The Hennessey Venom F5 stands as a remarkable feat of automotive engineering, boasting extraordinary capabilities.
Propelled by its 6.6-liter biturbo V8 engine, capable of churning out a staggering 1,841 horsepower, the Venom F5 was initially touted by Hennessey to achieve a mind-bending top speed of at least 500 km/h upon its unveiling in 2020.
While that pinnacle hasn’t been reached yet in practicality, Hennessey is gearing up to make a serious attempt this year, aiming to come as close as possible to that monumental speed.
Setting its sights on hitting a minimum speed of 300 mph, equivalent to 483 km/h, Hennessey is vying to secure the speed record for production cars.
Presently, that title belongs to Koenigsegg, whose unaltered Agera RS achieved a verified top speed of 447.19 km/h in 2017. Hennessey stands poised to surpass this record comfortably if it can meet its target of 300 mph, particularly if the achievement is authenticated with a standard edition of the Venom F5.
John Hennessey himself has expressed aspirations for the Venom F5 to breach the 500 km/h mark on at least one of the two requisite runs (to and fro) necessary for an official record, though he acknowledges the inherent challenges.
Although new simulations suggest the Venom F5 might be capable of reaching speeds up to 528 km/h, Hennessey remains pragmatic, recognizing the complexities involved in attaining such velocities.
As the American automaker scouts for an ideal venue for the record attempt, racing driver David Donohue is slated to take the wheel, embodying the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of automotive performance.
Should Hennessey succeed, it’s important to note that the Venom F5’s ascension to the title of fastest production car isn’t absolute. Rather, it hinges on achieving a verified average top speed over two runs, using a version identical to what’s commercially available to prospective buyers.
While higher speeds have indeed been clocked with passenger cars, such records often lack the same validity due to various factors. For instance, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ surpassed 490 km/h in 2019, but this was achieved with a modified pre-production model stripped of electronic restrictions.
Similarly, the SSC Tuatara achieved speeds exceeding Hennessey’s target, hitting 475 km/h, yet this record is deemed somewhat less legitimate, particularly as it was achieved in one direction without the requisite round trip average speed verification.
