Hennessey Performance’s self-proclaimed Dodge Demon rival, the Exorcist, recorded 217mph during a top speed test at Continental’s Uvalde proving grounds in Texas.
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Skip forward through the video to 2 minutes 10 seconds and you’ll join the test driver, Brian Smith, at 144mph on a curved section of the 8.5-mile high-speed oval. Smith carefully edges up to 200mph, at which point the tarmac straightens out, allowing him to drive up to 217mph.
To get there, Smith made full use of the Exorcist’s highly-tuned, 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine, which develops 1000bhp at 6,500rpm and 883lb ft of torque at 4,500rpm. All of a sudden Chevrolet’s flagship Demon looks a little meek compared to the Exorcist, making do with just 828bhp and 770lb ft of torque.
The Exorcist's huge performance comes courtesy of a comprehensive overhaul of the LT4 engine borrowed from the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. A new high-flow supercharger, exhaust manifold and camshaft account for the major upgrades on a long list of uprated parts.
The extra 360bhp and 233lb ft of torque, over the ZL1, cuts the 0-60mph time from 3.5 seconds to less than 3 seconds. Even more impressive though is the quicker quarter-mile drag time, which stands at 10 seconds, some 1.4 seconds quicker than the ZL1. However, the Exorcist’s mind-boggling quarter-mile time would likely have been set on the optional 20-inch Drag Radial tyres.
> Hennessey puts the Dodge Demon through its paces
Available with an optional drag strip delivery – literally, the car is delivered to you at a drag strip – the Exorcist is being built in limited numbers: only 100 units will make production. On top of the Camaro ZL1’s £49,000 purchase price, the Hennessey upgrade will cost a further £44,000 (or £51,000 for the auto), so heavenly salvation won’t come cheap.
