Various Cars UK: Hennessey

We know that the words "base" and "entry-level" have negative connotations, but don't forget it's horsepower-possessed Hennessey Performance that we're talking about here, so even the brand's introductory Corvette Stingray tune has enough power to rattle your insides…

Joining the already announced 600HP, 700HP, 800HP and 1,000HP supercharged programs, is the base HPE500 upgrade, which while keeping the C7's 6.2-liter V8 unit naturally aspirated, it adds 52hp and 58 lb-ft for a total of 507hp at 6,300 rpm and 518 lb-ft of peak torque at 3,800rpm.

Hennessey says that the Corvette Stingray HPE500 completes the 0-60mph (96km/h) sprint in 3.8 seconds (GM has stated that the base C7 does the same in "under 4 seconds") and the quarter mile in just 11.7 seconds with an exit speed of 122mph (196.3 km/h).

The HPE500 package will be limited to 500 units for the 2014 model year.

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Hennessey is famous for extracting a lot of horsepower from engines with the use/optimization of forced induction. Their kits range from light to hardcore and the Venom 700R pack for the SRT Viper is on the less complex end of the scale.

There’s no turbo or supercharger kit in sight, and the 8.4-liter V10 engine is made to produce 705 hp (up from 640hp) with the use of old fashioned tuning techniques.

On the list of mods we have high-flow cylinder heads, custom tube headers and 3-inch exhaust, high-flow cat and a K&N performance air filter. Torque gets a boost too, up from 600 to 695 lb-ft (813 to 942 Nm) – this is an increase you’ll definitely feel, and it goes to show that the large ten-cylinder engine has yet more to give, even without affecting its response and signature exhaust noise by fitting it with twin turbos.

The extra power sends the Viper to 60 mph (96km/h) in 3.1 seconds, while the quarter-mile sprint is dispatched in 10.7 seconds. Top speed is rated at 216 mph, or 345 km/h, if anybody dares go that fast in it, that is, as it’s reportedly not the easiest thing in the world to control, and it can’t get easier the faster you go.

Hennessey also offers a slew of optional carbon fiber parts, lighter wheels, 5-point racing harnesses, adjustable suspension, differential cooler and even a fire extinguisher. There's plenty of badging thrown in for free, as well, though, to be fair, having numbered plaques all over the car's interior and exterior is a bit on the excessive hey-look-at-me side

Check it out via the photo gallery and videos posted below.

By Andrei Nedelea

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