Hennessey
Venom GT Concept:
The Super Car To Rule Them All?
Motoring Channel Staff - 20/November/2007
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Hennessey Venom GT Concept
This is the 745kW motor from the Venom
1000 Twin Turbo SRT that would power
the new mid-engined Venom GT concept
Veyron vs VenomThe Dodge Viper's 8.4-litre
V10 engine was never lacking power to begin with, but with a stroker
kit that takes displacement to 8.5-litres (522 cubic inches) and the
addition of twin turbochargers, the engine is transformed into
something unholy. John Hennessey says that his new concept will not
be a 'Veyron Slayer' but if it's faster, more powerful, more
exclusive, and can beat the Veyron in every performance benchmark, the
tag is probably going to stick. -
Feann Torr, Editor
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Texas,
America —
It's not everyday that a car company announces that it's going to build
a car that can rocket to 100km/h in less 2.5 seconds. But today is one
such day.
Though the company doesn't want its new project to
be seen as a "Veyron Slayer", Hennessey Performance Engineering is
never the less looking at building what could be one of the fastest
cars in the world.
Though it's only a concept design at this stage,
Hennessey expects to have the Venom GT built in concept form by 2009
and shown at various motor shows.
The car group's founder John
Hennessey says "The company
already has existing Venom 1000 Twin Turbo clients interested in
ordering the lighter, mid-engined Venom GT. Right now are taking a
serious look at building two concept cars that could be shown to the
public sometime in 2009. If there is enough demand we may consider
doing a very limited production run of the Venom GT."
The Venom GT would be powered by a turbocharged
version of the 8.4-litre V10 engine that powers the Dodge Viper. This
colossal biturbo engine would sit behind the driver in the mid-mount
position for improved balance and would output more than 745kW
(1000hp+) from around 5400rpm.
No torque figures have been quoted by Hennessey,
but the Venom
1000 Twin Turbo SRT which features the engine that will be used in the
new Venom GT makes a neck-snapping 1490Nm of torque @ 3800rpm, so
expect a figure slightly higher than that.
The rear-wheel drive Hennessey Venom GT will weigh
less than 1225kg (2700lbs) and in conjunction with a 6-speed manual
transmission, would accelerate from zero to 100km/h in less than 2.5
seconds. A sequential (auto) gearbox is optional, says Hennessey.
Top speed will be very very high, and the American
car tuner says that the Venom GT would be able to accelerate from zero
to 300km/h in "around 14 seconds".
The design of the Venom GT was
developed by British auto designer Steve Everitt, and
Hennessey says that if the demand is there and the vehicle is given the
green light for production, it would be built at the company's
Lonestar Motorsports Park facility, not far from Houston,
Texas.
Hennessey Performance Engineering claims to
be the only aftermarket tuning firm in North America that owns
and
operates its own vehicle testing track/proving grounds.
While the Venom GT would outpace the current world
speed champion, the Bugatti Veyron, founder John Hennessey was keen to
clarify the Venom GT's purpose. It's not a Bugatti Veyron
slayer.
"The Veyron is an
ultra fast and ultra luxurious grand touring car which also happens to
be quicker and faster than any other road car, except for our Venom
1000 Twin Turbo SRT which beat the Veyron earlier this year from
0-200mph [0-322km/h]," said John Hennessey.
"The Venom GT will be a much more engaging sports
car to drive by
challenging the driver with 1000+ HP in a chassis that is nearly
1500lbs [680kg] lighter than the Veyron."
Related
Articles:
- Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR
(2008)
- Bugatti Veyron (2006)
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