Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) is marking its 34th anniversary with the release of a radical 850bhp version of the sixth-generation Ford Mustang. Called the Super Venom, HPE’s latest creation continues the US firm’s legacy of creating some of the most extreme performance cars ever built.
Founded in 1991 by John Hennessey, the Texas-based company has evolved from a headline-grabbing tuner into a world-renowned builder of performance cars. Hennessey’s first breakthrough arrived in 1996 with the release of the Dodge Viper GTS-based Venom 650R.
The 670bhp Venom 650R was a motor sport-inspired but street-legal machine that set the template for the company’s philosophy of combining maximum performance with everyday driveability.
HPE then created a series of increasingly extreme creations, including the 1000bhp twin-turbocharged Viper Venom 1000 and the Ford GT-based Hennessey GT1000. With its high-performance credentials established, HPE sought to set production-car speed records with the Lotus Exige-based Venom GT in 2010.
This fearsome hypercar featured a 1244bhp twin-turbocharged V8 and was good for 270.49mph, dethroning the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport to become the world’s fastest production car.
The company attempted to up the ante once again with its bespoke 1817bhp Venom F5 hypercar, which was designed to break the 300mph threshold. Alongside these boundary-pushing machines, HPE continued to develop high-performance versions of American icons, from the Camaro ZL1 to RAM TRXs and Ford Raptors.
HPE’s new Super Venom builds on this impressive back catalogue, bringing new levels of performance to the seventh-generation Ford Mustang with myriad performance, aerodynamic and styling enhancements.
Unsurprisingly, the most headline-grabbing performance improvements come from the HPE’s modifications to Ford’s 5.0-litre Coyote crossplane V8, which produces around 70 percent more horsepower (850bhp) than the 480bhp mustered by the Mustang GT, along with 650lb ft of torque.
The staggering amount of power and torque is primarily due to HPE’s installation of a huge supercharger, paired with a high-performance intake, upgraded fuel injectors and a strengthened fuel pump – all managed by an HPE-developed ECU. HPE doesn’t specify what kind of supercharger it has fitted, but it seems to be the same 3.0-litre Whipple unit fitted to the 2025 Shelby GT350 R. Power is sent to the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual or ten-speed automatic transmission, launching the Super Venom down the quarter mile in just 10.9 seconds at 133mph.
Complementing the powertrain is HPE’s carbonfibre VenomAero kit, characterised by a more aggressive front splitter, functional bonnet vent and side louvres, side skirts, rear deck lid with integrated duck-bill spoiler and fixed rear wing.
HPE has also enhanced the Mustang’s interior, upholstering both the Recaro sport and the comfort seats in bespoke leather and Alcantara. The centre console and dashboard have been retrimmed, and the interior also features a bespoke numbered plaque. Cars will be available from select Ford dealerships, and they come with a three-year or 36,000-mile warranty. Prices start from $149,950 including the car.
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