Hennessey Performance is famous for turning American automotive icons into 1,000-horsepower monsters, from the Dodge Challenger HPE1000 Demon and Chevrolet Camaro Exorcist to the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk HPE1000. And now it's the mighty 2020 Jeep Gladiator's turn to get the Hennessey treatment.
Say hello to the "Hennessey Maximus 1000", aka the ultimate Jeep Gladiator. "We wanted to create the ultimate Jeep Gladiator," said company founder, John Hennessey. "Maximus 1000 – the name says exactly what it is: Badassery on 4-wheels."
The standard Gladiator is powered by Wrangler's 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar gasoline engine that sends 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. For the Maximus, Hennessey has ripped out the V6 unit and replaced it with, you guessed it, a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 Hellcat engine. As with Hennessey's other crazy creations, the Maximus is available in various states of tune, with the range-topping HPE1000 upgrade increasing the output to a staggering 1,000 horsepower and a mountain-moving 933 lb-ft of torque. All that power is sent through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Hennessey has also installed a new radiator, fuel system, and stainless-steel exhaust.
In addition to the colossal performance upgrade, Hennessey has fitted the Gladiator with an upgraded suspension system that lifts the off-roader six inches higher than the standard version. Maximus rides on 20-inch Hennessey wheels wrapped in chunky off-road tires. Other visual modifications include unique front and rear bumpers and an LED light bar. Inside, the Hennessey Maximus gets a custom leather interior with Hennessey and Maximus embroidered seats.
Production of the Hennessey Maximus will begin in July and will be limited to just 24 units. Each example will take around four months to assemble and Hennessey plans to build two units per month. The complete cost will set you back $200,000, but that includes the base Jeep Gladiator truck.
"Our clients want exclusive, extreme vehicles that deliver a fun and exciting driving experience both on and off-road," said Hennessey. "Win the crowd and you'll win your freedom was the advice that the elder gladiator gave to Russell Crow in the Gladiator movie. We could not agree more!"