Hennessey Maximus Asks, Are You Not Entertained?

More Than an Engine Swap

Hellcat-swapped Jeep Gladiators are nothing new, but Hennessey Performance wanted to up the ante just a tad. Thus, at this year's SEMA show, they pulled the covers off their latest mega-horsepower machine, the appropriately-named Maximum 1000. And as you might imagine, this insane Jeep entails much more than just your average engine swap.

Photos: Hennessey Performance  

Big Power

In this iteration, Dodge's 6.2-liter supercharged mill produces an astounding 1,000 horsepower and 933 lb-ft of torque. Hennessey managed to achieve those big numbers using nothing more than a new fuel system and ECU tune, as well as a stainless steel exhaust system. They also claim that it'll blaze from 0-60 miles-per-hour in just 3.9-seconds.

Photos: Hennessey Performance  

>Join the conversation about the Gladiator Hennessey Maximus right here in JK-Forum.

Off-Road Roots

Obviously, this impressive performance is the most notable thing about the Maximus Gladiator. But at its roots, this is still an off-road truck. That much is evident by the King 6-inch suspension lift, which makes room for custom Hennessey aluminum wheels and meaty BF Goodrich off-road tires. The axles were also upgraded for additional strength, which is obviously needed here.

Photos: Hennessey Performance  

>Join the conversation about the Gladiator Hennessey Maximus right here in JK-Forum.

Lots of Branding

None of that means you can't have a comfy, luxurious experience inside your Maximus, of course. And Hennessey provides plenty of that with an upgraded leather interior sporting custom Hennessey and Maximus embroidered seats. You'll also find plenty of exterior badges, an engine bay plaque, and a serial numbered badge on the inside as well, in case you forgot what you're driving.

Photos: Hennessey Performance 

>Join the conversation about the Gladiator Hennessey Maximus right here in JK-Forum.

Versatile Vehicle

Throw in a set of custom front and rear bumpers with LED lighting and drop-down running boards, and you've got quite the versatile vehicle. One capable of outrunning muscle cars on pavement and pretty much everything else off of it. And that's what makes the Maximus a truly special machine.

Photos: Hennessey Performance

>Join the conversation about the Gladiator Hennessey Maximus right here in JK-Forum.

Extreme Vehicle

“Our clients want exclusive, extreme vehicles that deliver a fun and an exciting driving experience both on and off-road,” said company founder John Hennessey.  “Our Maximus Jeep with 1,000 hp is pure ridiculousness on 4-wheels.  What other vehicles can climb to the top of Aspen Mountain with a KTM dirt bike in the back in the morning and then run 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds at the dragstrip later the same day?”

Photos: Hennessey Performance

>Join the conversation about the Gladiator Hennessey Maximus right here in JK-Forum.

Good News, Bad News

"We wanted to create the ultimate Jeep Gladiator," Hennessey continued. "Maximus 1000 – the name says exactly what it is: Badassery on 4-wheels. We are excited to unveil our first production Maximus with the Shell Pennzoil team at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas." Of course, Hennessey wasn't there to deliver all the good news, as you might imagine.

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Expensive and Rare

As you would expect, the Maximus 1000 is neither cheap nor easy to obtain. Hennessey plans on building just 24 examples of the ultimate Jeep Gladiator, and each one will cost a whopping $225,000. But at least that huge price tag includes the cost of the donor Gladiator, so there's that.

Photos: Hennessey Performance

>Join the conversation about the Gladiator Hennessey Maximus right here in JK-Forum.

Insane Ride

Those lucky two dozen folks can order their Maximus 1000 directly from Hennessey or an authorized Jeep dealer. And hey, they even come with a 3-year, 36,000-mile warranty. So sure, it might not be the cheapest or most practical Hellcat-powered Gladiator on the planet. But the Maximus 1000 most certainly is the most insane, at least for now.

Photos: Hennessey Performance

>Join the conversation about the Gladiator Hennessey Maximus right here in JK-Forum.

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