Automotive

Watch: 1,000-hp Jeep Gladiator rolls and launches over sand dunes

Watch: 1,000-hp Jeep Gladiator rolls and launches over sand dunes
Hennessey puts its Jeep Gladiator Maximus to the test ... and has a little fun doing it
Hennessey puts its Jeep Gladiator Maximus to the test ... and has a little fun doing it
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Hennessey puts its fourth Maximus build to the test on the sand dunes
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Hennessey puts its fourth Maximus build to the test on the sand dunes
Maximum Maximus
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Maximum Maximus
With 1,000 hp and 933 lb-ft, the Maximus muscles its way through the shifty sand
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With 1,000 hp and 933 lb-ft, the Maximus muscles its way through the shifty sand
Hypercar power, pickup truck utility
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Hypercar power, pickup truck utility
Leaving the ground ...
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Leaving the ground ...
Hennessey puts its Jeep Gladiator Maximus to the test ... and has a little fun doing it
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Hennessey puts its Jeep Gladiator Maximus to the test ... and has a little fun doing it
The Hennessey Gladiator Maximus takes in the sunset
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The Hennessey Gladiator Maximus takes in the sunset
Hennessey Gladiator Maximus
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Hennessey Gladiator Maximus
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Hennessey hit the Jeep Gladiator scene hard last May when it introduced the world to the insane Hellcat-powered Maximus 1000 Jeep pickup. But that initial debut was sorely lacking in one critical way: footage of the 1,000-hp beast dropping down on hot sand like a megaton of TNT. A year later, Hennessey rights that wrong by releasing some video that proves the Age of Maximus is well underway.

The Maximus looks the same as it did 11 months ago, which is a very good thing if you like the idea of cramming a 6.2L supercharged Hellcat V8 into the small, brutish Jeep Gladiator to give it 1,000 hp and 933 lb-ft of torque.

Hennessey supports that massive upgrade with an eight-speed automatic transmission, heavy-duty axles and driveshafts, a new stainless steel exhaust and an ECU upgrade. An off-road suspension upgrade with 6-in lift and 20-in wheels wrapped in BFG KD off-road tires help drivers enjoy that extra muscle to the fullest.

With 1,000 hp and 933 lb-ft, the Maximus muscles its way through the shifty sand
With 1,000 hp and 933 lb-ft, the Maximus muscles its way through the shifty sand

Speaking of maximizing driving pleasure ... it's becoming rarer and rarer in these days of social distancing and government-imposed shutdowns. Hennessey helps sate your inner stunt driver by showing its team put Maximus #4 to the test on desert sand.

"There’s nothing like jumping a 1,000-hp Jeep over sand dunes,” declares company founder John Hennessey.

Indeed, there is not. Just watch and see.

Hennessey MAXIMUS 1000 Jeep Gladiator Desert Testing

Maximus pricing has taken a bump since last year, up to $225,000 from $200K. Hennessey will build just 24 examples and four have already found their way to their new owners.

Source: Hennessey

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5 comments
5 comments
aki009
A Jeep is a great thing, but these stretches make the wheelbase a liability. I wouldn't touch one of these limo-Jeeps if I intended to go off road for real.

That said, if one must get a stretched Jeep, a Hennessey conversion makes the whole thing taste a lot sweeter.
Idunno
Not too impressed with the video, thinking, "That thing is getting all of 3' of air, maybe, and just making a bunch of noise. 225K is a lot of money, surely a trophy truck would do better?" A little googling shows trophy trucks, even Spec series that use simple engines, are beaucoup bucks.
vince
It would be far quieter, faster, cleaner with a 2000 hp 3000 ft lb electric drive train.
Kpar
So they're going to build just 24? I'm guessing that is for the civilian market.

How many are the SpecOps guys going to get?
Aladdin Connolly
Great cinematogrophy is being used to cover the fact the things did basically nothing. On little shot of a few inches of air. The video implies that is all it can do, since they were clearly professionals trying to show of it's capabilities. For 225k? Lame.