Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[EXCLUSIVE: First shots of the Hennessey Performance Venom GT]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/09/first-shots-of-the-hennessey-performance-venom-gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/09/first-shots-of-the-hennessey-performance-venom-gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/09/first-shots-of-the-hennessey-performance-venom-gt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hennessey Venom GT - Click above for image gallery

Hennessey Performance is on a roll. First we got a Cadillac CTS-V that accelerates so violently it sets off its OnStar system. Then we get a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1-powered pony car that handily won our Best Camaro of SEMA. Now this: The first shots of the Hennessey Venom GT, a lightweight, LS9-powered ICBM aimed directly at the world's hypercar elite.

Originally teased way back in November of 2007, the House That Hennessey Built has been working overtime to create this Lotus Elise-based, mid-engine masterpiece for the Geneva Motor Show this March, and judging by these first shots from the shop, things are looking downright diabolical.

According to Hennessey, the final weight - with fuel, but no driver - should come in under 2,400 pounds, and with the "mildly tweaked" LS9 putting out between 650 and 700 horsepower, that puts the Venom in contention with the Bugatti Veyron for power-to-weight bragging rights. But naturally, Hennessey isn't stopping there. After the bugs are worked out, the supercharger will be dispatched in favor of a duo of turbos, netting output somewhere north of 1,000 hp. 0-60 times? Less than 2.5 seconds. Top speed? An estimated 262 mph.

Putting that grunt to the ground is a Ricardo six-speed manual gearbox - the same transmission the tuning firm used on its 1,000+ hp twin-turbocharged Ford GTs - with carbon fiber Dymag wheels fitted at all four corners, each shod in Michelin PS2 tires. Fifteen-inch carbon ceramic discs with eight piston Brembo calipers are mounted up front, while 14-inch rotors with six piston calipers reside in the rear, and although we haven't gotten confirmation, the shot above suggests the driver sits front and center. Nope, the Venom will be available in traditional left- or right-hand drive, according to Hennessey.

That's all for now, but look for more details to be released in the coming weeks and get an exclusive eyeful in the gallery below.


Gallery: Hennessey Performance Venom GT in the shop

EXCLUSIVE: First shots of the Hennessey Performance Venom GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>genevageneva 2010geneva motor showGeneva2010GenevaMotorShowgthennesseyhennessey performancehennessey performance venom gthennessey venom gtHennesseyPerformanceHennesseyPerformanceVenomGtHennesseyVenomGtvenomWed, 09 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: Hennessey shows off CFD drawings of Venom GT supercar]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/exclusive-hennessey-shows-off-cfd-drawings-of-venom-gt-supercar/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/exclusive-hennessey-shows-off-cfd-drawings-of-venom-gt-supercar/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/exclusive-hennessey-shows-off-cfd-drawings-of-venom-gt-supercar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Hennessey Venom GT CFD renderings - Click above for high-res image gallery

At the Quail Motorsports Gathering in Monterey, CA we happened to run into a Mr. John Hennessey admiring the same Lamborghini LP670-4 SV we were drooling over. With the Venom GT set to debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, we asked how the project was going. He promptly produced an iPhone and gave us a sneak preview of dozens of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) renderings. At the time, we had no way to show you the photos, but John was kind enough to send a few our way.

As you can see by the renderings, the Venom GT features an adjustable rear wing that also acts as an air brake. We were informed that the Venom GT should be capable of 1.5 negative g's under braking, and that with the carbon ceramic brakes it will be able to stop from 200 mph in seven seconds flat.

We also learned the Venom GT is actually based on a stretched Lotus Exige chassis, making sense of the visual similarities between the two cars. Hennessey told us that he wanted to keep the car as light as possible, and the Exige was the best platform available to help him achieve that goal. The switch from the Viper V10 to the LS9 V8 was done for the same reason, and John liked the idea of an American V8 in an English car -- the same formula that was so successful for Carroll Shelby back in the 1960s. Expect more details to be revealed in the run-up to the Venom's Geneva unveiling, but until then, check out the high-res gallery of CFD renderings below.


