Hennessey

Venom F5

Hennessey Venom F5: The Tornado

John Hennessey, a Texas tuner famous for making Vipers go faster, decided to build his own car from scratch. The goal? To be the fastest road car on Earth. The name F5 refers to the highest rating on the Fujita tornado scale (wind speeds of 261–318 mph). That is the target.

The Engine: “Fury”

Unlike the previous Venom GT (which used a modified Lotus chassis and an LS engine), the F5 is 100% bespoke. The engine, codenamed “Fury,” is a masterpiece of American engineering.

  • Displacement: 6.6-liter V8.
  • Block: Cast iron. Why iron? Because at 1,800 hp, aluminum blocks can warp under the cylinder pressure. Iron is heavy but indestructible.
  • Induction: Two massive precision ball-bearing turbochargers with 3D-printed titanium compressor housings.
  • Output: 1,817 hp at 8,000 rpm.
  • Torque: 1,617 Nm.

This is the most powerful internal combustion engine ever fitted to a production road car (without hybrid assistance). It produces more power than a Bugatti Chiron, but the car weighs half as much.

The Chassis: Carbon Tub

The Venom F5 is built around a carbon fiber monocoque that weighs just 86 kg.

  • Rigidity: It has a torsional rigidity of 52,000 Nm/degree, stiffer than a Bugatti Chiron.
  • Total Weight: The entire car weighs just 1,360 kg.
  • Power-to-Weight: 1.34 hp per kg. That is significantly higher than any Bugatti or Koenigsegg.

Transmission: CIMA

Sending 1,800 hp to the rear wheels is a nightmare. Hennessey uses a CIMA 7-speed single-clutch automated manual gearbox.

  • Why Single Clutch? A dual-clutch box would explode under the torque. A single-clutch box is lighter and stronger (used in the Koenigsegg Agera and Pagani Huayra).
  • Gearing: It is geared to hit 334 mph (537 km/h) at the redline in 7th gear.

The 300 MPH Goal

Hennessey claims a theoretical top speed of 534 km/h (331 mph).

  • Testing: They have validated the car up to 270 mph+ on runways in Florida. They are currently planning a highway run (similar to the Koenigsegg Agera RS) to officially break the 300 mph barrier.
  • Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires are the limiting factor. Hennessey works closely with Michelin to ensure they don’t explode at 500 km/h.

Conclusion

The Venom F5 is an old-school American hot rod taken to the absolute extreme. It is RWD, has no complex hybrid system, no torque vectoring, and relies on sheer horsepower and aerodynamics to bludgeon the air into submission. It is terrifying, and that is the point.