First 1,000-HP Hennessey Maximus Has Been Built

Sometimes a name presents itself that is just so obvious and right that it has to be used. That's absolutely the case here, and there could be no other name for an overpoweredJeep Gladiatorthan Maximus. Back in May, we got word that the masters of absurd power over atHennessy were building a Gladiator with a Hellcat enginepumped up to 1,000 horsepower. Now, the first one has been built and Hennessey has announced it will be shown at the spiritual home of all over-the-top builds, SEMA. Only 24 will be made at $200,000 a piece, so it'll probably be the only time many people see one in the metal.

As usual,a Hennessey build isn't just thrown together. The tuning company has given Jeep's Gladiator a thorough working over, starting with the Dodge Hellcat's 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8. Once Hennessey is done with the Hemi, it makes a staggering 1,000 horsepower and 933 lb-ft of torque that's sent to the tarmac via an 8-speed Automatic Transmission. That power needs to be handled by the rest of the drivetrain, so the Maximus gets heavy-duty off-road axles fitted with Dana 60 front and rear differentials making for a 4.88 gear ratio. The driveshafts are also upgraded to heavy-duty units along with the suspension, which is a KING Off-Road Suspension System with a 6-inch lift.