The Cadillac Escalade has always been a luxurious utility vehicle with a bucketload of attitude. It’s proudly American and that’s why we love it, especially the XXL-sized Escalade ESV. Hennessey Performance Engineering, however, made the most expensive Caddy around a bit more American by turning the knob up to eleven.
John Hennessey is a man of many things, but the thing he likes most about this world we're living in is the burble of a high-powered V8. John’s love for the small-block V8 engine convinced him to develop a tuning package for the fourth-generation Cadillac Escalade, one that ramps output up from 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft (623 Nm) of torque to a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat-beating 805 horsepower and 827 lb-ft (1,121 Nm).
Dubbed the Hennessey HPE 800 Supercharged Upgrade, this package is good for 611 horsepower and 680 lb-ft (922 Nm) at the rear wheels. The parasitic loss is a-OK if you take into consideration the large wheels and tires. Then again, who would pass up the satisfaction of hitting 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.1 seconds with a four-wheeled gentle giant that tips the scales at over 5,795 pounds (2,628 kilograms)?
The mods brought to the Cadillac Escalade ESV are as serious as the get-up-and-go is. The highlights include a 2.9-liter blower, 416 cu.in. stroker kit, 4-inch stroker camshaft, custom forged aluminum pistons, billet steel h-beam connecting rods with ARP bolts, a humongous intercooler, and CNC-ported cylinder heads. Performance-oriented modifications aren't the only things you get with the HPE 800 Supercharged pack.
In addition to the go-faster goodies, Hennessey Performance Engineering will also throw in some badges, a serial numbered plaque signed by John Hennessey, a serial numbered plaque affixed to the engine, premium floor mats, and a 1-year/12,000-mile limited warranty for extra peace of mind.
Don’t ask about the fuel economy, please don't. When all is said and done, this hell-bent for leather Caddy unquestionably drinks 93-octane jungle juice like there’s no tomorrow.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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