First C7 Corvette Hits 200 mph....and does it on Texas Toll Road...

[STANG KILLA SS]

We knew that once Hennessey Performance got its hands on the seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, big things were going to happen. A 200.6-mile-per-hour run on a closed section of Texas' brand-new State Highway 99, was just a shade bigger than what we were expecting. The run was also a test of the new toll road - which Hennessey founder John Hennessey called "perfectly smooth" - and the RFID toll system, which was still able to tag the Corvette at 200 miles per hour (toll dodgers beware). The blistering run was, naturally, caught on video, which we've included at the bottom of the page.

The car you see here is fitted with what Hennessey calls the HPE600 package, and includes long-tube headers, ported cylinder heads, high-flow catalytic converters, and an HPE camshaft and engine tune. There's also a 100-shot of nitrous oxide available from a Nitrous Express kit, just for that little extra bit of punch. The result is 700 horsepower, up from the standard Stingray's 460 ponies.

If you're still scoping out that list of modifications and are wondering why the word "supercharger" doesn't appear, then take solace in the fact that Hennessey will deliver a blown Stingray, which it claims can crack 200 without the laughing gas. Called the HPE700, it adds a TVS2300 supercharger and new induction system to the list of goodies found on the HPE600, and will cost $22,500.

We have the entire video of the run down below, along with photos and videos of the epic run.

Show full PR textHennessey Corvette Breaks 200 MPH on New Texas Toll Road

John Hennessey pilots first C7 Corvette to eclipse the double century mark

December 17, 2013

Houston, Texas-Only a handful of supercars exist that can rightfully lay claim to achieving 200 mph and beyond. With a serious injection of horsepower from Hennessey Performance (HPE), the new Corvette Stingray has entered that exclusive club. On December 11, 2013, an HPE-upgraded C7 Corvette, driven by company founder John Hennessey, achieved a top speed of 200.6 mph, making it the first C7 Corvette to break the double-century mark. The run was verified with both the VBox GPS-based data acquisition system and by radar courtesy of Texas DPS State Troopers who were on hand.

The record run took place on a closed section of the newly completed segment E of Texas State Highway 99, also known as the Grand Parkway that's located west of Houston, made available by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The new toll road section, which opens to the public on Saturday, December 21st, connects Interstate 10 with Highway 290. The day also gave TxDOT officials and their toll road engineers from TransCore the chance to test its toll tag RFID system with Hennessey vehicles.

"The road is perfectly smooth and the Corvette was very stable and easy to drive at 200 mph," said driver and company founder John Hennessey. "I'd put the Texas highway system up against any other highway in the world, including the German Autobahn. Our roads have proven to be smooth and safe at speeds well above 200 mph."

In 460-bhp production form, the production C7 Corvette Stingray straight from the Bowling Green factory is certainly no slouch-it's a true 180-mph road car. But as aero drag increases with the square of velocity, the Corvette needed to supply serious power-700 bhp at 6500 rpm-to break through the aerodynamic brick wall and achieve that extra 20 mph. The record-setting C7 utilized the HPE600 package (long-tube headers, ported factory cylinder heads, high-flow cats, HPE camshaft and HPE tune) plus a Nitrous Express 100-hp nitrous oxide system to break the 200-mph barrier.

Hennessey Performance will soon be releasing its HPE700 supercharged upgrade-also capable of 200-plus-mph performance, but without nitrous-that employs a TVS2300 supercharger, HPE custom camshaft, air induction system, high-flow heads, long-tube headers and HPE tune. Installed price for the package is $22,500.

Said Don Goldman, Hennessey CEO: "We're thrilled to have validated our upgraded C7's performance at one of the best possible highways not only in America, but the world."

In addition to the 200-mph C7, Hennessey also brought out its first HPE600 supercharged Chevrolet SS that, despite being gear-limited, easily achieved 164.2 mph on the Grand Parkway.

[2JSC]

Ive seen a couple of Stingrays around Phoenix already... and a red drop top too. Sharp looking cars.

[wings_of_fire]

That Challenger, just by standing there made a possitive impression in my mind.

