The HELLHAWK hooks up all 4 and gets mean enough to out pace one bad-ass 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. Luckily we were only running 1/8 Mile, any further and I think we would've been watching this 707hp Charger from a different angle. Burnt rubber, hot models and a sneak invasion from a WWII Jeep.
At this point, I think it's best to keep the words minimal. Feast your eyes on our afternoon of petrol-inspired shenanigans. Roll clip (race starts @ 0:50 --- after credits @ 1:41)!
WATCH NEXT EPISODE ---> MID-AUGUST, 2020
No need to overthink this one; if you like high-horsepower Jeeps built with wicked off-road gear, you're gonna want to watch this video. We finally roll open the doors and reveal the 500hp off-road monster we call the HELLHAWK.
Shot in 4K at a WWII Hangar and Air Strip in outback Australia. Watch as we show-off what might easily be the biggest; baddest; fastest; and meanest off-road Jeep Grand Cherokee in the world.
When you're pushing 500hp into massive 35"x12.50" Mud-Terrains and you can still outrun some epic muscle cars, you know you've built something special (watch next episode). Of course we're just getting started and there is a lot more to come (flying high, throwing rocks and tearing up the trails)!
In case the video isn't enough for you, we've also included a few behind-the-scenes photos; where we fill the HELLHAWK with race fuel and throw a supermodel on top (literally).
NEXT EPISODE ---> 16 JULY, 2020
In Episode 2, we get a quick-and-dirty behind-the-scenes look as the team at Autokraft take a stripped-and-modded 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and transform it into a fully custom-built, painted and polished off-road monster. To ensure the HELLHAWK delivered on its promise -- to turn heads and seduce supermodels -- Chief Products designed custom body panels, raided the Jeep parts bin for 2019 Trackhawk parts and spec'd a custom paint job that covered every inch of new skin in Matte Black paint. Now when the 6.4L roars to life and you look around to see where it came from, you immediately lock eyes with the devil and think "Momma, there goes that man".
WATCH THE BIG REVEAL ---> 02 JULY, 2020
EPISODE 1 // CUTTING + WELDING + GRINDING
11 JUNE 2020
PHOTOS Daniel Snare Photography
WORDS Bill Mackin
In Episode 1, we get a quick and dirty behind-the-scenes look as the team at Autokraft strip back Chief Products 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and start cutting, welding and grinding the fenders, frame braces and underbody. To ensure the massive 35" x 12.50" Nitto Trail Grappler MTs would fit (and not just be a bit of eye candy) the Chief Products engineering team had to engineer several major vehicle modifications. Using official CAD data from Jeep, the engineering team spent several weeks evaluating the exact space required to accommodate the vehicles full suspension travel and turning circle. We didn't want to build a mall-crawler trailer-queen, this needed to be full-blooded 500hp off-road monster.
WATCH EPISODE 2 (Paint & Polish) ---> 18 JUNE, 2020
Finally the day has arrived! The HELLHAWK is back!
Like a mad scientist, we’ve been locked away with our partners for months building this epic machine. Now it's ready... Over the next few weeks, starting on June 11, we will be taking you behind the scenes as we chop, grind, weld and paint the 500hp WK2 off-road monster we've built.
The HELLHAWK is the WK2 we believe Jeep would build, if they threw off the gloves and decided to take over the world, James Bond evil villain style.
// Big 6.4L V8 with high horsepower [CHECK].
// Massive 35"x12.50" Mud Tyres [CHECK].
// Lifted 2.5" with Increased Wheel Travel [CHECK].
// Matte Black Paint Job [CHECK].
// Custom Body Work [CHECK].
// A Garage Full of Epic Off-Road Gear [CHECK].
// Rocket Launcher and Bullet Proof Glass [CLASSIFIED]
Watch the build. Watch the reveal. Then watch as we take it out and tear up the dirt. Did I mention there will be whiskey, models, off-road jumps and helicopters involved? See you on the 11th!
Like a mad scientist, we’ve been locked away in the garage for months. Soon we’ll roll open the doors and reveal what we’ve been working on, but for now… here’s a sneak peek.
35” x 12.50” Nitto Trail Grappler MT mounted on a SRT 20” x 10” Spider Monkey.
7 MONTH HIATUS
7 NOVEMBER 2018
WORDS Bill Mackin
We were off-the-reservation for nearly 7 months! What could derail the HELLHAWK for that long? Well it wasn’t anything off-road and it certainly wasn’t something we planned. I’m sad to report that one of the suppliers we worked with caused a lot of damage to the vehicle. Our insurance company estimated the damage at more than $43,000! After a lot of back-and-forth they refused to take any responsibility. We were gobsmacked. It left us and the project in a very difficult position. The good news is we’ve got plans to make things more wild than we originally envisioned.
Through a haze of dust and dirt we caught a glimmer of where we’re headed. Straight ahead (faster than feels right) and then deep down into the corner… the whole car sliding… sideways… a cloud of dust against the sun… then back on the power… dirt flying; the grumble of the 500hp Hemi as we accelerate. Then we watched as a cloud of dust enveloped our photographer, Daniel Snare. “Run it again”, we’d hear across the UHF. The occupants in the car grinning from ear-to-ear at the thought.
We rolled in to Seven Slot Offroad’s new digs looking to install a pile of off-road gear. We pulled a few standard items from the Mopar catalog, but mostly had fun raiding the Chief Products Garage. With all of the new gear laid out in front of the SRT, it was clear were were going to have a busy day spinning wrenches.
BUILD STAGE 1 - ROLLING ON 33" RUBBER
15 MARCH 2018
PHOTOS Daniel Snare Photography
WORDS Bill Mackin
We pulled in looking stock and rolled out 2.5” taller sitting on 33” MT rubber. There was a fair bit of measuring and planning that went into lifting the SRT and fitting the larger tyres. As always Todd and the crew at Seven Slot Offroad delivered just what we needed.
BORN IN DETROIT... RE-BORN IN CHIEF PRODUCTS GARAGE
16 FEBRUARY 2018
PHOTOS Daniel Snare Photography
WORDS Bill Mackin
![HELLHAWK+PROJECT+[RENDER-3-4]+WEB.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5ed1ae90bcce6b6e936ffb/1518819681335-I3TFWO6MX56FR2GEXRD6/HELLHAWK%2BPROJECT%2B%5BRENDER-3-4%5D%2BWEB.jpg)
![HELLHAWK+PROJECT+[RENDER-FRONT-CROP]+WEB.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5ed1ae90bcce6b6e936ffb/1518819686539-BUDUVTM8GA0FVH6EC8V3/HELLHAWK%2BPROJECT%2B%5BRENDER-FRONT-CROP%5D%2BWEB.jpg)
![HELLHAWK+PROJECT+[RENDER-REAR-CROP]+WEB.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5ed1ae90bcce6b6e936ffb/1518819688588-9RCDM8AC3BRI5Q8O8RXJ/HELLHAWK%2BPROJECT%2B%5BRENDER-REAR-CROP%5D%2BWEB.jpg)
Born in Detroit as a Black 2015 Jeep SRT, we started to wonder what if it was re-born in the Chief Products Garage as a 500hp off-road machine, (Grand Cherokee SRT for a father and a Grand Cherokee Trailhawk for a mother). It couldn't be a mall-crawler trailer-queen — it needed to be fueled by whisky, dirt in its blood, able to turn heads, outrun the devil and seduce super models... at that moment the HELLHAWK Project roared into existence.
PROJECT LAUNCH
5 FEBRUARY 2018
GRAPHICS Bill Mackin
WORDS Bill Mackin
Something is coming... and it's going to tear up the bitumen and the trails.