If you want a vehicle that can hit 60mph in less than 3.5 seconds you don’t need to buy a low-slung, spine-twisting supercar. Instead, you can have all the creature comforts and loading space of a pick-up.
That’s because US hypercar brand Hennessy has just unveiled its latest model – the Mammoth 1000 TRX.
The near three-tonne truck features an ungraded 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine with over 1,000bhp – enough grunt for it to our-drag an Aston Martin Vantage supercar is race to 60mph.
Video: Hennessey unveils Mammoth 1000 that can hit 60mph in 3.2 seconds
Texas-based Hennessey Performance Engineering has this month started production of the ‘world’s most powerful pick-up’ truck on.
It uses the already extremely potent 692bhp Dodge Ram 1500 TRX as a base, though the eight-cylinder engine – the same featuring in the Hellcat muscle car – has been tuned and fettled to produce a massive 1,012bhp.
The ‘high-performance-focused enhancements’ by Hennessey cut the 0-to-60mph sprint time from 4.5 seconds to just 3.2 seconds.
The top speed is a modest 122mph – though that’s only because it is restricted from going any quicker due to the off-road tyres.
That’s not just the quickest time on record for a pick-up (beating the Shelby F-150 Super Snake Sport’s previous record of 3.45 seconds) but it’s also 0.3 seconds less than it takes a £121,000 Aston Martin Vantage supercar to reach national limit speeds.
It means it will also be over a second quicker to 60mph than Ford’s forthcoming F-150 Lightning electric pick-up, which is due to go on sale in spring 2022, offering a full battery range of around 300 miles.
The Hennessey-tuned Ram truck’s incredible boost in pace comes predominantly from the addition of bigger supercharger, new fuel injectors and a high-flow induction system alongside performance-enhancing adjustments in the ECU.
Measuring in at 5.81-metres long, 2.09m wide and 1.97m high, it’s certainly no shrinking violet. In fact, it will dwarf even the latest Range Rover.
Hennessey is referring to it as an ‘imposing hypertruck’ that ‘makes an enormous statement on the road’.
It is capable of carrying six adults in comfort, carrying a payload exceeding 1,043kg and towing 3.5-tonnes of trailer or caravan.
The US firm behind the bonkers fast pick-up says it is ‘the most comprehensive and capable performance truck on the market’.
Describing the Mammoth 1000 TRX, John Hennessey, company founder and CEO said: ‘The Ram TRX already boasts the highest horsepower of any vehicle manufacturer’s pickup, so our performance, styling and off-road enhancements make this the most formidable new truck you can buy.’
All that extra potency doesn’t come cheap. Prices start from $150,000 (approximately £108,000) and just 200 will be built. The vehicle maker says it can be purchased for the UK.
John Hennessey says half of the production run has already been sold: ‘We’ve already sold more than 100 trucks, with each answering one big question – why have a 1,000-horsepower pickup truck? Because we can!’
As well as the extra engine performance, the Mammoth 1000 also has custom bumpers, LED lights, a front levelling kit and upgraded electronic fold-out steps.
The example pictured show it with 37-inch off road tyres. However, for customers who choose this option will be forced to
Hennessey is also putting the finishing touches to its 311mph UK-developed Venom F5 hypercar that is aiming to be the most powerful performance machine in the world.
The first of 24 models was made in Silverstone before being shipped out to Hennessey’s Texas headquarters in January for final calibrations and sent to its owner in Montana. The other 23 cars will be built in Texas.
It is designed for rich performance car enthusiasts keen to drive it on the road and on the track, but they’d better buy ear-plugs too as it is very loud. They will need to have deep pockets too, as the car will cost $2.7million or £2million.
The car has key parts supplied from Britain and is the first built from scratch by John Hennessey to carry his own name.
This year, Hennessey celebrates 30 years of a business started in his garage creating his own higher performance versions of muscle cars like the Dodge Viper.
Hennessey Mammoth 1000 TRX: Will it fit in my garage?
On sale: Now
Production run: 200
Built in: Texas, USA
Based on: Dodge Ram 1500 TRX
Price: from $150,000 (approx £108,000)
Power: 1,012 bhp @ 6,500 rpm
Torque: 969 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm
Acceleration 0-60mph: 3.2 seconds
1/4 mile sprint: 11.4 seconds
Top speed: 122mph
Length: 5.81m
Width: 2.09m
Height: 1.97m
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