Yes, you read that correctly: 746 kW in a bakkie. The folks over at Hennessey Performance in the United States have gone and dropped a tuned Hellcat V8 engine into the Jeep Gladiator.

The result is the Maximus 1000, powered by a tuned version of the famous supercharged 6,2-litre V8 engine (fitted with the Texas-based firm’s HPE1000 engine upgrade) churning out a whopping 1 265 N.m.

Hennessey says just 24 units of the double-cab bakkie will be built, each costing around $200 000 (that’s a little more than R2,9-million at the current exchange rate), including the base Gladiator. Production is set to begin in July with the build time for each unit set at approximately four months.

“We wanted to create the ultimate Jeep Gladiator,” said company founder, John Hennessey. “Maximus 1000 – the name says exactly what it is: 'badassery' on four wheels.”

The tuned bakkie employs an eight-speed automatic transmission and gains an uprated ECU, wiring harnesses, radiator and fuel system, as well as a stainless steel exhaust system.

Special front and rear bumpers have also been fitted, along with additional LED light-bars, Hennessey 20-inch wheels (wrapped in BFGoodrich off-road rubber) and an upgraded suspension system with a 152 mm lift. A custom leather interior upgrade is also included in the price.

Original article from Car