Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport stripped of World's Fastest Car title by Guinness

Last week, the Hennessey Venom GT laid claim (unofficially) to the world's fastest production car with a top speed of 265.7 miles per hour, but more importantly, it brought to light that the previous record holder, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, may have had an unfair advantage. According to Hennessey, the Veyron SS that topped out at 267.8 mph back in 2010 had a modified speed restrictor, and The Sunday Times is reporting that Guinness World Records agrees.

Guinness has apparently stripped the Veyron SS of its title as the report – as well as Hennessey's claim – says that the standard production version of the Veyron SS has its speed limited to 258 mph, but this was altered just for the test to pick up the extra speed. The rules for the record indicate that the record-setting car must be unchanged from what is available to customers. Since the Venom GT's record is still unofficial, the world record for fastest production car reverts back to Shelby SuperCars (SSC) Ultimate Aero with a top speed of 256.1 mph.

In order for the Venom GT to take this title from the Ultimate Aero now, it must attain its average speed over two timed runs. Perhaps more importantly, Hennessey must also build some fifty identical examples of the Venom GT in order for it to qualify as a "production" car. In the short term, at least, that might end up being the taller order.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/b...est-car-title/

mmarshall

They might (?) be getting a little too picky about the "speed restrictor". A lot of things can affect a car's top speed.....particularly air density/temperature. Official speed-records, like at Bonneville, are run in both directions, to correct for the prevailing wind and road/salt-flat gradient, and an average of the two is computed. But, even on top of that, take the same car, with the same tires/PSI, run it on the same course both ways, correct for the average speed, and, because warm air and humidity reduce air density (and an engine's potential HP) , you will usually get lower top speeds on warmer and/or more humid days than on cooler, drier ones. Aerodynamics, of course, also plays a role. The fact that colder, drier air is more dense, producing more engine power, sometimes also works against top speed by creating more air-resistance than in warm, humid air. So, given the complexity of a number of factors, they seem to be trying to make the speed restrictor the primary scapegoat.

geko29

I wouldn't call it a scapegoat. If the rules say "identical to production versions sold to customers" and the version tested is NOT identical to the for-sale version, it makes perfect sense. This goes doubly so when the change made from the production model is directly responsible for the record being set (ie it would have been impossible without the modification). It's not like they're disqualifying it because the one they tested had a different color start button than he ones for sale.

mmarshall

Yes, in that sense, I agree, but my point was that other, sometimes more significant factors are also at work.

Blackraven

I'd rather have a Veyron SS over a modified Lotus kit-car designed and modified by a low-life swindler named John Hennessey

*I get the feeling that even up to this day, the Viper community still cannot forget the treachery and deceit that has been committed by that individual*

Coconut

Whoa, so whats the story behind the negativity towards John Hennessey?

trexlexus

I think blackraven is referring to this story:
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...per-guy-34744/

Even with that story, as a little kid, the Viper was my favorite car. Seeing the Hennessey, who was created from a very notable Viper tuner, "claim fastest" car brings back good feelings.

In case you didnt want to read that long story:

Hennessey has a motor tuning shop in Houston, TX. Man 1 sent 142k to Hennessey to upgrade his Viper by the end of July. July rolls round and the car has not been upgraded. Man 1 accused Hennessey of unauthorized selling of car parts.

Man 2 sent 22k to upgrade his Viper. When he got his new Viper back, it had damaged parts from "experiments" Hennessey was doing on the car.

Man 3 complained about computer problems in the car after upgrades.

Man 4 had to complain for 8 months to get Hennessey to put a proper wing/paint proper stripes on the car.

Man 5 was promised new cams, but received used ones. Filed complaint, received no money from Hennessey, but got his refund from his credit card company.

Man 6 ordered 8.5k worth of parts. Not all of them fit. They were promised to ship in 5 wks, but took 6 months.

Man 7 ordered 140k worth of upgrades. Instead of getting a stoker motor, he only got heads and cams. He didn't get what he ordered.

A former employee says that Hennessey treats out of state customers as second class, rushing to fill Texas orders. If an out of state customer complained, he would just let the car sit.

Hennessey denies any wrong doing.

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Im not taking sides, just posting a summary of a story i found.

gengar

I'm too lazy to search right now - does anyone know offhand the reason for the restrictor on the Veyron Super Sport?

Stormwind

venom gt will end up with the same problem as veyron, they will have to put in a speed restricter of some kind to make it safe enough for actual road use. Then there is the real problem of having to make at least 50 units of that car which I don't think there are enough demands for it and the small company don't have the capacity to even make that happen.

patgilm

I personally knew someone that was scammed and paid a lot of money for work that wasn't done. When it happens enough it is hard to forget or forgive.

Blackraven

Yup, hence the phrase:
"You've been HENNESSCREWED!!!"

TRDFantasy

Now I don't know nor have I personally dealt with Hennessey, but from what I've heard they're pretty much scumbags.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the restrictor there to save the tires? I remember hearing somewhere that going above the restrictor speed would severely reduce the life of the tires.

I8ABMR

I still don't see the Hennesey Venom as a production car. Its a tuner car built from scratch imho. Basically a boutique car, and why would you give a guy a million dollars + for a car when he has no network of dealers to fix or service the beast, and for a car that has zero heritage. Bugatti is the real deal. Hennesy is not imho. I cant imagine that Hennesey did as much research into the development of the car as VW did with the Veyron. The Veyron was an engineering exercise. The Venom is a bomb attached to a roller skate. LOL. I know its fast but for how long. Can you use it as a daily driver or as a Grad Tourer ?

Kudos for achieving the top speed but I still this Bugatti builds a better car and Im sure they will be responding very very soon with something that will kill the Venom

I8ABMR

That's all I have ever heard about them too

jadu

iTrader: (42)

that sucks. its W16 was the worlds fastest for a while