Hennessey Performance Engineering officialy introduced Venom GT. The new supercar combines a high-tech British chassis with a powerful American V8 engine.
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In the case of the Venom GT, less weight means more performance. The Venom GT will have a production curb weight of less than 1,071 kilos aided by its lightweight carbon fiber bodywork and carbon fiber wheels.
Stopping power is delivered via Brembo brakes with 6-piston calipers up front and 4-piston calipers in rear clamping down on 15-inch carbon ceramic rotors. The Venom GT's base power plant is the supercharged 6.2 liter LS9 V8 (the same as in the Corvette ZR1) tweaked by HPE to 725 bhp. The company will also be offering 1000 bhp and 1200 bhp twin turbo V8 engine variants. The mid-engine V8 will transmit its power to the rear tires via a Ricardo 6-speed gearbox.
Hennessey plans to manage power output by using a programmable traction control system. Computational fluid dynamic tested bodywork and down force will also help keep the Venom stable at speed. An active aero system with adjustable rear wing will deploy under varying conditions on both the road and racetrack. An adjustable suspension system will allow ride height adjustments according to speed and driving conditions. Finally, power will be put to the ground via massive Michelin PS2 tires at all four corners.
Hennessey will be building the power plants at its Texas facility. The engines will then be air freighted to the company's assembly facility near Silverstone, England where the Venom GT is built and tested. Venom GT buyer 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.
The company 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 and the company already has orders for 4 Venom GT's.
Hennessey Performance has been making supercars since 1991. The company operates at its workshop and showroom facility situated on 143 acres near Sealy, Texas, some 45 minutes west of Houston. Hennessey Performance is also the only tuner in North America that operates its own test track – Lonestar Motorsports Park. ■