When it comes to tuning and modifying cars, Hennessy doesn’t do things by half. It does them by one-and-a-half judging by its latest creation, the VelociRaptor 6×6.
Hennessey is well known for its F5 Venom supercars and mega-power Ford Mustangs, but its workshops are also kept busy performing upgrades on trucks like the third-generation Ford F-150 Raptor. The wildest of those upgrades is a six-wheel, triple-axle conversion, and Hennessey has just rolled out the same option for the even hotter Raptor R.
Fitting that extra set of wheels involves extending the frame, but the additional 37-inch off-road tires aren’t just along for the ride. The second rear axle is fully functional, comes with a locking feature, and is claimed to increase traction by more than 50 percent. There are Fox shocks, a 3-inch (76 mm) body lift to accommodate Hennessey’s 20-inch wheels, and the load bed is stretched from 5.5 ft (1.67 m) to 8 ft (2.4 m).
Related: Is Ford Getting Ready To Launch A Mustang Raptor And Raptor R?
The Texan tuners have opted to leave the R’s 5.2-liter supercharged V8 just as it comes from Ford, which you can understand given that it already makes 700 hp (710 PS) and 640 lb-ft (868 Nm) of torque. Still, a few extra ponies would be nice to offset the extra mass of that third axle and associated chassis and body. The finished 6×6 measures nearly 27 ft (8.2 m) long and weighs around 6,500 lbs (2,948 kg).
Also enormous is the price. The new ‘VelociRaptoR 6×6’ costs $499,999, although that does include the base Ford F-150 Raptor R, which costs over $109,000. With that kind of money changing hands it’s good to know that the mutant truck is covered by a 3-year, 36,000-mile (58,000 km) warranty.
Though the idea of a 6×6 truck might seem niche, it’s one Hennessey has exploited before with the RAM-based MAMMOTH 6×6 TRX and Chevrolet-based Goliath 6×6 Silverado. And Ford fans content to make do with less power can opt for the non-R Raptor 6×6, the twin-turbocharged V6 VelociRaptor 600 6×6.
