Hennessey Performance has introduced the supercharged H650 GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate that it says is good enough to be considered a rival to the excess that is the Cadillac Escalade-V. That's a tall order based on our first drive of the Escalade-V, a difficult vehicle to rationalize but one that still blew us away when we drove it.
Currently, the most powerful stock Yukon you can buy makes 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque from its 6.2-liter V8, but Hennessey's supercharged H650 smashes those specifications with outputs of 650 hp and 658 lb-ft. That makes it less powerful but slightly torquier than the Escalade-V (682 hp and 653 lb-ft). Only a few discreet touches distinguish the H650 from the regular Yukon Denali Ultimate, making it a bit of a sleeper for those who aren't aware of what Hennessey is capable of.
The bump up in power comes via a 3.0-liter supercharger, a high-flow intercooler, a high-flow intake system, and a crankcase ventilation system. Hennessey also tweaked the engine management software and installed Chromoly pushrods, and the upgrade is completed with a stainless-steel cat-back exhaust system.
We think you'll agree that it makes a lovely roar in the video below. Customers should note that the H650 calibration does permanently remove GM's cylinder deactivation and automatic start/stop features from the Yukon.
Outside, Hennessey retains the factory tires unless 19-, 20-, or 21-inch wheels are equipped. With the 22s, there are gloss black or polished silver wheel choices. Wheels smaller than 22 inches will require a $1,995 charge for new performance tires. Subtle Hennessey badging can be found outside, but we love that the exterior has been mostly untouched.
The first-ever Yukon Denali Ultimate was first revealed last year, and it instantly became the most opulent Yukon ever. Perhaps for this reason, Hennessey hasn't announced any changes to the cabin.
This SUV comes with 16-way power front seats with massage, an 18-speaker Bose Performance Series sound system with head restraint speakers, and classy open-pore Paldao woodgrain interior trim. It may match or get close to the Escalade-V on the drag strip, but the 10.2-inch touchscreen interface is dwarfed by the 16.9-inch touchscreen in the Escalade-V that forms part of its 38 inches of screen real estate.
"Our team is very excited about this supercharging enhancement for GM's 6.2-liter V8, as it offers a huge audience of GM SUV owners the ability to bump power by 230 horsepower… that's a 55% increase in power," said founder and CEO of Hennessey performance, John Hennessey.
Hennessey hasn't indicated a price but the base Yukon Denali Ultimate and its XL variant already start at $94,555 and $97,555, respectively, so the H650 kit will easily make this a six-figure SUV. The Escalade-V begins at $149,195, though, so it's hardly cheap either.