The Hennessey Venom F5 hypercar has passed its initial phase of real-world testing – and already set an impressive performance milestone.
Despite the Venom F5 operating with just 900 hp in testing, high-speed runs saw the car pass through the 200 mph barrier.
It means there is still some way to go to achieve the planned 311 mph top speed. But, early success suggests the Texas company is on the right track.
Quick, even with half the power
Initial testing of the Venom F5 has taken place at Hennessey’s own Lone Star Motorsports Park. However, high-speed aerodynamic evaluation saw a move to the 2.2-mile runway of a former U.S. Air Force base in Arkansas.
With Hennessey keen to focus on real-world aerodynamic validation, the dramatic ‘Fury’ 6.6-l twin-turbocharged V8 engine was operating at only half its potential output. This meant having 900 hp to work with, instead of the faintly ridiculous 1,817 hp available.
Driving the Venom F5 during testing is Hennessey’s chief engineer, John Heinricy.
The former director of GM High Performance Vehicles, Heinricy holds multiple land speed records. It makes him well-suited to evaluating the Venom F5 as it evolves.
The ‘decathlete of the road’
Despite the intense level of performance, Hennessey is keen for the Venom F5 to be more than just a straight-line dragster.
The next phase of testing will see a focus on driving dynamics and handling. Plans include taking the F5 to famous race circuits such as Laguna Seca and the Circuit of The Americas.
Speaking about the upcoming development work, John Heinriciy said: “Our next phase is the most intense, concentrating on the car’s driving characteristics. We’ll split our testing between racetracks and Texas roads as we harvest data, refine every element and perfect this monster of hypercars.”
Going fast, selling faster
Getting the Venom F5 ready is made more important by the hypercar having its official launch next month. A grand unveiling will be part of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance event, set to be held on May 22-23.
Hennessey has sold almost all of the 24 planned production cars. This will include the Venom F5 being offered in both left- and right-hand drive.
Prices for the Texas-built hypercar begin at $2.1 million (£1.54 million) before taxes are added. However, early testing shows that the F5 is on course to deliver serious performance for the money.
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