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650 HP Supercharged Chevrolet SS by Hennessey Hits the Dyno with a Bang

If we'd have to nominate one of America's current performance vehicles for the role of Cinderella, we'd have more than one choice, but the Chevrolet SS would definitely be one of them.
650 HP Supercharged Hennessey Chevrolet SS Hits the Dyno 1 photo
Photo: YouTube screenshot
Despite the melange between old-school feel and solid performance, sales have been disappointing. And it can be difficult to build a case for this Chevy given its tame looks and the monstrous competition from the Mopar camp.

One of the consequences is that not too many tuners turn their attention to the SS. Well, Hennessey is one of the aftermarket developers who couldn't say no to this beast and here we are, talking about the company's work.

With the LS3 motivating the SS having been borrowed from the C6 Corvette, the Lone Star State tuner admittedly didn't have to go through too much trouble to beef up the four-door power machine.

While the standard model offers 415 hp and just as many lb-ft of twist, the Texan developer comes with three muscle upgrade packs for the SS. While these deliver 550 naturally aspirated ponies, as well as either 600 or 650 supercharged hp, we're here to discuss the range-topping version.

Aptly named HPE650, this upgrade is the kind that sees the Chevrolet SS being able to keep up with, say, the new Cadillac CTS-V. The clip below shows the monstrous SS proving its abilities on the dyno, with the machine delivering 565 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels - factor in the 15% drivetrain loss and you'll get an approximate output at the crank, the kind of data manufacturers offer.

Most of the credit for the trip to the gym goes to a 2.9-liter blower, but the list of upgrades is much longer. Other performance goodies include ported cylinder heads, a custom air induction system, upgraded valvetrain bits, high-flow fuel injectors, as well as the mandatory ECU remap that keeps everything in check.

One "side effect" of the upgrade is the sweet soundtrack, one that awaits you behind the "play" button below.

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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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