Gallery: Hennessey Venom GT CFD renderings

Exclusive: Hennessey shows off CFD drawings of Venom GT supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Geneva 2010Geneva2010HennesseyHennessey Performance EngineeringHennessey Venom GTHennesseyPerformanceEngineeringHennesseyVenomGtTue, 01 Sep 2009 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Hennessey Venom GT to debut at 2010 Geneva Motor Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/12/hennessey-venom-gt-to-debut-at-2010-geneva-motor-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/12/hennessey-venom-gt-to-debut-at-2010-geneva-motor-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/12/hennessey-venom-gt-to-debut-at-2010-geneva-motor-show/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Hennessey Venom GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's been two long years since John Hennessey announced plans to build his very own supercar, and we were beginning to wonder if it was ever going to happen. Apparently, Hennessey's plans are still a go as the Texas tuner just announced through its newsletter that the Venom GT will make its official public debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Since the initial press release, Hennessey has made a few changes to the car's proposed specs. Listed curb weight has dropped from 2700 to 2400 lbs and the engine is now a "Hennessey V8" rather than a twin-turbo Viper V10. Power rating is "up to 1,200 bhp" rather than the initially stated 1,000 and top speed has been listed as 272 mph. No matter what the final specifications, it sounds like the Venom GT will be sure to impress.


Gallery: Hennessey Venom GT


[Source: Hennessey Performance Engineering]

Hennessey Venom GT to debut at 2010 Geneva Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HennesseyHennessey Performance EngineeringHennessey VenomHennessey Venom GTHennesseyPerformanceEngineeringHennesseyVenomHennesseyVenomGtJohn HennesseyJohnHennesseyVenom GTVenomGtWed, 12 Aug 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Hennessey performance expanding tuning to include ZR1, GT-R and IS F]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/12/hennessey-performance-expanding-tuning-to-include-zr-1-gt-r-and/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/12/hennessey-performance-expanding-tuning-to-include-zr-1-gt-r-and/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/12/hennessey-performance-expanding-tuning-to-include-zr-1-gt-r-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

From the Mustang to the Viper and Veyron, Hennessey Performance has spread its abilities across the performance car spectrum. And with hi-po vehicles like the IS F, ZR1, and GT-R on their way to buyers' garages, John Hennessey says he is working on packages to make all of those cars even higher-po.

The IS F looks to be the first in line, with the experiment subject arriving at Hennessey's shop next week. The car will be a test bed for "headers, exhaust and air induction systems first. Then maybe a blower." He's also got his eye on the baddest boy Corvette ZR1, for which his website advertises "700+ HP coming soon!" The physics-defying GT-R is in the crosshairs as well, and if he can make it better than it already is, that would be among the best testaments for his services.

Coming down just a notch -- but still up there -- the Cadillac CTS-V and Camaro will get their chances for glory as well. While all of this sounds great, what we really hope is that none of this extra work causes Hennessey not to give us the Venom. That's the package we are truly dying to see.

[Source: Inside Line]

Hennessey performance expanding tuning to include ZR1, GT-R and IS F originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camarocts-vgt-rhennesseyhennessey venom gtHennesseyVenomGttunerstuningzr 1zr-1zr1Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:01:00 EST<![CDATA[More views of the Hennessey Venom GT]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/03/more-views-of-the-hennessey-venom-gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/03/more-views-of-the-hennessey-venom-gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/03/more-views-of-the-hennessey-venom-gt/#commentsFiled under: ,


click above for more images of the Hennessey Venom GT

We showed you an initial concept sketch of the Hennessey Venom GT last month, and the tuner best known for building ridiculously powerful Dodge Vipers has released another pair of pics, this time showing the mid-engine concept's rear with its retractable spoiler both up and down. In our previous post, we mentioned the undeniable likeness that the Venom GT shares with the Lotus Elise, which is also on display from this angle. We can also see just how extreme the car's design is, with a carbon fiber rear diffuser that we're sure isn't just for show and twin tail pipes that exit up high between the taillights. Carbon fiber skirts also peek out the sides below the massive air intake for the mid-mounted twin-turbo Viper engine and the extra-wide air extractor vents behind the front wheels. It seems clear to us that Hennessey intends to make a go of building its own exotic, just like Saleen did with the S7, and we hear two cars will be built to show potential customers in 2009. With a power-to-weight ratio of 2.7 lbs. per horsepower, a 2,700 lbs. curb weight, and an estimated 0-62 time of 2.5 seconds, we don't expect the Venom GT will be a tough sell.

[Source: Hennessey]

Gallery: Hennessey Venom GT

More views of the Hennessey Venom GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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