Popular automobile tuner Hennessey has revealed the Venom F5, a $2.1 million (Rs. 15.4 crores) 1800 HP hypercar that it claims can do over 500 km/hr (311 mph). Only 24 models will ever be built, making it the rarest of hypercars.
Although, one has to duly look at the way the car has been designed and the new aluminium Hennessey logo that is under the lacquer, we all want to know the stats, do we not?
Well, they are big, no really big. A 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged pushrod V8 powers the car and it makes 1817 HP at 8000 RPM and 1617 Nm at 5000 RPM.
It is mated to a single clutch, 7-speed semi-automatic gearbox and provides enough shove so that the car can do 0-100 km/hr in 2.6 seconds and, wait for it, 0-200 km/hr in 4.7 seconds and 0-400 km/hr in 15.5 seconds.
It weighs just 1385 kg (wet) and even comes with a 7-inch interactive driver’s display along with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and plenty of creature comforts.
Other componentry are top notch as well. The wheels are forged aluminium alloys (19-inch front and 20-inch rear), brakes are 390 mm carbon ceramics (all-round), it has got lightweight coilovers and double wishbone suspension front and back too.
Further, to make it civilised, there are 5 drive modes (Sport, Wet, Drag, Track and F5), traction control system with limited ESP, engine power limitation (dependent on rear wheel traction) and launch control.
Now, for the way it looks. I mean, it is not something that makes one go ‘wow’ immediately. But, spend sometime pondering over it and one would pick up on the details. It is a bit like the McLaren F1 really. That car does not look particularly pretty, but it stood the test of time. This should too.
The front splitter is made out of carbon fibre as is most of the car, and while the rear spoiler is subtle, the large diffuser is not. Overall, the car can be described in 3 words – sleek, sharp and low.
If a buyer wants to make it look more angry, Hennessey will happily sell him a track pack that will add even more aero bits.
Hennessey’s guiding principle is “speed drives engineering excellence” and obviously, they are going to conduct the car’s top speed test. It will happen next year at the NASA Kennedy Space Centre’s 5.2 Km runway in Florida.
Finally, after many years, Hennessey has now officially become a low-volume automaker. So, Bugatti and other hypercar makers better be careful.
Hennessey Venom F5 Revealed
- Hennessey Venom F5 revealed with over 1800 HP
- The hypercar can supposedly cross 500 km/hr
- Only 24 units will ever be made, and it is not cheap
