Check Out Hennessey's 'Roided Up Jeep Gladiator Maximus 1000
One thing there’s no shortage of at the 2019 Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in Las Vegas is modified Jeep Gladiator pickup trucks. Everybody’s got one in their display, but other than , not everybody has one as cool as the one on display over at Shell Pennzoil, where you’ll find the latest amazing creation from speed king John Hennessey. This is the , and it just might be the ultimate Jeep Gladiator.
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This isn’t a one-off show queen, it’s the first of 24 examples that Hennessey Performance Engineering plans to build for customers for the cool sum of $225,000 a pop. What do you get for this princely sum? According to company founder and “chief horsepower evangelist” John Hennessey, “The name says exactly what it is: badassery on four wheels.”
Let’s start with the business end of this weaponized Jeep. Nestled under the hood is a supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V-8, just like you’d find under the hood of a Charger or Challenger SRT Hellcat or a Grand Cherokee Trackhawk … but not exactly the same: Hennessey has modified this one with a new engine control unit, wiring harness, radiator and fuel system such that it makes an even 1,000 horsepower and 933 pounds-feet of torque. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and it’s good enough to propel the Maximus 1000 from zero-to-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, according to Hennessey Performance. Underneath, there’s a full stainless-steel custom exhaust to help breathing.
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The powertrain gets an upgrade to Dana 60 front and rear axles with a 4.88:1 gear ratio, with heavy-duty front and rear driveshafts to handle all that extra power. The wheels and hubs get an upgrade, as well, moving to Hennessey’s own aluminum-alloys with an eight-lug bolt pattern wrapped in BFGoodrich off-road tires. The suspension gets a 6-inch lift from King Off-Road to fit the massive meats, while drop-down running boards help you get into the lofty cabin. Front and rear Maximus-branded bumpers have been fitted with integrated LED lights — not that you’d really need the help for approach and departure angles with that 6-inch lift.
The interior gets some love, too, with an upgraded interior adorned with Hennessey and Maximus embroidered leather seats, while additional Hennessey and Maximus branding can be found on the exterior as well. There’s also a serial number plaque for both the interior and the engine bay.
Perhaps most remarkably, the whole thing comes with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty, and it can be ordered either from Hennessey directly or through specially licensed Jeep dealers. The new Hennessey Maximus 1000 is available for ordering right now, and if you’ve got the scratch to afford one, you could be the first on your block to have the ultimate Jeep Gladiator.
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