While Cadillac has reinvented the Escalade, the preferred mount of rock stars, pro athletes and Hollywood’s red carpet elite, Hennessey Performance (HPE) has put in overtime developing a supercharger upgrade for its new 6.2-liter direct-injected V8 engine. It’s all the better for sneaking up on the unsuspecting Mercedes GL63 AMG or Range Rover Sport…that is, until the roar of the exhaust and subtle Hennessey branding give you away.
“Our HPE550 Supercharged Escalade is the perfect balance of attitude, performance and luxury. It’s fast and versatile, and proudly American,” said Hennessey CEO and partner Don Goldman.
The HPE550 package serves up a stout 557 bhp and 542 lb-ft of torque from the belt-driven supercharger producing 6 psi of boost pressure, gains of 32 percent and 18 percent, respectively, over stock. Extra power is nothing without reliability, so an air-to-water intercooler system keeps charge temperatures low, and Hennessey’s recalibrated engine management computer optimizes the air/fuel ratio throughout the rev range. HPE is proud to back its HPE550 upgrade ($15,950 installed) with a 3 year/36,000 mile powertrain warranty.
Further upgrades available include a set of lightweight Hennessey H10 forged monoblock wheels ($6950), whose 20-in. diameter accepts the Escalade’s factory tires. The H10 wheels’ reduced rotating mass allows even more power to reach the tires-less energy spent accelerating the wheel means more energy pushing the vehicle down the road.
While the Escalade might be the most glamorous application for our HPE550 upgrade, it’s also available for other GM vehicles with the 6.2-liter DI V8. The list includes the 2015 GMC Yukon Denali, 2014-2015 GMC Sierra trucks, and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado trucks. Complete turn-key Hennessey HPE550 vehicles can be ordered directly through our authorized dealers, including Sewell and Hendrick.
“The new 2015 Cadillac Escalade is the perfect platform for a Hennessey infusion of horsepower,” said founder and president John Hennessey. “It’s luxurious, spacious and cries out for personalization and more performance. I plan on making this our next family hauler for our five teenagers and four Labrador Retrievers.”
