Hennessey CTS-V HPE1000 Predictably Destroys Camaro ZL1 1LE In Drag Race
Despite weighing a little more, this Hennessey CTS-V more than makes up for that with 350 additional horsepower.
Most everyone is familiar with the work of Texas-based tuner Hennessey Performance. The company has long held a reputation for making fast cars even faster, and even adding some eye-opening performance to trucks and other more utility-focused machines. But while we see plenty of Hennessey Camaros and Corvettes running around, one model we don’t often come across is the Hennessey CTS-V HPE1000.
And that’s somewhat of a shame, especially when you see what the top tier Hennessey CTS-V can do in a straight line against a stock Camaro ZL1 1LE. The tuner treats Cadillac’s already formidable sedan to a high-flow supercharger upgrade, custom cam, ported heads, long tube headers, and a tune, as well as a host of stronger components including upgraded valve springs, lifters, pushrods, and the like.
The result of all that is an even 1,000 horsepower and 966 pound-feet of torque. And that four-digit output propels the CTS-V HPE1000 from 0-60 in just 2.7 seconds, with the quarter-mile coming in 10.1 clicks at 135 miles-per-hour. On paper, that makes it the heavy favorite over its General Motors counterpart and its 650 hp, 650 lb-ft 6.2-liter V8, 3.5-second 0-60, and 11.4-second quarter.
And, well, this little drag race goes pretty much exactly how you’d expect it to. To its credit, the Camaro keeps things close at the start, but then the Caddy begins to pull away. By the time this race is over, the CTS-V has put a large gap on its Bow Tie brethren. And, we imagine, the driver was much more comfortable while doing so in the CTS-V’s cushy cabin compared to the more track-oriented ZL1 1LE’s pilot.
Is it fair? Most certainly not, but then again, drag racing isn’t about being fair – it’s about winning. The good news for Camaro fans is that this particular car will be getting its own HPE1000 upgrade soon, after which we’ll see a rematch. And when that happens, the smart money is obviously on the ZL1. After all, it is a few hundred pounds lighter, with stickier tires and a stiffer chassis.
Regardless, if we were in the market for a daily, we’d choose the Hennessey CTS-V any day of the week. And then we’d go out and smoke a few unsuspecting sports car drivers on our way to the supermarket or soccer practice.
Join the LS1Tech forums now!
