Praise be for Hennessey’s 1,000bhp ‘Exorcist’

Next week, Dodge will unveil its long-awaited and achingly teased ‘Demon’. The Hellcat’s big brother has the potential to be one of the maddest straight-line production cars in the world, and has us itching for the final spec sheet, as it’s set to be grab-the-strait-jacket-mad. 

But before we can even see it, John Hennessey wants to rid the Demon… with horsepower. Meet ‘The Exorcist’, the Texan tuner’s 1,000bhp Camaro ZL1, and Hennessey’s answer to Dodge’s Demon.

Using Chevrolet’s potty Camaro ZL1 – nicknamed ‘The Hammer’ – John and his team have gone to work on the same supercharged, 6.2-litre ‘LT4’ engine from the Corvette Z06 (that normally produces 640bhp and 640lb ft of torque) and turned it all the way up to four figures.

Yep, clog your right foot into the carpet and you’ll experience 1,000bhp at 6,400rpm and 966lb ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. Best hold on tight, as when equipped with the optional drag radial tires, The Exorcist will see off 0-60 mph in under three seconds and tramp the quarter-mile in less than 10 seconds. Dom Toretto would be a fan of that.

All this extra oomph is thanks to a larger, higher flowing supercharger and intercooler system producing 14psi of boost pressure. The factory cylinder heads have also been ported, the camshaft upgraded, long tube stainless steel headers fitted, and the induction system made freer flowing. There’s also a quick ECU flash for maximum go.

Like the standard car, The Exorcist is available as either a six-speed manual or ten-speed automatic. Yes, ten. But two-pedal donor cars require a transmission upgrade to handle all that extra grunt, which comes to the tune of $9,950. That’s on top of the 1000bhp engine upgrade and graphics, which total $55,000. If you don’t have a ZL1 already, don’t worry. You can buy a base Exorcist from John for $119,000.

Then there are the options. The ‘Drag Pack’ features a pair of optional 20-inch wheels with sticky 315/30-20 Nitto drag radial tires, a drive shaft upgrade, floor jack and tool kit. That’ll be $8,995. Then there is the optional ‘Road Race Pack’ featuring 20-inch lightweight Hennessey wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s. That’ll be $6,995, please.

From what we know so far, the Dodge Demon will have a drag-race-specific suspension tune, the largest ever functional hood scoop, a significantly larger air box than the Hellcat, not one but two Air Catcher headlights and super sticky street-legal drag radials with a 15 per cent larger contact patch than the Hellcat. It’ll sound berserk thanks to its new torque reserve launch system. 

John has skipped all this tech and tried to exorcise the Demon with old school horsepower and lightness. But where the Demon appears to be set up for going in straight lines, Hennessey believes the Exorcist is more of an all-rounder. 

“The Exorcist is not just a quarter-mile racer,” John says. “It’s a well-rounded super muscle car that is just as happy on a road course as it is on the dragstrip and street.  Needless to say, this will leave the competition’s heads spinning.”

We can’t wait to try it. Dodge Demon, be afraid. Tyres, be petrified.