds at 124 mph. So you can guess who won, although by a surprisingly small margin.

So that's the biggest upgrade Hennessy offers for the 6.2-liter GMC SUV. It costs $69,950 including installation. Other packages make a bit less horsepower and therefore cost a bit less money. Other outputs include a 435-hp setup, 500 hp, 575 hp and finally 800 hp. The last package comes with a 415 Stoker Motor and a host of other upgrades plus a one-year, 12,000-mile limited warranty.

Now, you guys with the Vortec 5.3-liter SUVs will have your fun, too. HPE offers supercharger packages that bump output to 450 hp and 500 hp. They also offer a starter package with a selection of bolt-ons that will bring the engine from 320 hp to 350 hp. That basic package will set you back $1,995 or $2,795 installed.

The company also offers suspension upgrades and wheel and tire packages. Transmission upgrades, which are included in some offerings, are also available a la mode.

No matter the cost, I'm sure the look on the GT-R driver's face at the orange cone was priceless.

By Jake Lingeman