When it comes to speed, few names resonate like Hennessey Performance. From tuned Corvettes to the 270-mph Venom GT, this Texas firm has done it all.
Yet it’s easy to build a fast car, or make a fast car faster. Making a slow car go fast? Now that’s a challenge.
The 2015 Cadillac Escalade is definitely not a fast car, but Hennessey decided to change that. Its HPE550 Supercharged upgrade gives this full-size SUV a bit more muscle.
As the name advertises, the HPE550 package applies a supercharger to the Escalade’s 6.2-liter V8, along with an intercooler and tweaked engine-management software. The result is 557 horsepower and 542 pound-feet of torque, up from 420 hp and 460 lb-ft in the stock Escalade.
An Escalade already stands out from the crowd in stock form, but Hennessey will also add its own H10 20-inch wheels for some added visual punch. There’s also plenty of Hennessey badging, to show Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG and Range Rover drivers why they lost that stoplight drag race.
The HPE550 Supercharged upgrade costs $15,950 – including installation – on top of the price of a new 2015 Escalade. The wheels are an extra $6,950.
While the HPE550 Escalade will probably be the most blinged-out performance vehicle on any block, Hennessey will also install the package on other GM trucks equipped with the 6.2-liter V8.
Those looking for a more subtle ride can choose a 2015 GMC Yukon Denali, or 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado or GMC Sierra pickup.
