Hennessey’s Mustang Venom 1200 wants to make you forget the GT 500 is the most powerful factory-built Mustang ever with its 760 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque. That’s because the Venom’s twin-turbo V8 cranks out an astounding 1200 hp at 7,000 rpm. Plus, this all comes with a one-year or 12,000-mile warranty. No, this is not April 1, and no, we aren’t kidding.

Three Venom Packages

According to Motor1 there are actually three Hennessey versions that kick the power of the 5.2-liter engine up one notch at a time. You can start with the Venom 850. Hennessey ports the stock supercharger then adds stouter pulleys and belts before replacing the intake manifold. It then adds new long-tube headers and high-flow catalytic converters for better breathing. The base 850 kit gives you 850 hp and 725 lb-ft of torque—a ridiculous amount of power, wouldn’t you say?

If your answer was “no,” then try the Venom 1000 package with, you guessed it, 1,000 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque. This kit replaces the stock supercharger with a 3.0-liter upgrade pulling more air. Both the fuel system and a larger intercooler are upgraded. Hennessey also tweaks the transmission. 1,000 is a nice round number that is sure to impress. Just brace yourself.

Let’s say you’re looking for Bugatti Veyron-like power from your Mustang? Then just go for it all with the Venom 1200. It’s the top of the Hennessey power parade. What does Hennessey do to squeeze an additional 440 hp and 375 ft-lb of torque from what seems like an already maxed out 5.2? 

How To Get 1,200 HP

First, the supercharger is replaced with twin-turbos. The fuel system is reworked, and stout pistons and piston rods replace the factory hardware. Hennessey also adds a stainless steel exhaust, a better, larger intercooler, and high-flow air induction system. Next, Hennessy reworks the dual-clutch automatic trans to handle all of that power and torque to pound it to the ground.

For the Venom 850 and 1000 packages, you’ll need to be pumping 93-octane gas. The Venom 1200 will need to run on either E85 or 109-octane racing fuel.

What’s Inside

Depending on whether you like to advertise what you’re packing or not there are enhancements for the Mustang’s exterior, too. Hennessey logo badges and also Venom 1200 badges handle the jewelry. Inside there are embroidered headrests, a numbered plaque for the dash with John Hennessey’s signature, and a numbered plaque is installed in the engine compartment.

The Texas-based Hennessey puts all Venom 1200 Mustangs through a 150-mile shakedown to make sure everything is in order and that it performs as advertised. Prices have not been advertised but with a GT 500 sticker price of about $75,000, once destination charges and other mumbo jumbo is added, we estimate the price will be north of $100,000. 

Hennessey has been tuning and upgrading production vehicles for years and offers a variety of enhancements for many different types. The Mustang Venom is just the latest. 

If you need 1,200 hp then a Mustang may not look as impressive as a Bugatti, but for that price, you won’t care.

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