When you get the keys of a 2019 Ford Mustang GT that delivers 808 horsepower and 677 pound-feet of torque, you just do not say no. The 2019 Hennessey Heritage Edition Ford Mustang tops the Coyote V8 of the stock car with a 3.0-liter supercharger, air-water intercooling, large injectors and an adapted melody, and it is more powerful than a Hellcat Redeye. Completion of the changes are a retro paint scheme, lowered suspension and a dose of carbon fiber.
In our haste to get behind the wheel of this crazy powerful Mustang, we had forgotten that annoying winter weather. The day the Mustang surfaced, it was below freezing and our first big snowfall was coming. And of course the car was still on summer tires. Less than ideal conditions, so I wanted to stay in the car for as long as the roads were dry at least.
Was not sure of the retro stripes and numbers in the beginning. But personally I fell in love with the appearance of the @HennesseyPerf Ford Mustang Heritage Model @therealautoblog The supercharger must also be nice. pic.twitter.com/OtQfnVufaz
– Joel Stocksdale (@ GeekyGearhead99) November 14, 2018
The first thing that surprised me (and disappointed) was the lack of supercharger sound, drowned out by the exhaust bark of the cat-rear exhaust Hennessey fits. Supercharger whine is omnipresent in the Hellcat Mopars, and contributes to the experience. But if you're not a fan of blower shriek, you'll be happy with the silence of Hennessey's supercharger choice.
The power of the crane is monstrous, but even on frozen summer tires the Mustang is manageable thanks to the super smooth power delivery. Like any supercharged engine, the Hennessey & # 39; s V8 behaves as if it has more displacement, with sharp response – no delay at an inconvenient time as you would get with a turbo. That meant that it was easier to use all 808 horsepower for a bit of tire-turning follies without a boost and snagged me in the back.
2019 @HennesseyPerf Heritage Edition Mustang 5.0L supercharged V8. pic.twitter.com/WVmo8lNaXu
– Autoblog (@therealautoblog) November 24, 2018
The 10-speed automatic connected to this tester is disappointing in this application. We have had problems with this broadcast before, and since Hennessey has not changed it in any way, the problems are getting worse here. It feels confused: sometimes it shifts hard, sometimes smoothly – but never so quickly. It is not particularly pleasant. The good news is that there is a simple solution: go with the much better and nicer manual with six speeds.
Something else that you definitely want to have on your Hennessey Mustang are the optional Brembo brakes: six pistons in the front and four pistons in the rear. They are everything you want, from performance stoppers, with phenomenal braking power, a strong pedal feel and great modulation. They are also not overly sensitive. With so much power under the hood, we can not recommend them enough.
Not surprisingly, it drives stiffer than a normal Mustang GT, but it is not shocking or uncomfortable. It remains stable and planted over bumps, which was appreciated in the cold conditions. And despite the lack of grip, it was clear that this Hennessey Mustang wanted to get in quicker and had much less body roll than the Mustangs in the factory that we had had through the office. As such, the consideration when driving is absolutely worth it.
So the Hennessey Heritage Mustang is a nice package, but it's not exactly cheap for $ 89,950. Not only is that big amount in itself, but it's about $ 19,000 more than the Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye, which, as we have already mentioned, has slightly less power with 797 horses, but it also has more torque at 707 pound-feet . All this makes the Redeye a better buy, but there are reasons to spend extra on the Hennessey Mustang. It is available with a manual transmission, while the Redeye is only available with an automatic. And the Redeye can not hit the Hennessey Mustang in a corner.
If you are a Ford die-hard, you do not have many other options until the Shelby GT500 comes on sale. Moreover, the Hennessey Heritage Mustang will be very exclusive: the tuner will only build 19 examples. Hennessey also guarantees all its parts, including the engine for 3 years and 36,000 km, and the Ford parts are still covered by Ford, so the Mustang is also supported.
The Hennessey Heritage Mustang may not be for everyone. But you should appreciate the delicate balancing act if you put a Hellcat-sniffing amount of power into a Mustang without being a hot mess – even on winter roads. And if you do that, maybe it's the Mustang for you.
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