Hennessey Venom F5: 1,400 horsepower and 290 mph!

The master of faster, John Hennessey, is no stranger to high velocity having seen his 1,244-horsepower street-legal Venom GT hit more than 270 mph. But his latest dream for Hennessey Performance (HPE) is the even-more-potent Venom F5 designed to push that top-end figure to a stunning 290 mph. In order to make that kind of leap, Hennessey plans to step up both the output of the F5’s 7.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine to 1,400 or more horses and to modify the exterior design to let it slice through the air with significantly greater ease. 

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Still under development

Named for the most intense tornado category, the Venom F5 will retain the GT’s current carbon fiber/aluminum basic structure to hold curb weight under 2,866 pounds. However, this mid-engine/rear-drive road rocket will have all-new composite bodywork complete with underfloor Venturi tunnels, more aggressive rear diffuser and a retractable rear wing. Still undergoing development, the next-gen engine will be fitted with bigger, higher-pressure turbos and larger intercoolers and an upgraded fuel-delivery system to help generate – and survive – the additional output. Hennessey also plans to introduce several new tech touches to the F5 including an available single-clutch paddle-shift automatic transmission (a Ricardo 6-speed manual also will be offered) that promises even quicker cog changes and a GPS-based stability/traction control system to allow the F5 to put its prodigious power to best use.

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"We learned a great deal during the development of the Venom GT in breaking the 270-mph barrier, and we bring that experience to this new design as we look toward raising the performance bar even higher," said company president and founder John Hennessey. The Venom F5 will be unveiled next year with deliveries slated to start in 2016. Hennessey plans to build at least 30 units for sale worldwide at his HPE operation outside of Houston, Texas. While pricing has not been set, it will be in excess of the $1.2 million sticker on the Venom GT. In case you’re curious, Hennessey has sold 16 of the 29 Venom GT models, which are still being produced to order. 

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