With Hummer gone, it looks like the world badly needed a giant SUV, so the creative minds at Hennessey Performance decided to do something about it. Their proposal is the VelociRaptor SUV, based on the Ford F-150 Raptor pickup truck. The full-sized SUV offers seating for up to 8 people and picks up where the Ford Excursion left off (for good reason, some may say).
“We are now very excited to be able to offer the VelociRaptor SUV to those who like the Raptor but want more seats and space”, said Hennessey Performance CEO Don Goldman.
Although the conversion uses all of the factory Ford Raptor truck components and systems, Hennessey Performance says it hasn’t tested yet the off-road capabilities of the VelociRaptor SUV and recommends customers to use the SUV for on-road as well as light to moderate off-road duties. We imagine this has something to do with the added 600 lbs (272 kg) compared to the Raptor.
Priced at $149,500 (€116,200), the standard VelociRaptor SUV is powered by the same 6.2-liter 411 horsepower Ford V8 engine from the Raptor, while the VelociRaptor 600 Supercharged upgrade brings 600 horsepower to the tarmac. The standard model can sprint from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 7.5 seconds, while the 600-hp model drops the 0-60 mph time to 5.9 seconds. No fuel economy figures were released, but you know what to expect…
Other optional equipment includes Brembo front brakes, larger wheels and tires (!), LED lighting, bespoke interior and electronic upgrades. Security and armoring systems are also available. HPE will build only 30 units per year.
By Dan Mihalascu
Story References: Hennessey via Jalopnik
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