If you think speed limits are for quitters and the idea of 300 mph makes your pulse race, then welcome to the world of the Hennessey Venom F5—the hypercar built to shred records and laugh in the face of physics. Designed by the mad geniuses at Hennessey Special Vehicles, this beast isn’t just a car; it’s an earth-shaking, adrenaline-pumping masterpiece built to challenge the fastest machines on the planet.
F5: Tornado, Meet Hypercar
First things first—where does the Venom F5 get its name? Well, buckle up. The “F5” refers to the highest rating on the Fujita scale, a scale used to measure tornado intensity. An F5 tornado can reach wind speeds of 261 to 318 mph (420–512 km/h), the kind of force that can pick up a house and hurl it into next week. Hennessey’s mission? Build a car that can match that kind of devastation on the road. With a target top speed of over 311 mph (500 km/h), this isn’t your average Sunday drive.
A Global Dream Team
While Hennessey is as American as apple pie and horsepower, the Venom F5 is a true global collaboration. Hennessey teamed up with Delta Motorsport, an engineering outfit from Silverstone, England (yes, where the famous Formula 1 track is). Together, they crafted the Venom F5 from the ground up—their first all-new, proprietary vehicle. Delta Motorsport’s expertise helped Hennessey refine the Venom F5 into a precision weapon aimed directly at the hypercar elite like Bugatti and Koenigsegg.
The Power Behind the Fury
At the heart of this hypercar lies a 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that Hennessey fittingly nicknamed “Fury.” And what a fitting name. “Fury” unleashes a staggering 1,817 horsepower, enough to make your heart skip a beat just thinking about what that kind of power feels like when you step on the gas. The Venom F5 goes from 0 to “hold on for dear life” in seconds, thanks to this insane engine setup.
To handle all that power, the car uses a CIMA 7-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission with paddle shifters, sending power to the rear wheels. Yeah, this is rear-wheel drive—a bold choice when you’re packing enough horsepower to launch into orbit.
Light as a Feather, Fast as Lightning
Speed isn’t just about power—it’s about cutting weight. That’s why the Venom F5 is built with an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber chassis and body. At just 2,950 pounds (1,338 kg), it has a power-to-weight ratio that’s almost unheard of: 1,358 horsepower per ton. Translation? This car moves like a cheetah with rocket boosters.
But there’s more to it than just being light—the Venom F5 also features active aerodynamics, which means the car can adjust its body on the fly to maximize speed or grip, depending on what’s needed. Its drag coefficient is a slick Cd=0.39, so it slices through the air like a hot knife through butter.
Where Comfort Meets Chaos
For all its high-speed insanity, the Venom F5 isn’t a cramped, bare-bones racing machine. Hennessey made sure that drivers would be comfortable, no matter how crazy things get. This hypercar has a surprisingly spacious interior, designed to fit even the tallest of drivers—rumor has it that a 6’7″ NFL player has already put in an order. So, not only is the Venom F5 one of the fastest cars in the world, it’s also one of the few hypercars where you won’t feel like you’re squeezing into a sardine can.
A Piece of Space in Every F5
Owning a Venom F5 doesn’t just get you a car; it gets you a piece of space history. Each Venom F5 comes with its very own “Treasure Chest,” a giant aluminum box containing the key fob, a magnetic trickle charger, and a tow hook. But the key fob itself is special—its serial number plate is made from a metal component that was used in a Space Shuttle launch. That’s right, John Hennessey took a piece of the cosmos and gave it to you as a reminder that this car is out of this world.
Exclusivity at Its Best
If you’ve been thinking about adding the Venom F5 to your collection, you’re out of luck. Only 24 units of the Venom F5 will ever be made, and by August 2021, all of them were sold. Initially priced at $1.6 million, the last units went for $2.1 million—a steal for a car that could potentially be the fastest production vehicle ever made.
Breaking Records: The Venom F5’s Moment of Glory
On July 30, 2024, the Venom F5 made headlines by smashing the standing ½ mile (805 meters) speed record. John Hennessey himself was behind the wheel, rocketing the car to 219 mph (353 km/h) in just 14.44 seconds. For those keeping score, this isn’t just fast—it’s ridiculous.
Here’s how the Venom F5’s speed breaks down:
- 1/8 mile: 6.77 seconds @ 121 mph (195 km/h)
- 1/4 mile: 9.82 seconds @ 169 mph (272 km/h)
- ½ mile: 14.44 seconds @ 219 mph (353 km/h)
These numbers are mind-blowing, and Hennessey isn’t done yet—the ultimate goal is still to break the 311 mph barrier and claim the title of the world’s fastest production car.
A Car That Defies Gravity
The Hennessey Venom F5 is the automotive equivalent of strapping yourself to a rocket and aiming for the horizon. It’s a car for people who crave extreme speed and don’t mind leaving common sense behind. But it’s more than just a speed demon—it’s a symbol of what happens when engineering, passion, and sheer ambition collide.
In a world where speed records come and go, the Venom F5 is designed to leave a lasting mark, breaking barriers and daring others to keep up. And if history is any indication, Hennessey will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible on four wheels. The Venom F5 isn’t just a car—it’s an icon, a symbol of the relentless pursuit of speed. And for those lucky 24 owners, it’s a piece of history that’s built to go faster than anything else on Earth.
