Hellion Turbo has built its reputation on real-world turbo systems that deliver serious power, but the same engineering mindset that goes into Hellion’s street systems is also proven at the highest levels of racing.
FordMuscle took readers inside one of Hellion’s most impressive race combinations: John Urist’s 358-cubic-inch Coyote-powered 2016 Mustang, a purpose-built S550 Street Outlaw machine designed to push modern Ford performance forward.
At the heart of the build is a Modular Motorsports Racing Gen X billet Coyote engine block, chosen for the strength needed to compete at the 2,000-plus-horsepower level. The tall-deck billet block allowed for increased displacement, improved geometry, and the durability required for extreme boost and high-RPM racing. Paired with ported GT350 cylinder heads, a fabricated intake manifold, a Holley Pro Stock throttle body, MoTec engine management, MSD ignition, and Hellion turbo engineering, the result is one of the most serious Coyote-based combinations ever campaigned.
The feature also highlights what makes this project important beyond the dyno sheet. John Urist could have continued racing traditional pushrod combinations, but chose to bring the modern Coyote platform into a competitive small-tire racing environment. The goal was clear: prove that the same basic engine family found in modern Mustangs could be developed into a true 2,000-horsepower race platform.
Power comes from a custom Hellion turbo system using Bassani tubing, Turbosmart wastegates and blow-off valves, and a class-legal Precision 98mm turbocharger. While Hellion’s street systems typically use twin-turbo layouts for throttle response, packaging, and drivability, class rules required a single turbo for this racing application. Even with that challenge, the combination delivered massive power and impressive on-track performance.
FordMuscle reported that the Hellion-backed Coyote had already shown serious promise, including a 4.53-second eighth-mile pass at 165 mph on a difficult track. That performance proves the combination is not just powerful on paper — it is capable of putting that power to work where it matters most.
For Hellion, this project represents more than one race car. It reflects the same philosophy behind every Hellion system: innovate, test, refine, and prove the result under real conditions. Whether it is a street-driven Mustang, a four-digit-horsepower GT500, or a 2,000+ horsepower Coyote race engine, Hellion’s focus remains the same — build turbo systems that perform.
FordMuscle’s in-depth feature offers a rare look behind the scenes at Hellion’s racing program, John Urist’s modern Coyote development, and the engineering that helps push Ford performance into new territory.
Read the full FordMuscle article to go inside Hellion’s 358-cube, 2,000+ horsepower Coyote engine program.
