Hennessey gives the 2015 Cadillac Escalade some supercharged muscle

By Stephen Edelstein Published April 23, 2014

When it comes to speed, few names resonate like Hennessey Performance. From tuned Corvettes to the 270-mph Venom GT, this Texas firm has done it all.

Yet it’s easy to build a fast car, or make a fast car faster. Making a slow car go fast? Now that’s a challenge.

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The 2015 Cadillac Escalade is definitely not a fast car, but Hennessey decided to change that. Its HPE550 Supercharged upgrade gives this full-size SUV a bit more muscle.

As the name advertises, the HPE550 package applies a supercharger to the Escalade’s 6.2-liter V8, along with an intercooler and tweaked engine-management software. The result is 557 horsepower and 542 pound-feet of torque, up from 420 hp and 460 lb-ft in the stock Escalade.

An Escalade already stands out from the crowd in stock form, but Hennessey will also add its own H10 20-inch wheels for some added visual punch. There’s also plenty of Hennessey badging, to show Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG and Range Rover drivers why they lost that stoplight drag race.

The HPE550 Supercharged upgrade costs $15,950 – including installation – on top of the price of a new 2015 Escalade. The wheels are an extra $6,950.

While the HPE550 Escalade will probably be the most blinged-out performance vehicle on any block, Hennessey will also install the package on other GM trucks equipped with the 6.2-liter V8.

Those looking for a more subtle ride can choose a 2015 GMC Yukon Denali, or 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado or GMC Sierra pickup.

Stephen Edelstein

Former Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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