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Somewhat Bullish +50

Hennessey's New Monster SUV Is A Surprisingly Modest Family-Friendly Ford Expedition

πŸš™ Hennessey has unveiled the new VelociRaptor SUV based on Ford's fifth-generation Expedition.

πŸ› οΈ The build starts with a stock Expedition Tremor and adds a dedicated off-road suspension for 12.6 inches of ground clearance.

πŸ”§ Exterior upgrades include bespoke 20-inch rims, red Brembo brakes, and upgraded Nitto Recon Grappler all-terrain tires.

πŸ’‘ An integrated LED off-road lighting package is included to improve nighttime visibility.

⚑ Surprisingly, the vehicle retains Ford's stock twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine with no powertrain modifications.

🐎 The retained engine produces 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, matching the stock Expedition Tremor output.

πŸ›‘οΈ Off-road protection features include an upgraded front bumper and Hennessey-branded steel front skid plates.

🦡 A power sidestep upgrade is included to assist drivers with smaller stature in entering the lifted vehicle.

πŸ’° The VelociRaptor is priced at $129,950, which includes the base Expedition price of $81,000.

🏭 Production will be extremely limited as Hennessey focuses on building only a small number of units.

βœ… All modified vehicles are dyno-tested, road-tested, fully street-legal, and come with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty.

πŸ—£οΈ Alex Roys, president of Hennessey, stated that high-performance SUVs must remain comfortable and practical for everyday life.

πŸ“‰ The build represents a more modest approach by Hennessey standards compared to their typical 1,000-horsepower muscle cars.

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ This vehicle is positioned as a big Ford truck tailored for America's market with a focus on family-friendly utility.

Bullish Signals
  • Hennessey has successfully expanded its customer base by creating a more modest, family-friendly version of the VelociRaptor SUV, signaling strategic growth beyond just hypercars.
  • The new Ford Expedition Tremor platform provides an outstanding foundation with 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, offering strong performance without requiring extensive powertrain modifications.
  • Hennessey has enhanced the vehicle with practical upgrades including a dedicated off-road suspension with 12.6 inches of ground clearance and upgraded Recon Grappler all-terrain tires for better capability.
  • The VelociRaptor SUV is priced at $129,950, which is lower than Hennessey's Ford F-150 VelociRaptor 500 starting price of $135,000, making high-performance tuning more accessible to a broader audience.
  • All modified vehicles are dyno-tested, road-tested, fully street-legal, and covered by a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty, providing customers with confidence and protection.
  • The integrated LED off-road lighting package and Hennessey-branded steel front skid plates add value and safety features for nighttime visibility and off-road durability.
Risk Factors
  • Hennessey's new VelociRaptor Expedition retains the factory's twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine with no powertrain upgrades, producing only 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque despite Hennessey's reputation for high-performance builds.
  • The vehicle is priced at $129,950, which includes the base price of the Ford Expedition starting at $81,000, representing a significant premium over the stock vehicle.
  • Hennessey plans to produce the VelociRaptor Expedition in extremely limited numbers, restricting market availability and potential sales volume.
Full Analysis
Hennessey has unveiled the VelociRaptor SUV Expedition, a modified version of Ford's fifth-generation full-size Expedition that emphasizes off-road capability over raw horsepower. The build is based on the stock Expedition Tremor trim and features significant suspension upgrades, including a dedicated off-road system that adds two inches of ground clearance for a total of 12.6 inches. Exterior modifications include bespoke 20-inch Hennessey Performance rims, red Brembo brake calipers with ventilated rotors, upgraded Nitto Recon Grappler all-terrain tires replacing the factory General Grabbers, and an integrated LED off-road lighting package. Despite Hennessey's reputation for high-performance builds, this vehicle notably retains the factory's twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, which produces 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque without any powertrain upgrades. The design includes an upgraded front bumper, Hennessey-branded steel front skid plates for off-road protection, and a power sidestep upgrade to assist entry into the lifted vehicle. Alex Roys, president of Hennessey, stated that while demand for high-performance SUVs is growing, the company prioritizes comfort and practicality for everyday life alongside bold design enhancements. The VelociRaptor Expedition is priced at $129,950, which includes the base price of the Ford Expedition starting at $81,000. Hennessey plans to produce the vehicle in extremely limited numbers and notes that all modified vehicles are dyno-tested, road-tested, fully street-legal, and covered by a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty. The company views this build as a strategic move to expand its customer base with more modest pricing while maintaining its reputation for quality modifications in the growing high-performance SUV market.