oped to excel at straight-line acceleration, will
soon be in striking distance of the production-car
speed record. He hopes the innovation that
delivers Venom past that mark is its custom 7.6-
liter twin-turbo V-8. Made in collaboration with
Shell and Pennzoil, the engine—built from billet
aluminum—is paired with a 7-speed sin-
gle-clutch paddle-shift transmission. That
combination, and the fact that the coupe’s curb
weight is still less than 3,000 pounds, should
enable a maximum speed of 301 mph. “I think it
will be at the top of the heap in power-to-weight
ratio,” says Hennessey. “We want the F5 to be
as quick as, if not quicker than, the current For-
mula 1 cars—I’m talking about zero to 200 mph
in maybe the sub-10-second range.”
Hennessey plans to begin testing a proto-
type in the next few months and to start deliv-
ery of the 24 production cars—each starting, like
the SSC Tuatara, at $1.6 million—in early 2020.
He’s less specific about when the Venom F5 will
attempt a record. “As soon as our car is capable
of running a big number,” he says, “we will be out
on a runway or road somewhere trying to prove
that point.”“We want the F5 to be as quick as
Formula 1 cars—I'm talking zero to 200
in maybe the sub-10-second range.”
ROBBREPORT.COM 99
oped to excel at straight-line acceleration, will
soon be in striking distance of the production-car
speed record. He hopes the innovation that
delivers Venom past that mark is its custom 7.6-
liter twin-turbo V-8. Made in collaboration with
Shell and Pennzoil, the engine—built from billet
aluminum—is paired with a 7-speed sin-
gle-clutch paddle-shift transmission. That
combination, and the fact that the coupe’s curb
weight is still less than 3,000 pounds, should
enable a maximum speed of 301 mph. “I think it
will be at the top of the heap in power-to-weight
ratio,” says Hennessey. “We want the F5 to be
as quick as, if not quicker than, the current For-
mula 1 cars—I’m talking about zero to 200 mph
in maybe the sub-10-second range.”
Hennessey plans to begin testing a proto-
type in the next few months and to start deliv-
ery of the 24 production cars—each starting, like
the SSC Tuatara, at $1.6 million—in early 2020.
He’s less specific about when the Venom F5 will
attempt a record. “As soon as our car is capable
of running a big number,” he says, “we will be out
on a runway or road somewhere trying to prove
that point.”
“WewanttheF5tobeasquickas
Formula1carsI'mtalkingzeroto 200
in maybe the sub-10-second range.”
ROBBREPORT.COM 99