Hennessey isn’t just about creating uber-sexy vehicles like the Venom GT. In fact, a lot of their projects entail tuning up existing models and then slapping on an HPE title coupled with the appropriate horsepower number. The latest vehicle to be blessed with the alphanumeric title is the 2009-2011 Dodge Ram and its new HPE500 designation.
The Ram HPE500 is powered by a 5.7L Hemi that has been geeked up with a TVS2300 Supercharger System and an HPE Air Induction System to help cool the beast down. This setup can produce 505 HP at 5,400rpm when fueled with 93 Octane. Broken down, it gives the driver 422 HP at the rear wheels with a 20% boost providing the 505 HP at the engine. For comparison’s sake, the Ram SRT10 powered by the Viper’s V10 engine gets 410 HP at the rear wheels and 505 HP at the engine. The deep rumble of the truck’s new inner workings can be heard flowing out of the new stainless steel cat-back exhaust system.
If the engine upgrade isn’t enough to convince anyone of Hennessey’s involvement then the company’s badges found on the exterior of the car, as well as the floormats and the embroidered headrests will give onlookers the confirmation they need that this monster was tuned by the killer team at Hennessey.
Pricing for the installed kit is $12,950, but for those do-it-yourselfers out there, you can get the kit mailed to you for $10,950. A less involved HPE425 kit is also available for $6,950 (installed) and $4,950 (mailed kit).
Hit the jump for the full list of specifications for the Ram HPE500 and HPE 425 by Hennessey.
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The Ram Long Hauler Concept Truck is a definite eye-catcher in every sense of the word, mostly because it seems to stretch longer than standard-sized pick-up trucks. Incredibly, all this is by design.
Chrysler’s Ram brand has officially unveiled their latest concept creation, a 24-foot long quad-cab pick-up truck that’s so big it can actually carry up to 170 gallons of fuel in one go while trucking non-stop at a distance of over 1,600 miles before it needs to be fed again.
The truck is based on the Class 5 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab, except that the whole thing has been extended to ridiculous lengths. Nothing about this pick-up truck screams ordinary. Even if it’s a concept, Chrysler is presenting it as an ideal ’work horse’ for people who might need to tow heavy trailers for long distances. Judging by the look of this mastadon of a pick-up truck, we already figured as much.
Check out more details of the Long Hauler Concept, together with exhibit dates, after the jump.
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The truck business isn’t exactly a glamorous segment for aftermarket companies. Not because there’s a shortage of companies willing to fine-tune a monster of a truck, but more so because the appeal these days can be found in other automotive segments.
That being said, let’s not sleep on these heavy-duty bad boys just yet, especially when you have a tuning company like Callaway in the mix. Noted for their work on sports cars and muscle cars, the aftermarket tuning specialists went the way of trucks for their latest program: a modification kit for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
Available for both the 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter versions of the Silverado, Callaway’s “C19” engine kit allows the hulking Chevy SUV to produce as much as 540 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 522 lb/ft of torque at 3,800 rpm for the 6.2-liter version of the Silverado. Meanwhile, the 5.3-liter version gets 450 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 450 lb/ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Another important detail to consider is that even if you don’t have a Silverado 1500, Callaway’s engine kit can also be used on other GM trucks that share the same engine with the Silverado, from the Tahoe all the way up to the Suburban.
Other items that are a part of the package include a liquid-to-air intercooler, carbon fiber injection covers, a low-restriction exhaust, and a three-year, 36,000-mile Callaway powertrain warranty with an extra option to upgrade to five years and 100,000 miles if you so choose. And just in case we forget who made the project in the first place, the Silverado has been plastered with plenty of Callaway badging to go around.
The price of the whole upgrade hits $15,995. It might be a pretty hefty sum for a performance tune-up, but given the need for beastly trucks like these to have as much power as it can get, it’s probably an investment worth making.
Any Australians anxiously awaiting the return of the Thunder can now breathe a tremendous sigh of relief; it seems that Holden will be bringing back the special edition Thunder nameplate to the VE Series II Ute line-up. The special edition has been launched as a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the original 1951 Ute and will be based on the popular SV6 and SS Ute models. The SV6 will be powered by a 3.6l SIDI V6 and the SS Ute will come with the standard V8. Both models will come standard with a six-speed manual transmission and optional six-speed automatic.
The special edition Holden Thunder Ute will be available in 10 exterior colors and will be distinguished by unique 19-inch five spoke charcoal alloy wheels. Thunder badges will also be visible on the side and rear of the exterior, while the interior gets sports seats with leather bolsters and Touch-screen Holden-iQ system with Satellite Navigation.
"Over 60 years of production, the Holden ute has evolved from typical tradesman’s transport to two-door sports machine with a practical edge - that’s epitomized by the Thunder range," Holden Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales John Elsworth said. "It is a really bold, tough looking ute which we think will appeal to many of our traditional sports ute buyers. We’re expecting it to be an absolute winner in our showrooms."
Jeep Wrangler is no doubt a very cool car, for those of you who enjoy these kind of cars. But what do you think about a Wrangler pick-up? Sounds even better, don’t you agree? Called JK-8 Independence this specil Wrangler takes its inspiration from the 1980’s, Mopar and features a 50 inches long bed, while the width between wheel wells is 44 inches.
In order to create the pick-up style bed for the outside cargo, the Wrangler has been transformed into a two-seater model, with all the interior parts behind the front seats being removed. The JK-8 Independence has been equipped with a Mopar/Dynatrac ProRock 44 front axle and stock Dana 44 rear axle, a 4.5-inch long-arm suspension kit and 37-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM2 tires.
The car is painted in yellow and its design is further distinguished by off-road bumpers for the front and rear, a new fuel door and slush mats. The JK-8 kit also includes bed floor, inner/outer body panels, half hard top (works with Freedom Top panels), and a new bulkhead.
UPDATE 07/14/2011: Jeep has announced prices for the 2011 Mopar JK-8 Kit that enables owners to transform their Jeep Wrangler Unlimited into a pickup. With only $5,499, the company will dissemble and reassemble your Jeep. Major components of the Mopar JK-8 kit include a steel bed, inner and outer bedsides, sport bar extensions, Freedom panel assemblies, fiberglass hardtop, and bulkhead.
