Back in February this year, Texas-based speed shop Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) aimed its mind-numbingly fast Venom GT down the Space Shuttle’s 3.2-mile long landing runway Kennedy Space Center and cut all 1244 ponies loose. Brian Miller of Miller Motorsports Park was behind the wheel and on the day drove the sports car to a world-beating top speed of 270.49mph (435.31km/h). Seemingly though, that’s not enough…
And that’s where the Venom GT’s successor comes in. HPE’s named it the Venom F5.
The ‘F5′ designation comes from the Fujita Scale and the categorising of tornados – 5 being the most destructive with estimated wind speeds of between 261mph and 318mph (419km/h to 512km/h). It’s a fitting title for a machine that John Hennessey is targeting 290mph (466km/h) with.
That’s thanks to a slipperier shape that’s dropped the F5’s drag coefficient to below 0.40 (was 0.44 in the Venom GT) and a next-generation twin turbo V8 engine that is destined to generate 1,400hp. When you factor in the weight – under 1,300kg (2,866lb) thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminium – you start to understand just how absurdly awesome this Lotus Exige-based road legal car will be.
If you want one of the 30 being produced you’ll need very deep pockets though. The Venom GT currently sells for $1.2million, but the F5 – due to be officially unveiled next year – will command ‘more’.
Brad Lord
brad@speedhunters.com
Images: HPE
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