Hennessey Escalade: much too much

TG’s favourite US tuner adds more to a car that really, really doesn’t need more. Good work

The Cadillac Escalade is not an understated car. In fact, the Cadillac Escalade is as far removed from ‘understated’ as David Moyes is right now removed from ‘gainful employment’.
But it seems that are still those who find the giant, chrome-toothed Escalade a little too… demure for their extravagant tastes, as the fine folks at Hennessey Performance – yep, them behind the 270mph Venom – have given the vast SUV a little more.

About 32 per cent more, to be precise. Through the addition of a belt-driven supercharger, new intercooler and software, the 6.2-litre V8 in Hennessey’s Escalade now makes a rather scary 557bhp and 542lb ft of torque, up from the standard V8 Escalade’s pitiful 420bhp and 460lb ft.
No official 0-60mph time, but it’s safe to say acceleration should be lightly harrowing, even with the Escalade’s 2.5-tonnekerbweight against you.

On the visual side, Hennessey has added a set of 20-inch forged alloys, though surprisingly has steered clear of treating the Escalade to a bodykit. This is possibly because adding any more cladding to an Escalade would require it to be legally classified as a dwelling, not a car.
“The Escalade is the perfect platform for a Hennessey infusion of horsepower,” says HPE boss John Hennessey. “I plan on making this our next family hauler for our five teenagers and four Labrador Retrievers…”

Here’s hoping someone’s informed the Labradors of this plan. Now, is it just us, or is there something rather glorious in the Hennessey Escalade’s dedication to overkill?
Yep, just us then…

Source: Top Gear