When a Super Venom Mustang arrives, Hellcats become docile. | Carscoops

      Hennessey’s rendition of the Mustang Dark Horse may be costly, but there’s no other new muscle car on the market that compares.

      A significant supercharger enhances Hennessey’s Mustang Dark Horse to achieve 850 horsepower.

      The Mustang Super Venom triumphed convincingly in several drag races against the Hellcat.

      Although Hennessey’s model is fast, it comes at a much higher price than a used Hellcat.

      In terms of raw power and unapologetic horsepower, few vehicles have made waves like Dodge’s Hellcat series. The introduction of the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 in the 2015 Dodge Charger and Challenger not only boosted sales but also rekindled America's desire for unfettered performance.

      With 707 horsepower available, it raised the bar for what a mainstream muscle car could offer. Since then, the competition has intensified, with various American models surpassing the 700-hp threshold, and some high-powered Challengers even entering four-digit territory.

      Now, the latest player in this performance race is Ford’s Mustang Dark Horse. In its standard form, it performs well with a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 delivering 500 hp, but on paper, it cannot compete with the formidable Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody. However, Hennessey provides the answer for any Dark Horse owner wanting to outpace a Hellcat at stoplights: the extreme Super Venom package.

      To transform the Dark Horse into a supercar competitor, the Texas tuner has installed a high-performance supercharger, upgraded the fuel injectors, and added a new fuel pump. In total, the Super Venom produces 850 hp, allowing it to accelerate to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 3.2 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in a claimed 10.9 seconds.

      Hennessey was keen to demonstrate the capabilities of its Dark Horse, so it pitted it against a Challenger Hellcat in several races. Given that the modified Ford is more powerful than the Dodge, it isn’t surprising that it easily outruns the Challenger in all the races. What is unexpected is the extent of its dominance.

      From the start, Hennessey’s formidable Mustang hooks up smoothly and establishes a significant lead as speeds increase. Even in rolling starts—where traction is less critical—the gap between the two cars consistently widens. It’s not merely faster; it operates in a different league entirely.

      Despite the impressive nature of the Super Venom, it doesn’t come cheap. The Dark Horse-based model begins at $163,950, considerably more than even the 1,025-hp Challenger Demon 170. The standard 707-hp Hellcat Widebody models are more budget-friendly, with low-mileage used versions available for under $60,000. There are even non-Widebody Challenger Hellcats that can be found in the $30,000 range.