Hennessey Venom GT Concept Car Announced

Hennessey Venom GT Concept Car

By Sam Stockley
November 19, 2007 8:37 PM
Filed Under: American, Specialty Marques

A company specialising in the development and marketing of parts and services for America's hottest offerings, including the Dodge Viper SRT10, has released photos of their first concept vehicle to date - the British-penned Hennessey Venom GT. Interest from existing Venom 1000 Twin Turbo clients is spurring the team on to produce two potential concept cars for a public debut in 2009, with limited-run production remaining on the cards after a good reception.

Drawing on Hennessey's experience with Dodge's Viper SRT10 and SRT8-designated models of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler 300C and Dodge Magnum, the concept car's resulting equation is simple. Four-figure power output plus an ultra-lightweight mid-engined chassis produces benchmark-setting, 'Veyron-slaying' performance.

British designer Steve Everitt has been given the task of penning the new concept car, this first sketch hinting at the first styling cues that may head our way for 2009, while the powertrain is very much developed for benchmark-setting performance. The V10 powerplant would generate in excess of 1000 hp and is estimated to deliver acceleration figures of 0-100 kph (62 mph) in 2.5 seconds and a 0-300 kph (186 mph) time of 14 seconds - largely thanks to a gross weight of 2700 lbs (some 1500 lbs lighter than Buggati Veyron).

Should a limited production run be entered into, the Venom GT would be built at the firm's new facilities near to Houston, Texas. Stay tuned for further information.

Source: Hennessey Performance Engineering

Press Release (Click to expand)

HOUSTON, TEXAS - Hennessey Performance Engineering today announced that it is introducing the company's first concept car - The Venom GT.

Penned by British auto designer, Steve Everitt, the Venom GT would incorporate Hennessey's potent Venom 1000 Twin Turbo Viper V10 powerplant into a light weight mid-engine chassis weighing "under 2,700 lbs". Power would be run through a 6-speed transmission or optional sequential gearbox.

With a power to weight ratio of just 2.7 lbs per bhp Hennessey estimates that the Venom GT could attain 0 to 100 km/h times in less than 2.5 sec. and a 0-300 km/h time of around 14 seconds. Company founder, John Hennessey, is careful to point out that the Venom GT is not being built as a 'Veyron Slayer'. Hennessey point out, saying, '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 0-200 mph. 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 1500 lbs lighter than the Veyron.'

Hennessey said, '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 2 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.'

If the Venom GT goes into production, it would be built at the company's facility at Lonestar Motorsports Park which is located just west of Houston, Texas.

About Hennessey Performance Engineering

Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) specializes in designing, testing, manufacturing and selling high-performance parts and services for the Dodge Viper SRT10, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, Chrysler 300C SRT8 and Dodge Magnum SRT8 as well as other high performance and exotic brands such as Bentley, AMG Mercedes and Porsche. HPE is completing the construction of the company's new 30,000 square foot engineering and manufacturing facility at the company's Lonestar Motorosports Park - a 1/4 mile dragstrip located 45 minutes west of Houston, Texas. HPE is the only aftermarket tuning firm in North America that owns and operates its own vehicle testing track / proving grounds. The company will move to its new facility at the end of 2007.

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