Hennessey GT500 Venom 1200 – the 1200bhp Mustang
World’s most powerful street-legal Ford not enough for you? Meet Hennessey’s take on the new Shelby GT500
Hennessey Performance is no stranger to pumping more power into cars that almost certainly don’t need it, and it’s playing its usual game with the new Shelby GT500. Three uplifted power levels are available to choose from, ranging from a measly 850bhp all the way up to a mind-boggling 1200bhp.
The engineers at Ford Performance took parts from the current Ford GT and utilised years of expertise to extract already-impressive outputs of 749bhp and 625lb ft and torque from the latest GT500, making it the most power road-legal Ford ever produced. However, before the first customers have even taken delivery of their cars, Texan tuner Hennessey has decided that the GT500 needs as much as another 451bhp, bringing the total to 1200bhp – that’s more power than a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport…
> 749bhp Shelby GT500 confirmed as most powerful street-legal Ford
In standard, 749bhp form, the GT500 will cover the 0-60mph sprint in 3.5sec and go on to in excess of 200mph. If the Hennessey versions can successfully get their power down, we suspect those numbers might see some revision...
Modifications for the 850bhp, 725lb ft Venom 850 package include the addition of long-tube headers, high-flow catalytic converters, upgrades to the factory supercharger, a new induction system and plenty of badges to ensure nobody makes the mistake of assuming you’re driving a mere 749bhp Shelby Mustang.
The 1000bhp, 850lb ft Venom 1000 package includes a larger, 3-litre supercharger, an upgraded fuel system, exhaust modifications and a high-flow induction system. Meanwhile, the all-out, 1200bhp, 1000lb ft Venom 1200 ditches the supercharger altogether in favour of two turbos. An intercooler system, uprated fuel system, new exhaust, and engine and gearbox reinforcements are also added.
Hennessey states that for both the 850 and 1000 packages, 93-octane fuel is required to achieve the quoted figures, and that E85 or 109-octane fuel is needed for the full 1200. Impressively, all three packages come with warranties: three years or 36,000 miles for the 850, and one year or 12,000 miles for the 1000 and 1200.
Pricing and availability hasn’t yet been announced.
