Video: Hennessey's 705hp LS9-powered HPE700 Camaro roars to life

In January Texas-based tuning firm Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) announced plans for a highly modified 2010 Chevrolet Camaro that the company plans to launch early next year. Called the HPE700, the limited edition Camaro will boasts a 705hp (526kW) output and joins other mega-power custom cars like the recently launched ‘Godzilla 700’ Nissan GT-R and a string of ‘Venom’ Dodge Vipers. Just over a week ago the company announced it had successfully fit the same supercharged LS-variant engine found in the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 into the Camaro's engine bay, and today Hennessey released footage of the beast roaring to life.

As if the 638hp (476kW) the LS9 puts out in ZR1-trim weren't enough, in the HPE700 the force-fed V8 mill will churn out a peak output of 705hp (526kW) and 717lb-ft (971Nm) of torque. The custom Camaro will also pick up the ZR1’s 15in carbon-ceramic brakes, light weight HRE wheels and Michelin PS2 tires.

In addition to the power and handling upgrades, Hennessey will also be offering an exterior aerodynamics package to improve downforce at high speed. Penned by British designer, Steve Everitt, Hennessey's ‘Cam-Aero’ body upgrades include a carbon-fiber rear lip spoiler, carbon-fiber side rocker panels, a carbon-fiber front splitter, a new front fascia with hideaway-look headlights, and a front billet grille. Completing the look of the HPE700 is a ZR1 inspired hood design with a plastic window showing off the Hennessey's tweaked LS9 powerplant.

HPE700 buyers will also receive a one-day performance driving course at Lonestar Motorsports Park – a ¼ mile dragstrip facility located adjacent to Hennessey's 24,000 square foot production facility and showroom.

Hennessey offered the first HPE700 Camaros exclusively to registered bidders at the 2009 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. However, the car will eventually be available to the general public or ordered from select Chevrolet dealers as well as directly from Hennessey. Pricing will start at $109,500. Twenty-four of the cars will be built, but 11 are already spoken for, so if you want your own piece of completely unreasonable muscle-car Americana, you'd better hurry.

The story doesn’t end there as Hennessey plans to launch other turn-key vehicle packages for the new Camaro as well as an extensive list of aftermarket performance parts and accessories, including the recently announced, slightly tamer Camaro HPE550.

Via: Hennessey Performance Engineering