Californian Sand Dunes Are No Match For The 2022 Hennessey VelociRaptor 600

While a good number of Ford F-150 Raptor-based Hennessey VelociRaptor 600’s will never be driven along difficult off-road terrain by their owners, the extensively-modified pickup is hugely capable when the going gets tough.

To see what the VelociRaptor 600 is made of, the Texas tuner recently brought one to the Glamis Sand Dunes in Southern California. This massive dune system extends for more than 40 miles and while the truck was being tested, it was driven up 300-foot dunes and made a number of massive jumps.

Read More: Hennessey Works Its Magic On The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor, Gives It 600 HP

“Our team builds around 500 high-performance vehicles a year for passionate customers who rightfully expect mainstream manufacturer levels of quality, reliability, and service together with extreme performance,” John Hennessey described in a statement. “Our torturous ‘Fire & Ice’ program is the real-world culmination after the hundreds of hours of research and development each model line undergoes at our Texas headquarters. Our goal is to combine ultimate performance with complete peace of mind.”

The brutal testing at the Californian sand dunes came immediately after this VelociRaptor 600 also underwent testing in the freezing mountains of Colorado where the temperatures dipped below 10°F (-12°C).

Each Hennessey model is also tested extensively at the company’s headquarters in Sealy, Texas, which includes the Pennzoil Proving Ground.

A number of upgrades transform an F-150 Raptor into a VelociRaptor 600. For example, the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 benefits from a high-flow air induction system, air-to-air intercooler, upgraded intercooler piping, new engine management software, updates gaskets and fluids, and dyno tuning and calibration. The truck is good for 558 hp at 5,100 rpm and 672 lb-ft (911 Nm) of torque at 3,500 rpm.

Hennessey also offers its Off Road Stage 1 package for the model. This includes a distinctive front bumper, front LED light bar, a new rear bumper, 20-inch wheels, 35-inch off-road tires, powered electric fold out steps, a front suspension leveling kit, and a 3-inch lift.