Hennessey gives the Escalade a 50% power boost

Starting now, Hennessey Performance has an upgrade kit in stock for the 6.2-liter General Motors V8 that powers the latest Cadillac Escalade, among other models. The kit reduces the 0-97 km/h (0-60 mph) time by almost a second, but still leaves the bulky SUV slightly behind the official V version.

The list of upgrades mentions a mechanical supercharger, an intercooler, an improved intake manifold, new pistons, a stainless-steel exhaust and an ECU remap. Once applied, the whole pushes the output from 426 PS (420 hp / 313 kW) and 623 Nm (459 lb-ft) of torque to a superior 659 PS (650 hp / 485 kW) and 892 Nm (658 lb-ft).

Getting from zero to 60 miles per hour takes 5.3 seconds, a significant improvement over the stock 6.1 seconds. The quarter-mile run is completed in 13.5 seconds – a full second faster than the stock Escalade can do.

The kit can be applied to other GM cars with this engine model, including the GMC Yukon, the Chevrolet Tahoe and the Suburban.

Last spring, Cadillac revealed the Escalade V. Its 6.2-liter V8 produced 692 PS (683 hp / 509 kW) and took the heavy SUV 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. While more powerful than even the Hennessey version, the V comes in at $150,000 before options. In contrast, the regular Escalade starts from around $80,000 and the Hennessey kit adds just $27,950.