deliciously mechanical-feeling rotary
dials and switches. Exposed carbon and
leather supplied by Muirhead in Scotland
(a tannery since 1840) cleverly combine to
create the feel of a cockpit with a modern,
minimalist luxury vibe.
Exterior-wise, the Venom F5 is all about
aerodynamic capability (0.39 coefficient
of drag) and hypercar sensibility thanks
to a carbon-fiber splitter, a rear wing and
large rear diffuser, a flat underbody, and
numerous incisions in the bodywork
to aid airflow. Part of the carbon-fiber
tub is exposed for dramatic effect, and
Hennessey says the CNC-machined
carbon-fiber mesh at the F5’s rear is the
largest piece of machined fiber applied to
any car. So there’s that.
Hennessey describes the Fury V-8 as
“supersized.” Everything from the turbo-
chargers to the fuel rails to the cooling
system has cartoonlike dimensions to
cope with the rigors of producing and
managing such vast power. The noise is
supersized, too. When the F5 bursts into
life, any sense of understatement is blown
away. Deep, angry, and loud as hell, the
Fury is awe-inspiring at idle. We can’t wait
to hear it chasing down 8,000 rpm.
An extensive test program begins now
with legendary ex- GM test driver and
race driver John Heinricy working with
Hennessey to shape the car’s dynamics.
It seems almost unbelievable that
Hennessey will make a car capable of
more than 300 mph and fun to drive and
approachable for mere mortals ... but
that’s the aim.
All 24 Venom F5 production cars will
be built in Sealy, Texas, at a new facility
alongside Hennessey’s existing tuning
side of the business. We’ll follow its devel-
opment closely, culminating in witnessing
it blast off toward that 311-mph horizon at
NASA’s 3.2-mile Shuttle Landing Facility
runway in Florida sometime this year.
We can’t wait. Q
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