Enliven your Monday morning with the sounds of Hennessey’s twin-turbo Corvette Stingray

By Nick Jaynes January 27, 2014

image test hennessey hpe700 stingray — Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re like me this Monday morning, you’re dragging a bit. Well, at least, I was dragging a bit. After absorbing the quick shot of auditory adrenaline that is the sinewy sounds of the Hennessey HPE700 Corvette Stingray, I am, like Radioactive Man, “up and atom!”

OK that was prodigiously dorky. My apologies. Let me make it up to you with the video itself.

And what is it that makes so much noise? It’s the Stingray’s LT1 6.2-liter V8 that’s had twin turbos bolted to it. Now, as you can see from the end of the video, it makes 608 horsepower and 564 pound-feet of torque.

Amazingly, those numbers are made with a measly seven-psi of boost and on 93 octane pump gasoline. To put that into perspective, the Mercedes CLA45 AMG’s turbo churns out 26.1 psi of boost. Going even lower, and closer to the psi rating of the HPE700’s turbos, your mom’s 1989 Volvo 740 turbo only made nine psi from its single, low-pressure turbo.

So to say the HPE700 is making quite a lot of power without much turbo help is like saying that Pharrell’s Dudley Do-Right hat at the Grammies was idiotic: it’s an understatement.

How did the mechanical wizards at Hennessey get so much power from the Stingray with some low-blowing turbos? They upgraded the fuel system, added a new intake and exhaust, and fiddled a bit with the ECU.

If you want more power from your Stingray than 608 ponies, luckily, Hennessey has you covered.

It also offers a prostate-shrinking 1,000 horsepower version. Giddy-up.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

Cars

Tesla Model 3 vs. Hyundai Ioniq 6: Which electric sedan is best?

Front three quarter view of the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

There are finally some more electric sedan options. For years, the Tesla Model 3 was really the only good electric sedan that comes at a reasonable price -- until, Hyundai recently launched the Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 6 certainly takes some cues from the larger Ioniq 5, but is smaller and sleeker, with a design seemingly inspired by the Porsche 911.

But the Tesla Model 3 is still clearly an excellent option for those looking for an electric car, and who don't want a larger crossover. Which is better? Here's a look.
Design
The exterior design of the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 is quite different. If you've seen a Tesla car before, then you'll immediately recognize the Model 3 -- it looks largely like a slightly different version of every other Tesla (except the Cybertruck).

Cars

Scout Motors Electric SUV: rumored price, release date, design, and more

Scout SUV Teaser

There's another electric SUV on the way, and this one comes with a familiar name. Volkswagen is reviving the classic Scout name for a new electric SUV that's billed as being an "RUV," or a rugged utility vehicle. And, it could well prove itself as the best electric SUV in its price range, when it does finally come out.

The new EV isn't due out for quite some time, but there's already a fair bit that we know about it. Curious to learn more? Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming Scout SUV.
Design
There's very little we actually know about the Scout SUV so far, but we do know a little about the eventual design. A few teasers for the upcoming vehicle have been released, showing sketches of both the SUV and the accompanying pickup truck, along with what's presumably the front of the SUV -- though in a dark environment, with little detail.

Cars

Volkswagen ID.GTI concept is another icon reimagined as an EV

Front three quarter view of the Volkswagen ID.GTI concept.

Volkswagen reinvented one of its most iconic models with the ID.Buzz, a modern, all-electric homage to the classic Microbus. But that's not the only fan favorite vehicle currently in the automaker's catalog.

Debuting at the 2023 Munich Auto Show, the Volkswagen ID.GTI concept aims to do for the Golf GTI hot hatchback — VW's signature performance car — what the ID.Buzz did for the Microbus. VW claims a production version has already been given the green light, although it won't say when it will appear.