If Jay's dyno test left you thirsty for more Hennessey HPE550, you're in luck. We have a full test of the first blown 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS, and its numbers are downright impressive.
562 horses to the meaty Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires, a 12.1-second quarter-mile and a 4.3-second sprint to 60 mph. That cuts nearly half a second off the stock SS's 0-60 time, and almost a full second off of its gallop to 1,320 feet.
Whether it is the whining of the blower's 6 pounds of boost or the Yenko-inspired throwback graphics, the Hennessey HPE550 shows that American muscle is not dead - even with the looming CAFE standards.
Maybe this will change Obama's mind.
Full Test and Video: 2010 Hennessey HPE550 Supercharged Chevy Camaro SS
desmolicious says:
01:56 PM, 06/ 8/09
This car makes the Ford Shelby Mustang (the one with the 540hp motor) seem like a screaming deal.
Why? Because the Ford is almost as fast, but is actually a developed car.
This Camara is achieving the perf numbers on a race gas mix. Cut to the chase and see what it will do on pump gas. The ragged throttle that was complained about does not bode well. Add to that tyre widths that were not properly developed - I mean, c'mon, rubbing the wheel wells? What is this, a Pep Boys special? And horrible suspension.
So what we have here is for $66K a car that may or may not detonate it's motor on pump gas, a car that has poor throttle response, a car that rubs it's tyres, a car that has lousy suspension
Or, you could get the Shelby Mustang, all 540hp of it, for $16K less. And it works.
cruiserhead1 says:
02:35 PM, 06/ 8/09
really cool, enjoyed watching the test video.
The big disappointment is the horrid skidpad of this car. For the money, it's totally not ready to sell. The SC looks like a lot of fun but Hennessey needs to get the rest of their performance package up to par or else risk his reputation.
It's a cool car and with a little more development, might be worth the asking price.
Nice job getting a test up so quick
hondacura4 says:
02:37 PM, 06/ 8/09
"The ragged throttle that was complained about does not bode well. Add to that tyre widths that were not correct, and an underdeveloped suspension - I mean, c'mon, rubbing the wheel wells?"
- Exactly! For this kind of money one would expect a much higher level of refinement and execution, aftermarket or not.
- Given the power available I thought it would a bit faster.
- Given the type of clientele Hennessy attracts one would exepect a better executed package.
desmolicious says:
02:45 PM, 06/ 8/09
I mispoke on the price. It's 'only' $62K. But the Mustang Shelby is $47K....
Think about this for a second. If the car provided by Hennessy to Edmunds has all these issues - needs to run on race gas, ragged throttle, rubbing tyres etc, imagine what kind of car will be delivered to a private party...
ilmor says:
04:20 PM, 06/ 8/09
Problem with the Camaro, like the Challenger - just too heavy. Hennessy should switch to the lighter, nimbler Mustang!
isaacl says:
05:19 PM, 06/ 8/09
I'm not quite sure why edmunds is all over this thing like a tuner mag would be. I mean the modified car is great and looks really good and all. But this thing has gotten multiple straightline posts and now a full blown test? I just want to know why the effort to fully expose this thing to the level it was. Yeah I read the article and it's "iconic" to the US and all that. But come on now, are we going to give the same treatment to EVERY tuned car we see a report on? (example the Abt Audi S5 and such?)
cwc1 says:
05:45 PM, 06/ 8/09
"Maybe this will change Obama's mind."
Not bloody likely. He's a socialist through and through, or worse, and this isn't the type of car that he thinks people should be allowed to buy.
estreka says:
06:23 PM, 06/ 8/09
Yeah, I don't get the hype with this car either. For the money, you're much better off with a 'Vette.
estreka says:
06:24 PM, 06/ 8/09
And don't give me any of this "but it's got 4 seats" crap. It's got 2 usable seats just like the 'Vette.
stovt001 says:
07:52 PM, 06/ 8/09
I'll pile on here - isaacl brought up a good point. Edmunds certainly has covered tuner cars before, but nothing like the coverage on this car.
And I thought the whole point of going to a professional shop for this kind of stuff was to get the whole package professionally done. This thing comes off as nothing better than someone could do in their garage. The Car Craft project cars referenced in the write-up are better packages.
Of course if the Z28 is ever built it could settle the whole Shelby Mustang vs. top Camaro debate. Sadly, since GM and a few enthusiasts are insisting it has to be a Shelby killer, we'll never see it due to CAFE and GM being run by the government. The sad thing is, the first-gen Z28 was the track-oriented counterpart to the boulevard cruising, drag-oriented SS. Such a strategy for the current Z28 would compete well against a Track-pack equipped GT and would be easier to justify to the government.
carswapper says:
09:20 AM, 06/ 9/09
While I dont often agree with someone who seems like he might sound like Jeremy Clarkson(tyres) I have to fully agree with Desmo on this. Overall the Shelby has a better dollar (or pound or euro) to smiles ratio. Seems like a future IL shootout between the Shelby and the Hennessey is coming up. I will admit a slight bias towards the mustang as I've owned 3 Fox bodies and would love a 2010 but the HPE550 should really have better handling to go with the 1/4 mile time. Just a side note... Hennessey s/c graphics?? Really?...dont try to piggy back off of Yenkos history it plays poorly.
Desmo just messing with you about the Clarkson thing.
carswapper says:
10:06 AM, 06/ 9/09
I also wonder...would the side by side test be a regular Shelby or a Super Snake?
Mwild00 says:
10:10 AM, 06/ 9/09
559 HP at the rear wheels!! Take 15% as a drivetrain loss and that's 642 HP at the crank!! (Where did they get 556 HP at the crank??)
That Carmaro is A nasty car and to do that with 6 lbs of boost , yikes... I love everyhting about that car except for the music that is motor produces --Kinda sounds like a pissed of 1/2 ton Chevy..