Hennessey Performance->ke1863 has a long history of taking already fast cars and pushing them to the limit. Cars like the 2015 Ford Mustang HPE700 or the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG by Hennessey are prime examples, but they have also focused on other cars that other tuners don’t give a second thought to. Case in point: The Cadillac CTS-V.->ke1200

Back in 2011, they brought us cars like the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V V700 Sport Wagon and the V700 Coupe. In 2012, they put together the 1,000-horsepower CTS-V Coupe Twin Turbo V1000, and let’s not forget the 1,226-horsepower, 2013 Cadillac CTS-VR1200 Twin Turbo Coupe. All of that was just the beginning, though, as Hennessey has now released three performance packages for the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V.

It might be hard to imagine stepping up the new CTS-V, considering it comes with a new 6.2-liter V-8 that pushes 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. Even though it can hit 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 200 mph, Hennessey decided to step it up even more. The three available upgrade packages promise to push the Cadillac->ke18 to anywhere between 750 and 1,000 horsepower – depending on how much you want to spend. With that said, let’s take a look and see what Hennessey can do to the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V By Hennessey.

Exterior

Hennessey is all about performance, so it comes as no surprise that exterior upgrades are kept to a minimum. The only exterior modification offered with the HPE750, HPE800, or the HPE1000 is the standard Hennessey exterior badging. Optional Hennessey H10 Monoblock wheels are available, but aren’t included in any of the three packages.

Interior

The interior, much like the exterior, receives very little in terms of modification. In addition to the 20-way adjustable, heated and ventilated seats, 12.3-inch instrument cluster display, and Cadillac’s latest CUE infotainment system, all three upgrade packages offer Hennessey premium floor mats, and a custom serial number plaque on the dash. The only optional add-on for the interior are Hennessey carbon fiber door sill plates, which are available for all three upgrade packages.

Drivetrain

Note: Engine of a standard Cadillac CTS-V pictured here

The drivetrain is where Hennessey really placed its focus. The HPE750 package promises 750 horsepower at 6,300 rpm. Upgrades include a Hennessey pulley upgrade, high-flow air intake system, long-tube stainless steel headers, stainless steel exhaust piping, and high-flow catalytic converters. From there, HPE engine manage calibration is applied to the CTS-V’s on-board computer. Dyno tuning and road testing is included with all upgrade packages.

The next level up is the HPE800 upgrade package that promises 800 horsepower at 6,300 rpm. This package includes a Hennessey lower pulley upgrade, high-flow cylinder heads with upgraded valve springs, upgraded lifters, a cold-air intake system, and a customer HPE camshaft. HPE engine management calibration is also included with this package.

For those of you who have deep pockets and a need for power, Hennessey offers the HPE1000 upgrade package. A 2.9-liter supercharger is the main component that helps the CTS-V’s 6.2-liter pump out 1,000 horsepower. That’s not all, though. The engine is extensively modified from the ground up. Forged pistons with forge steel rods beef up the bottom end. Further upgrades include ported cylinder heads, upgraded fuel injectors, and an upgrade fuel system. A high-flow intercooler system and intercooler heat exchanger system help cool the air before it is forced into the 6.2-liter’s intake manifold. The exhaust system is also replaced with long-tube headers, stainless steel midpipes, and high-flow cats. HPE custom engine calibration keeps fuel delivery and ignition timing on par with the extreme engine upgrades.

It should be noted that at the time of this publishing, these performance figures are based off Hennessey’s extensive experience with older models of the CTS-V. That being said, it’s a safe bet that these packages will probably offer a bit more than advertised once Hennessey completes its initial builds and takes a trip to the track.

Prices

The HPE750 upgrade package is priced at $14,950. Moving up to the HPE800 will set you back $19,950, and the HPE1000 upgrade package runs an astonishing $84,950 – that’s right, more than what you just paid for your new CTS-V.

Considering the CTS-V starts out at $83,995, you’re looking at $98, 945 for the HPE750, $103,945 for the HPE800 package, and a whopping $168,945 for the HPE1000 upgrade package. All of the packages, despite the higher price tags, are actually fairly reasonable considering the work Hennessey puts into the car. Not to mention the fact that the car will be built by one of the best garages out there.

Competition

2015 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo “Edition 50”

At the time of this publication, there isn’t really a lot out there that can compete with the packages offered by Hennessey for the 2016 CTS-V. There are more than a couple from Hennessey, but that really isn’t a fair comparison. The CTS was aimed to fight the BMW 5-Series, so it only seemed right to look for a 5-Series that could compete. There really isn’t one, but the 2015 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo comes close to competing with the HPE700. At a cost of $100,000, the B5 Bi-Turbo pumps out 600 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque from its 4.4-liter engine. It hits 0-to-60 mph in 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 203 mph. Again, it undershoots even the HPE700 package in every area, but it is quite luxurious. Of course, if you’re power hungry, you’re still better off dropping $98, 945 for a new CTS-V with the HPE800 package.

Read our full review here.

Conclusion

I’m glad to see that Hennessey is still interested in putting in work on the CTS-V. There aren’t many garages out there that touch them, which is what makes these packages for the 2016 model so special. At the end of the day, people will buy the CTS-V, and when you’ve cornered the modification market for a car like Hennessey has with the CTS-V, where else are they to turn?

Sure the HPE1000 package is priced higher than the CTS-V itself, but if you want power you have to pay for it. Plus, who else out there will have a 1,000-hosepower CTS-V? If nothing else, spending $15,000 to $20,000 on the HPE750 or HPE800 isn’t that bad for horsepower gains. Hennessey will release updated information on these packages once they have one built and lay rubber on the track, so stay tuned for additional performance specs as they are released.