Deliveries start late 2016

Hennessey has published a press release providing extensive details about the Venom F5.

The Venom F5 is gunning for the top speed world record with an estimated 290 mph (466.71 km/h) coming from an evolution of the 270 mph Venom GT. It will feature a more aerodynamic body which will reduce the drag coefficient from 0.44 to below 0.40 while generating a high amount of downforce thanks to a rear diffuser, retractable rear wing and a specifically designed underbody.

At its heart will be an uprated variant of the twin-turbo V8 7.0-liter engine which in the Venom GT delivers 1,244 bhp (928 kW). By increasing the size of the turbochargers and upgrading the intercooler and fuel system, Hennessey's engineers will be able to squeeze more than 1,400 bhp (1,044 kW) wrapped around in a body which won't exceed 1,300 kg (2,866 lbs) thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum.

The Texas-based tuner / specialty marque estimates the Venom F5 will be faster than the Lotus Exige-based Venom GT in the 0-186 mph (0-300 km/h) sprint so expect the run to take less than 13.63 seconds while the 0-200 mph (0-322 km/h) journey will be done in less than 14.51 seconds.

The Venom F5 will be offered with a newly developed single-clutch paddle-shift gearbox which will be lighter than the regular H-pattern manual gearbox and will also enable the vehicle to accelerate quicker. Moreover, a GPS-based stability/traction control system "will help to channel the F5's immense power and provide an increased margin of safety, whether on a racetrack or back road."

A full reveal is scheduled for 2015 but deliveries will kick off towards the end of 2016. A minimum of 30 units will be built and production will start after Hennessey will roll out the final Venom GT. 16 cars have been built so far out of a total production of 29 units, each priced at 1.2M USD. Needless to say, the Venom F5 will be more expensive to justify the upgrades.

Hennessey has its eyes set on trumping the Bugatti Veyron’s top speed record.

In a report from Top Gear, Hennessey is working on a Venom F5 exotic that is targeting a top speed of 290 mph, plenty faster than the Veyron Super Sport’s 268-mph mark. And while a claim of besting Bugatti’s top speed can normally be taken with a grain of salt, Hennessey isn’t exactly new to the game and earlier this year its Venom hit 270.49 mph at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center runway. That mark wasn’t good enough to take the top speed record since it was only done going in one direction while the Veyron Super Sport’s 267.86 mph was the average of its upwind and downwind runs at Ehra-Lessien.

Nonetheless, Hennessey has its sights set on taking the record officially once and for all thanks to a 7.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that will likely push over 1,400 hp. The company isn’t ready to announce official performance specs on the Venom F5, but that’s because it’s still figuring out just how much power it can squeeze from the engine. Expect the Venom F5 to weigh under 2,865 lbs helping it boast one of the most impressive power-to-weight ratios ever.

Expect the Hennessey Venom F5 to arrive next year with first deliveries starting in 2016. The company is planning to limit production to 30 units and will likely cost more than the $1.2 million that the Venom GT fetches.