Hennessey’s Jeep Gladiator-based Maximus 1000 is an absolute animal and was recently put to the test by the Texas tuning company in the desert. In making the ultimate Jeep Gladiator, Hennessey uses a 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 from the Challenger and Charger models. A series of alterations see power from this engine lifted to 1,000 hp and 1,264 Nm, significant increases over the 707 hp and 881 Nm)that the Hellcat engine ordinarily churns out.

While Hennessey’s Jeep Gladiator means business about straight-line grunt, the tuner has also worked extensively on modifying the car’s underpinnings to make it more capable off road. For example, there is a 6.5-inch lift kit with King shocks, upgraded front and rear axles and driveshafts, and huge 37-inch off-road tires.


Creature comforts also come in abundance with the vehicle. There are automatic side steps and a bespoke diamond-quilted interior finished in red and black leather. Many visual modifications have also been made, including a black bull bar up front alongside an LED light bar.

Hennessey Performance will build just 24 examples of the Maximus 1000 and says it has already delivered four examples. The truck isn’t cheap, commanding a price tag of US$ 225,000, including the base Gladiator it is built around. Fortunately, the Maximus does come with a 3-year / 36,000 mile (58,000 km) warranty.