The Hennessey Venom GT is a high-performance sports car made by the US company Hennessey Performance Engineering. It is based on the Lotus Elise/Exige, although the manufacturer is not associated with Lotus Cars.
Hennessey Venom GT at a glance
| Maker | Hennessey Performance Engineering, USA |
|---|---|
| Based on | heavily modified Lotus Elise/Exige chassis |
| Kerb weight | 1,244 kg (2,743 lb) |
| Body | carbon fibre, with carbon-fibre wheels |
| Engine | 6.2 L GM LS9 twin-turbo V8 (or 7.0 L LSX) |
| Power (twin-turbo) | 1,244 hp (928 kW) at 6,600 rpm |
| Torque | 1,155 lb·ft (1,566 N·m) at 4,400 rpm |
| Power settings | 800, 1,000 or 1,200 hp |
| Gearbox | Ricardo 6-speed manual |
| Brakes | 380 mm carbon-ceramic by Surface Transforms |
| Guinness record | 0–300 km/h in 13.63 s (21 January 2013) |
| Top speed run | 265.7 mph (427.6 km/h), 3 April 2013 |
English Wikipedia is the only source used here, so the facts were not cross-checked against a second source; figures are the maker’s claims.
History of the Hennessey Venom GT
A Lotus underneath
The Venom GT has a heavily modified Lotus Elise/Exige chassis and retains many Elise components, including the roof, doors, side glass, windscreen, cockpit, floorpan and headlamps. For road use it is registered as a modified Lotus Exige and is not a series production car. It weighs 2,743 lb thanks to carbon-fibre bodywork and wheels, and the brakes are six-piston Brembo calipers at the front and four-piston at the rear on carbon-ceramic rotors. The car evolved throughout the programme, with changes to the engine, aerodynamics, bodywork, structure and exhaust, so it was not built to one fixed specification.
Engine and records
Power comes from a twin-turbo 6.2-litre GM LS9 V8 or a 7.0-litre LSX V8, with 1,244 hp and 1,155 lb·ft in twin-turbo form, adjustable to 800, 1,000 or 1,200 hp, through a Ricardo 6-speed manual used in the Ford GT. An active aero system with an adjustable rear wing deploys at speed, and the ride height can be changed by 2.4 inches. On 21 January 2013 the car set a Guinness World Record for the fastest road-legal car from 0 to 300 km/h, 13.63 seconds, and an unofficial 0–200 mph in 14.51 seconds. On 3 April 2013 it reached 265.7 mph (427.6 km/h) over 2 miles at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.
Design and features
- Chassis: Lotus Elise/Exige, heavily modified.
- Power modes: 800, 1,000 or 1,200 hp.
- Records: Guinness 0–300 km/h and the 265.7 mph run.
Hennessey Venom GT versions
- Venom GT: coupé.
- Venom GT Spyder: open version seen in photographs; not covered by the source read.
More Hennessey cars are in our Hennessey collection and more grand tourers and flagships in Luxury Cars.
Sources
- Hennessey Venom GT, English Wikipedia: chassis, drivetrain, records
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