Hennessey Venom GT

The Hennessey Venom GT is a supercar based on the Lotus Exige manufactured by Texas-based Hennessey Performance Engineering and assembled in England.[2]

Contents
1 Speed records
2 Specifications
2.1 Chassis
2.2 Drivetrain
3 Production
4 Venom GT Spyder
5 Venom GT "World's Fastest Edition" (2014)
6 Venom F5

Hennessey Venom GT
Overview
Manufacturer	Hennessey Performance Engineering
Model years	2012 – present
Assembly	Hethel, England (chassis) Sealy, Texas, United States (engine) Silverstone, England (assembly)
Body and chassis
Class	Super Car
Body style	2-door coupe 2-door roadster
Layout	Longitudinal RMR layout
Related	Lotus Elise Lotus Exige
Powertrain
Engine	7.0 L [427ci] LSX Turbocharged V8[1]
Transmission	Ricardo 6-speed Manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,800 mm (110.2 in)
Length	4,655 mm (183.3 in)[1]
Width	1,960 mm (77.2 in)[1]
Height	44.7 in (1,135.4 mm)
Curb weight	2,743 lb (1,244 kg)
Chronology
Successor	Hennessey venom F5

Speed records[edit]
On January 21, 2013, the Venom GT set a Guinness World Record for the fastest production car from 0–300 kilometres per hour (0–186 mph) with an average acceleration time of 13.63 seconds.[3] In addition, the car set an unofficial record for 0–200 mph (0–322 km/h) acceleration at 14.51 seconds, beating the Koenigsegg Agera R's time of 17.68 seconds, making it the unofficial fastest accelerating production car in the world.[4][5]

On April 3, 2013, the Hennessy Venom GT crested 265.7 mph (427.6 km/h) over the course of 2 miles (3.2 km) during testing at United States Naval Air Station Lemoore in Lemoore, California. Hennessey used two VBOX 3i data logging systems to document the run and had VBOX officials on hand to certify the numbers.[6]

On February 14, 2014, on the Kennedy Space Center’s 3.22-mile (5.18 km) shuttle landing strip in Florida, the Hennessey team recorded a top speed of 270.49 mph (435.31 km/h) with Director of Miller Motorsport Park, Brian Smith, driving.[7] As the run was in a single direction, and only 16 cars have been sold to date (to qualify Hennessey must build 30), it does not qualify as the world's fastest production car in the Guinness Book of Records.[8][9]

Specifications[edit]
Chassis[edit]
The Venom GT uses a highly modified Lotus Exige chassis. The manufacturer, Hennessey Performance Engineering, claims the modified chassis uses components from the Lotus Exige, including the roof, doors, side glass, windscreen, dashboard, cockpit, floorpan, HVAC system, wiper and head lamps. Hennessey Performance and the Venom GT are not associated with Lotus Cars. For road use, the car is registered as a Lotus Exige (modified) and is not a series production car.[1]

The Venom GT has a curb weight of 2,743 pounds (1,244 kg) aided by its lightweight carbon fiber bodywork and carbon fiber wheels. The brakes use Brembo 6-piston calipers in the front and 4-piston calipers in the rear. The rotors are 15 inches (380 mm) carbon ceramic units provided by Surface Transforms.

Drivetrain[edit]
The Venom GT is powered by twin turbocharged 427 cu in (7.0 L) V8 GM LSX engine with an iron block and aluminum heads featuring twin precision ball bearing turbochargers. The engine produces 1,244 bhp (928 kW; 1,261 PS) of power at 6,600 rpm and 1,155 lb·ft (1,566 N·m) of torque at 4,400 rpm.[1] Engine power output is adjustable by three settings: 800 bhp (597 kW; 811 PS), 1,000 bhp (746 kW; 1,014 PS) and 1,200 bhp (895 kW; 1,217 PS). The engine revs to 7,200 rpm.

The mid-engine V8 is mated to the rear wheels with a Ricardo 6-speed manual transmission.[1] Hennessey claims that the car can achieve a top speed of 278 miles per hour (447 km/h), although this has never been tested.

A programmable traction control system will manage power output. Computational fluid dynamics tested bodywork and downforce also help keep the Venom GT stable. Under varying conditions on both the road and racetrack, an active aero system with adjustable rear wing will deploy. An adjustable suspension system will allow ride height adjustments by 2.4 inches (61 mm) according to speed and driving conditions. Michelin PS2 tires will also help put power to the ground.

Production[edit]
Hennessey manufactures the power plants at its facility in Sealy, Texas. The engines are then air freighted to the company's assembly facility near Silverstone, England where the Venom GT is built and tested. Venom GT buyers will be offered a 1-day driver orientation and instruction program by a Hennessey factory test driver at a track in the UK or USA prior to delivery.

Hennessey plans to establish a network of Venom GT dealers and distributors in the Middle East, Europe, Russia, Australia and Asia. Production is limited to just 10 vehicles per year. The 750 hp Hennessey Venom GT price starts at US$600,000 while the 1,200 hp version starts at US$1,000,000. In Europe, the Hennessey Venom GT price goes up by just under US$25,000. As of August 6, 2014, 16 of the proposed 29 Venom GTs have been sold.[10][11]

Venom GT Spyder[edit]
The Venom GT Spyder is an open top version of the Venom GT. Having decided to order a Venom GT, Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler approached Hennessey in Autumn 2011 and asked if an open-top version could be created. This involved structural changes which added 30 pounds (14 kg) to the curb weight. Tyler's was the first of five cars scheduled delivered for the 2013 model year.[12]

Venom GT "World's Fastest Edition" (2014)[edit]
Is a limited (3 units) version of Venom GT coupe commemorating Venom GT coupe's 0–300 km/h Guinness World Record.

The vehicle went on sale for US$1.25 million.[13] All of which were sold to customers shortly after their production was announced by the manufacturer.[14][15]

On February 14, 2014, the Hennessey Venom GT reached a recorded top speed of 270.49 mph (435.31 km/h). The run was performed at the Kennedy Space Center on the 3.2-mile (5.1 km) Space Shuttle landing runway. Brian Smith, Director of Miller Motorsport, experienced race driver and a former Michelin tire test engineer, drove the Venom GT to its top speed. However, this was not recognised by the Guinness World Records as the top speed for a production car because Guinness only recognises the average speed of two runs done in opposite directions (to cancel the effects of wind) and production cars must have at least 30 examples made.[16]

Venom F5[edit]
Hennessey announced that it has been working on a successor to the GT named Venom F5, thus far the company has not specified anything in detail with regard to the car, other than a planned power output of over 1400 hp and a top speed of 290 mph (467 km/h).[17] They plan to achieve that by reworking the engine using larger twin turbochargers and larger intercoolers for improved charging pressures and cooling. The 7.0-liter V8 would use a new fuel system as well. The F5 will have a completely new exterior with its carbon fiber body improved for lower aerodynamic drag as well as more downforce. The name F5 is derived from a top speed tornado. First delivery to customers is planned for 2016, with a total production of 30 models at a price of $1.2 million each.[18][19]