The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is powered by a supercharged LT4 which delivers 650 horsepower and 650lb-ft of torque, propelling this monster muscle car down the quarter mile in the mid-to-low 11-second range. The 6th gen ZL1 is the quickest, fastest and most powerful factory-stock Camaro ever, but for those ZL1 owners who need lots more power – the crew at Hennessey Performance has a variety of answers.
Hennessey offers a handful of higher performance packages for the 2017 Camaro ZL1 with a variety of outputs, but a new video has been posted on the HPE YouTube channel showing the HPE850 package for the supercharged Chevy in action on the drag strip.
The Hennessey Camaro ZL1 HPE850 Package
The Hennessey HPE850 package for the 2017+ Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 adds a new lower pulley, high flow cylinder heads, upgraded valve train components, a new camshaft, long tube headers, a performance exhaust system with high flow catalytic convertors and a tune to bring it all together. To be exact, when the HPE850 package is applied to the Camaro ZL1, the supercharged beast sends 735 horsepower and 706lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels with the 6-speed manual transmission, while the Camaro ZL1 HPE850 with the 10-speed automatic makes 706 horsepower at the wheels. Using a 15% drivetrain loss factor for the manual, the HPE850 package makes around 858 horsepower and 830lb-ft of torque at the crankshaft per Hennessey.
When fitted with 20 inch drag radial tires, the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 with the 10-speed automatic storms down the track in 10.54 seconds with a trap speed of 131.85 miles per hour, which you can experience firsthand in the video below. We get to ride along in the car, ride along on the outside while looking at a rear tire and watch from the stationary views as the supercharged Camaro makes it blast down the track.
When watching the video, make sure to have your speakers cranked up, as the HPE850 Camaro ZL1, with its aftermarket cam and exhaust, sounds incredible while in action.
Fast but Pricey
The Hennessey HPE850 package for the 6th gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 makes great power and runs a solid 10.5 quarter mile, but it doesn’t come cheap. The HPE850 package costs $23,950, so when you factor in the $63,435 MSRP of the new ZL1 (including gas guzzler tax and destination fees with the manual transmission), the price of the HPE850-equipped Camaro ZL1 starts around $87,385. That is a big chunk of change, but for those who want big power from their supercharged Camaro without building it themselves – with a 2 year, 24,000 mile warranty from Hennessey – this is a great mid-10-second option.