[dezfan]

Just watching and listening to that was indeed pleasant.

Makes dealing with all the Prius driving idiots more bearable.

[BJoe]

Originally Posted by 2JSC

Ive seen a couple of Stingrays around Phoenix already... and a red drop top too. Sharp looking cars.

Seen a couple here in the Chicago Burbs too, one was a red roadster too........and itnwas being driven on a night that I would have normally been driving my Jeep do to the sloppy winter weather.

Originally Posted by wings_of_fire

That Challenger, just by standing there made a possitive impression in my mind.

Puts a significant impression in my mind too, and hopes that none of the local departments get their own......it's bad enough they've been replacing their Crown Vics with Chargers and Caprices

[crash]

We have had 4 so far and every one had an owner waiting. They are sharp cars..

[6sharky9]

Ford GT40; already been there and done that.
And the Shelby GT500

[hpiguy]

Love the sound, not so much on the new car though. The headlights and window / roof lines look like they came straight from a GTR.

[fr8cture]

Originally Posted by 6sharky9

Ford GT40; already been there and done that.
And the Shelby GT500

And whats the price tag on a GT40?

Either way super cool. I can easily say this is the first corvette I would like to own besides the original stingray of course.

Originally Posted by hpiguy

Love the sound, not so much on the new car though. The headlights and window / roof lines look like they came straight from a GTR.

Probably why I like it. The GTR is my favorite car.

[rangercat23]

I was pissed when I saw the video, I live within walking distance to the section the shot the video. I would have skipped work to be able to witness the awesomeness!


.

[2JSC]

Finally watching the video... that last section was slightly downhill... seemed to be struggling quite a bit towards the end.

Those Texas troopers running an SRT8 Challenger? Sweet. So glad we don't have to deal with toll roads out here.

[STANG KILLA SS]

they are optional. they go around the super busy sections of big citys and highways. pay a few bucks for no traffic, no cops, and 85 mph speed limits (really)

i posted a vid hennessey did with there CTS-V on the austin toll road when they were building it, but tryed to reference the link but cant find the old thread.


edit, found it, it was hidden on page 2 of another thread.
almost twice the horsepower of the C7 above.

[rangercat23]

Originally Posted by 2JSC

Finally watching the video... that last section was slightly downhill... seemed to be struggling quite a bit towards the end.

Those Texas troopers running an SRT8 Challenger? Sweet. So glad we don't have to deal with toll roads out here.

No downhill at all, Katy is FLAT!!!
Also the struggle at the end is just the car reaching its limitations, 200 mph is a tough milestone to reach...

[STANG KILLA SS]

Originally Posted by rangercat23

200 mph is a tough milestone to reach...

agreed. even with the all the aero work that went into the C7, to put it into perspective, the stock 460hp is good for 180mph. it took 700hp to go 200mph. thats a 52% increase in hp for a 11% increase in speed.

[bigstu]

The shot of the radar on the dash of the cop car at the end of the video says it all.

Hennessey or Lingenfelter.. Knew it was going to be one of them to dip in to the 2's first...

The other thing that was interesting, he made the run in 5th gear..
Wonder if 6th is too much to pull???

[STANG KILLA SS]

yeah 4th gear is 1:1
5th gear is overdrive, and 6th gear is "double overdrive" i call it. too deep to pull. somewhere around .56 ratio if i recall.
our 4th gen f-bodies were the same way. 5th gear was what our top speed gear. 6th would loose mph

[johnnyh66]

I met a guy last Sunday at a Christmas party that had just bought 2 of them.
I don't remember which models he bought.

[STANG KILLA SS]

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

I met a guy last Sunday at a Christmas party that had just bought 2 of them.
I don't remember which models he bought.

maybe Revell and AMT?

[BJoe]

Originally Posted by STANG KILLA SS

maybe Revell and AMT?

No, they haven't even announced any kits yet

[Krakker]

Simply BITCHEN !!!

Hennesy CTS-V is one of the 1st things on the list after that winning lottery ticket comes in.

Spose I'll get the vette as well.