Meet Hennessey’s 717bhp Mustang

John Hennessey is sad. Sad the new Ford Mustang - even with its 5.0-litre V8 - doesn't have the firepower to run with the upcoming Corvette Z06 and certifiable SRT Challenger Hellcat.

Hennessey Venom does 270.49mph

After all, that Z06 manages 650bhp, with the Hellcat making 57bhp more. The poor Mustang must make do with a paltry 420bhp. Barely enough to get it up a gentle hill.

So, in a brief break from attempting to dial his Venom F5 up to 290mph, John Hennessey has made the Mustang, um, Mustangrier. This is the supercharged Hennessey HPE700, and it is out for bloody vengeance.

Target 290mph: it's Hennessey's Venom F5

Courtesy of a Roots-style supercharger running 7.25psi of boost, the ‘Stang's big V8 now generates a carnivorous 717bhp, with 632lb ft of torque for good measure. That's a jump of nearly 300bhp over the Mustang's standard output, good for a 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds.

No word on top speed, but Hennessey tells us the HPE700 will smash the quarter-mile in just 11.2 seconds, at 131mph. He says that's 5mph quicker than the Challenger Hellcat will hit on the standing quarter, and reckons the HPE700 could beat the Vette Z06, too.

This being Hennessey, there's more than just a shiny new supercharger on show here. The HPE700 gets a new stainless steel exhaust, uprated fuel injectors and pumps, ECU flash, masses of engorged carbon fibre bodywork and a set of Hennessey's own lightweight 20-inch alloys.

Hennessey says production will be limited to just 500 units (including the cost of the base car, fear not), with prices starting at $59,500. Perhaps not coincidentally, that's within a whisker of the price of that Hellcat.

We're also told Hennessey is planning a ‘high performance upgrade program' for the base Mustang's 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder engine. Presumably through the addition of a second 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder engine.

So, muscle enthusiasts, what's your weapon of choice for frying tyres? This, the Hellcat or the soon-to-arrive Z06?