Hennessey drummed up a lot of hype with its Venom F5 supercar, but at its debut during the 2017 SEMA show, we walked away mighty disappointed. The company’s teaser images and proposed 300 mph top speed gave many the expectation the car was ready to roll with the world’s best supercars.
Except, the Venom F5 is merely a 1:1, $1.6 million idea—a toy car at the moment.
Upon inspection, the car shown at the show is made from plastic. It does not feature an interior; there is no engine; it doesn’t run. To quote an iconic line from a cult-classic racing film, “What do they plan on racing with, hopes and dreams?” It’s simply what the car could look like and feature if and when it comes to life.
Hennessey says the Venom F5 will boast an all-new in-house engine, which doesn’t exist yet as far as we know, with 1,600 horsepower and its curb weight of 2,950 pounds will help break the 300 mph barrier. In fact, HPE thinks it’ll do 301 mph on today’s current tire technology. The Venom F5 currently wears Michelin tires that are unproven to handle the forces at 300-plus mph. Notably, Bugatti limits the Chiron’s top speed at 261 mph because no tire can handle the forces beyond said speed. HPE added it will develop its own tires if today’s tires won’t do. Add that to the list of very important things needing validation.
What we’re trying to say is many of Hennessey’s bold claims rest on important facets that don’t even exist today. We want to give Hennessey the benefit of the doubt, but without an engine and tires proven to actually carry out the bold claims, the Venom F5 is something of a pipedream at this point in time.
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In other words you want facts not fiction. To over promise and under deliver is not good for business.
in other words, when tesla says they will build a electric semi truck, everyone believes them and think its weeks away but when Hennessey says they have a 300+mph design and shows more proof than tesla, nobody thinks they can do it? the engine and transmission are already complete. The body design as well. The interior might need a lot of work, as the venom itself was no beauty on the inside. They might want to continue working there and are testing tires. In the meantime, a smaller firm like Hennessey might not want to spend 500K for a prototype who’s sole purpose is to sit in a showroom. My guess we will see running prototypes in 6 months-with or without tires that can go 300+ mph
John Hennessey is a many time proven crook and fraud. Sounds like this car is nothing more than a big toy model.
Most likely a ruse to generate funding so he can scam more people. Was probably funded with money that was supposed to go towards builds that their customers will never see.
It takes a lot more than a big engine and a plastic shell to build the fastest production car ever.
This whole thing is a joke.
“but when Hennessey says they have a 300+mph design and shows more proof than tesla, nobody thinks they can do it?”
The problem with Hennessey is that they haven’t shown any proof at all. All they have is a full-size foam model and a CGI video. There’s no reason to believe that they have a 300mph car if they can’t prove it with hard evidence.
The semi has been caught in spy shots. We will also see the unveiling I’m about a week. The Model 3 announce had 3 prototypes up on stage. Yet Model 3 is having some production issues. Nevertheless they do what they’re suppose to do. This thing is so far a model, not even a workiworking prototype and Hennessey is known for being a con man.
What does the Hennessey Venom F5 have anything to do with GM?
Its motor that produces 1600hp, more than a Bugatti, is supposedly a highly modified LS7
I saw someone ask on Hennessey’s YouTube channel if the new car is LS based. They replied saying it’s their own design.
Koenigseggs Agera RS sets production car speed record at 278 mph!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/jalopnik.com/this-is-what-koenigseggs-record-278-mph-nevada-speed-ru-1820157256/amp
Amazing with price Except, the Venom F5 is merely a 1:1, $1.6 million idea—a toy car at the moment.
That’s one helluva expensive “pipedream”.
I wonder how much of a deposit he was asking for at SEMA!?
The conversation probably went something like:
“20% down will secure you a finished 300+mph supercar”
“Why 20%?”
“Oh, I need that to invest in tyre development…”
“Why? Don’t you have tyres that go that speed? I mean… you’re promising a 300mph supercar aren’t you? You want all that money up front right??”
“Erhm…well…noooo….but I can develop these tyres. After all Bugatti/VW couldn’t…but I can.”
(sounds of a tumbleweed and crickets chirping)
(meanwhile, in the real world a Koenigsegg Agera makes a one-way pass of 285mph. sweet)
Wow, it seems like no one here has faith in the Venom F5. In this case I really wonder who will be the first to 300MPH…
Ha sounds like the Tesla roadster. Read an article on seekingalpha detailing how their claims were based on nonexistent tech by current limits, same for the semi.