Hennessey Venom F5 Debuts With 1,817 HP And Targeted Top Speed Of 311+ MPH

Designed to celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary, the Venom GT successor is named after F5 tornados which have wind speeds of up to 318 mph (512 km/h). That wasn’t an arbitrary decision as it hints at the car’s targeted top speed of more than 311 mph (500 km/h).

In order to hit that impressive number, the car has been equipped with a specially developed 6.6-liter V8 engine known as the Fury. It’s hand-built and features a cast iron block, aluminum cylinder heads and a dry sump lubrication system. The engine has also been equipped with two turbochargers which enable it to be the “most powerful production road car engine ever made.”

In terms of raw numbers, the engine develops 1,817 hp (1,355 kW / 1,842 PS) and 1,193 lb-ft (1,617 Nm) of torque. It’s connected to a seven-speed semi-automatic transmission which sends power to the rear wheels. This enables the car to rocket from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in less than three seconds and 0-124 mph (200 km/h) in under five seconds.

Sticking with the performance theme, the Venom F5 has a bespoke carbon fiber monocoque which only weighs 190 lbs (86 kg). This helps the car to tip the scales at 2,998 lbs (1,360 kg) and allows for a power-to-weight ratio “well in excess of any road car on sale today.”

While the top speed is eye-catching, Hennessey said the F5 was designed to be an all-around performer that blends “high levels of driver engagement” with “outright performance to create a motoring experience unlike any other.”

As a result, the car has been benchmarked against some of the best driving cars in the world including the McLaren 600LT and Porsche Cayman GT4. While it remains to be seen how the car is to drive, the model is equipped with five different modes known as Sport, Track, Drag, Wet and F5. The first four are pretty self-explanatory, while F5 is the only mode that will “unlock the maximum available power.”

Given that the car is designed to hit speeds in excess of 311 mph (500 km/h), it comes as little surprise that aerodynamics played an important role in the model’s development. As a result, the F5 has a streamlined shape with a prominent front splitter, a ventilated hood and large side scoops. The model also sports a flat underbody and a McLaren-esque rear end with a ventilated fascia, a large diffuser and four Cerakoted exhaust tips.

Other notable highlights include carbon fiber body panels, butterfly doors and 19- / 20-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Hennessey also noted the Venom F5 is “100% bespoke” and is only marginally larger than the Venom GT.

The sporty styling continues in the cabin as there’s a driver focused cockpit which is awash with leather and carbon fiber. Drivers sit behind a carbon fiber steering wheel and find themselves looking at a 7-inch digital instrument cluster.

In the middle is a minimalist center stack, which is topped by a 9-inch Alpine infotainment system. It features GPS navigation as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

Elsewhere, there are carbon fiber bucket seats and a minimalist gear selector. The model also sports machined aluminum pedals and American flag accents on the door pulls.

Production will be limited to 24 units and pricing starts at $2.1 million – excluding taxes and shipping. The first deliveries are slated to begin next year and the company has big plans for 2021.

In particular, Hennessey will conduct an independently verified top speed test at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. There the company will use a 3.2 mile (5.2 km) long runway, originally designed for the space shuttle, to test the performance of the Venom F5.

The company wants to avoid the mess that SSC created for themselves by having “Racelogic / VBOX engineers … on site to install, test and calibrate the speed testing equipment in the F5 to ensure absolute accuracy and transparency.” The event will also be attended by “independent witnesses, media guests and F5 customers,” while GPS data and uninterrupted video footage will made available following the test.

carscoops

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Limited Edition Ford GT 'Competition Series' Is All About The Track

Image
Ford's new GT Competition Series was built with weight-saving in mind, but also with an improved center of gravity for better road-holding. Among its features, you'll notice the lightweight carbon fiber racing stripes, A-Pillars and side mirrors, as well as the unique race-inspired Perspex acrylic engine hatch with integrated venting. Thanks to the manual latch and the carbon fiber prop rod, weight near the roof has been reduced, though Ford engineers went even further in their quest to make the car lighter, by making the bulkhead Gorilla Glass behind the driver about half as thick (and as light) as on other models. "The Ford GT has racing in its blood," said Ford exec Raj Nair, while adding that the Competition Series "was developed with the most hardcore track enthusiasts in mind, providing a tailored set of lightweight features and unique livery to match." There are also plenty of remaining performance features from the production car, such as ...
Read more

Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Is A Crossover For Droptop Lovers

Image
Droptop crossovers have always been rather odd and the T-Roc Cabriolet is no different. It will be the only convertible Volkswagen on sale for the foreseeable future and will celebrate its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Rather than simply removing the roof of the standard T-Roc, Volkswagen has drastically altered the vehicle’s structure and body. In fact, its wheelbase is 37 mm longer than the standard T-Roc while its overall length is up by 34 mm. In addition, the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet features structural strengthening in the underbody, side panels, cross members, doors, and windscreen frame to make up for the lack of a roof. The folding fabric roof developed by Volkswagen retracts in just nine seconds at speeds of up to 19 mph (30.5 km/h) and is similar in operation to the roof of the outgoing Golf Cabriolet. The presence of the soft top reduces trunk space by 161 liters down from the 284 liters of the run-of-the-mill T-Roc. We don’t think bu...
Read more

Alpine A110 Hits Geneva With Pure, Legende And GT4 Versions

Image
Renault’s reborn Alpine brand has been getting rave reviews for its new A110 and now, as promised, it’s revealed new versions of its coupe at the Geneva Motor Show. Following the success of the sold-out Premiere Edition, the A110 will now be offered in Pure and Legende trims. The A110 Pure is targeted at driving enthusiasts. It features one-piece Sabelt sports seats that weigh barely more than 13 kilograms (28.6 pounds) each and, combined with other weight-saving measures, helps keep the curb weight below 1,100 kg ( 2,425 lbs). It’s not entirely stripped out, though, and still comes with features like air-conditioning and satellite navigation. Buyers can also add upgraded Brembo brakes and an adaptive exhaust system and can upgrade to the adjustable comfort seats. Those come standard on the Legende model, which is geared more towards every day driving and grand touring and comes with leather upholstery. Customers can also choose between two Focal sound systems and two wheel...
Read more