Following the Venom F5’s appearance at Monterey Car Week, Hennessey sold the last of the 24 examples ahead of first deliveries
Following the Venom F5’s appearance at Monterey Car Week, Hennessey sold the last of the 24 examples ahead of first deliveries
Hennessey Performance has announced that all 24 examples of its Venom F5 have now been sold. The news comes after the firm displayed a pair of production examples at Monterey Car Week, with first deliveries set to take place towards the end of the year. Each example cost its buyers from $2.1 million (cAUD$3.05 million).
John Hennessey, company founder and CEO, said: ‘Showing two of the latest F5 models at The Quail and Pebble Beach alongside the likes of Bugatti, Lamborghini and Koenigsegg was an honor for the whole Hennessey team. The fact that we secured orders from customers who saw the cars at the events is testament to the quality our team has achieved… and we’re yet to reach the vehicle’s full potential!’
Along with the announcement, Hennessey added: ‘…we’ve saved a few more surprises for the F5, including the Track Pack enhancements, plus something else that’s literally out of this world!’ Though details are still under wraps, this points towards future upgrades for the F5, and perhaps even an extended production run.
February marked the beginning of the F5’s on-road development, with the powertrain further refined in preparation for high speed aerodynamic tests. Though it has already been shown passing 320km/h on video, final calibration of its power delivery, high-speed stability and braking are still required before Hennessey attempts an all-out top speed run. If the Venom hits its 500km/h target, it would be the world’s fastest road car by quite some margin.
Delivering this performance is a 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged LS-series V8 that produces 1336kW and 1617Nm running on E85 fuel. These peak figures arrive at 8000rpm and 5500rpm respectively, with the redline coming in at 8500rpm. When combined with a claimed 1360kg dry weight, it results in a power-to-weight ratio of 982kW/ton power-to-weight ratio, 223kW/ton more than Koenigsegg’s Agera RS.
Helping it achieve such high outputs is a combination of a unique intake manifold design, that positions the intercooler between the intake plenum and cylinder heads. This is paired with the bespoke turbochargers with 3D-printed titanium compressor housings and 76mm compressor wheels. A dry sump, increased cylinder wall and deck thickness plus various other reinforced components help it achieve almost twice the power of the Bugatti Veyron without rapid unscheduled disassembly.
Turning such numbers to speed on the road is no easy task, so a Motec engine management system with five engine modes helps manage power depending on the conditions. Grunt is to the rear wheels through a longitudinally-mounted seven-speed single-clutch automated gearbox, 0-100km/h is said to come in under 3sec, with 0-200km/h in under 5.
Named after the highest tornado wind speed category, Hennessey is eyeing a top speed in excess of 311mph, with a record run already in the pipeline for 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The US-built SSC Tuatara currently holds the record as the fastest production car with a 455.28km/h two-way average.
The F5’s structure is built around an 86kg carbonfibre tub manufactured from Silverstone-based Delta Motorsport, with carbonfibre body panels bolted atop the front and rear subframes. The part-Inconel exhaust system and a basic cabin both contribute to its low kerb weight. Forged aluminum wheels and lightweight Penske dampers also help to keep unsprung mass low.
The braking package consists of 380mm Brembo carbon ceramic discs on all four corners, with six-point front and four-pot rear AP Racing calipers, although we’ve rarely heard of a combination from two different suppliers in the one system. Wheel sizes are staggered 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, 265-section front and 345-section at the rear. Hennessey claims that Michelin will test its Cup 2 tyres to ensure they can withstand such high speeds before the attempt.
As with its predecessor, design is very much function over form. It’s clear the design is aero-led for such high top speeds – yet despite this, its 0.39Cd drag coefficient isn’t particularly impressive; for reference, Porsche’s Taycan Turbo boasts a drag coefficient of just 0.22Cd.
The cabin is said to be inspired by a fighter jet, free of distractions and with maximised visibility. Of course, there’s an abundance of carbonfibre, but it’s offset high-quality leather for select elements. Perhaps the most notable feature inside is its steering wheel, with the top section missing akin to an aircraft or a Formula 1 car.
Just 24 Venom F5s are set to be produced with prices starting at $2.1 million (cAUD$3.05 million). Customer deliveries will commence in late 2021.
Sam Jenkins