Hennessey Venom GT Overview and Top Gear Features
The Hennessey Venom GT is a limited-production hypercar built by Hennessey Special Vehicles in the United States. It is based on a heavily modified Lotus Exige chassis and uses a twin-turbocharged V8 engine. The car gained significant attention after being featured on Top Gear, where its acceleration and top-speed runs were highlighted as among the fastest ever recorded for a road-legal production car.
Hennessey Performance Engineering designed the Venom GT to compete with other ultra-high-performance vehicles in terms of power output and speed. The company is known for building tuned versions of existing sports cars rather than developing entirely new platforms. The Venom GT program focused on maximizing power and minimizing weight to achieve high-speed benchmarks.
Technical Specifications and Performance Figures
The Venom GT uses a 7.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine derived from the Chevrolet Corvette LS7 platform, producing over 1,200 horsepower on high-octane fuel. The car uses a six-speed manual transmission and a rear-wheel-drive layout. According to Hennessey, the Venom GT accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 2.4 seconds and reached a top speed of over 270 mph during testing.
Key Performance Metrics
Hennessey recorded a 0 to 300 mph run in 14.51 seconds during a test at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California. The car weighs approximately 2,700 pounds, giving it a power-to-weight ratio that supports its acceleration claims. The Venom GT uses large front and rear spoilers, a wide body, and specialized tires to maintain stability at extreme speeds.
Production Numbers, Pricing, and Market Position
Hennessey produced a limited number of Venom GT units, with the exact count kept low to maintain exclusivity. The base price of the Venom GT was set above most standard supercars, reflecting its hand-built nature and performance equipment. Pricing varied depending on configuration, with some examples reaching well over one million dollars.
The Venom GT competed in the same segment as vehicles from Bugatti, Koenigsegg, and Pagani. Its inclusion in Top Gear segments and high-speed tests helped raise its profile among automotive enthusiasts. Hennessey continues to sell performance upgrades and parts through its official website for owners and collectors interested in the model.