Skip to main content

Hennessey HPE700: When a McLaren MP4-12C just isn’t good enough

Hennessey HPE700 McLaren MP4-12C
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The McLaren MP4-12C is, to put it mildly, an amazing car. It’s built by the championship-winning Formula One team that built the F1 and the Mercedes-Benz SLR. It has a carbon fiber body, a 616 horsepower V8 engine, and the ride quality of a Rolls-Royce.

But what if that isn’t good enough? If you’re that hard to please, you turn to Hennessey, a speed shop known for working its magic on everything from the Cadillac CTS-V coupe to the Ferrari 458 Italia. It also built a little number called the Venom GT.

The Hennessey HPE700 sounds like a recipe for awesome, and it is. The 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 now produces 704 hp and 538 pound-feet of torque.

With so much power, this souped-up McLaren will now do 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, and the quarter mile in 10.3 seconds.

Other than the steroidal engine upgrades, the HPE700 isn’t that different from a stock 12C. Hennessey didn’t bother messing with this supercar’s high tech suspension, or its aerodynamic body.

This is probably the only time the word “sleeper” can be applied to a mid-engined supercar.

If 700 hp isn’t enough, there’s also an HPE800 with an extra 100 ponies.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more
Cybertruck production reportedly halted over pedal issue
Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck. Tesla

Tesla’s Cybertruck has been hit by a production delay caused by an issue with a part of the vehicle, a number of media reports have claimed.

Read more
Don’t let the gimmicks fool you. The Ioniq 5 N is a serious track car
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N drifting.

We’re finally getting to the fun part of automakers’ methodical quest to replicate their lineups with electric cars.

Performance versions of ordinary cars have been a staple of the auto industry for decades. But while we’ve already seen some variants of EVs boasting more power and more impressive stats — think Tesla Model S Plaid or Lucid Air Sapphire — the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the first to truly apply that format to an EV.

Read more