Hennessey Performance Charger Review

Dodge Chargers are admired for their classic muscle car look that pays tribute to the 1960s and 70s, the golden age of American performance cars. But it's not just about the looks. The Charger, particularly in its SRT Hellcat trims, is among the top high-performance sedans in production, doing upwards of 700 horsepower for base and Redeye trims. Still, Hennessey decided it needed to be improved and created the H1000 performance kit and modifications package to get a little more from the engine. The result is a Hennessey Charger, a car that commands the dragstrip with such authority, leaving no question about who’s in charge. But how much power does it make after the upgrade? Let’s talk about it.

Uncompromising Levels

Stock, the Charger SRT Hellcat has a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that makes 807 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque. The Hennessy H1000 upgrade adds a new, larger supercharger, upgraded fuel injectors, a high-flow induction system, a pulley upgrade, stainless-steel long tube headers, high-flow catalytic converters, and a crankcase ventilation system. This upgrade results in 1000 horsepower and 948 lb-ft torque sent to the rear wheels. This allows the car to launch from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, 0.7 seconds faster than the SRT Hellcat on which it’s based. However, the maximum speed could be around 203 mph as the standard Hellcat.

A Drag Car, But With All The Essentials

The Charger is a four-door sedan, meaning its cabin is well-designed and accommodating, as much as the car is essentially meant for the drag strip. The H1000 SRT Hellcat upgrade doesn’t include upgrades for the interior design. This means you get pretty much what Dodge put in there. The cabin is spacious enough for five passengers, with comfortable seats that hug you when you are speeding down the highway. Dodge also offers several extra features, such as Nappa leather-trimmed sport seats that provide a more comfortable seating position.

Mean With An Attitude

All Charger SRT Hellcats have a widebody exterior design, which, when paired with the muscle car aesthetics, looks mean and aggressive. The widebody design entails flared fenders that add 3.5 inches of width, allowing for larger wheels and tires. Its hood with the scoop and dual heat extractor amplifies its attitude while also remaining relevant in providing better airflow and a cooler engine. From the side, it looks upright like most modern sedans, but you’ll still notice the iconic Hellcat shoulder lines. Hennessey doesn't tamper much with this design, but they add their logos and emblems here and there to mark their creations.

Simply Timeless

By looking at it, most people wouldn’t expect the Charger SRT Hellcat to feature modern technologies such as push-to-start buttons, but it does. The design might be outdated, but the car is every bit modern, with a 7-inch driver digital cluster display and an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen featuring CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Most of the features like SiriusXM and navigation are not standard, but the infotainment system is compatible and highly responsive to all your inputs. Again, you won't find any interference with technology by Hennessey unless you specifically ask for them.

Worth The Upgrade

The H1000 upgrade kit for the Charger Hellcat costs $64,950, but when you take a standard Charger Hellcat Redeye to Hennessey, they’ll give you a $10,000 discount. For that money, you are getting a four-figure power output enough to give you more than decent slips at the dragstrip. If you’re sold on buying one or any other Charger, check out our Dodge listings, which have several Dodge Chargers for sale.

Final Thoughts

The Dodge Charger Hellcat is a formidable muscle car, and adding the H1000 package by Hennessey takes the Charger’s already impressive performance to new heights. The good news is that it will still retain the classic look everyone loves it for while performing way better compared to the stock performance. Exotic Car Trader creates an exclusive and safe way of buying and selling cars, eliminating the daunting experiences of private selling for buyers and sellers. Every vehicle listed on Exotic Car Trader goes through a private seller verification process, ensuring legitimacy for our buyers. Also, Exotic Car Trader's car buying process is well outlined, with all fees and packages providing our buyers with a seamless and inclusive experience. We can handle the escrow of funds at no additional cost to the buyer and seller, and we also provide trade-in and financing options for buyers. For transaction safety, our Transactions Team is world-class and equipped with industry fraud detection tools to ensure a safe and secure transaction. These are just some of the benefits you enjoy when buying or selling on Exotic Car Trader. Contact us for listing services or to buy a car on Exotic Car Trader today.