HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 20, 2007) - 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". out, "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.

Seven hundred horses are comin’ to town! Upscale luxury goods retailer Neiman Marcus Direct has teamed up with John Hennessey’s Hennessey Performance Engineering to bring us a stampede of 700 horses through their spring Neiman Marcus Men's Catalog. And boy do them horses look healthy and sound in that jet black!
"The Venom 700NM offers world-class power,” says John Hennessey, “performance and looks in typical Hennessey style. We are very excited about our new partnership with Neiman Marcus."

Persuaded by the thunderous Dodge Viper SRT-10 engine, the VENOM 700NM musters up a whole 700 bhp/ 522kW and 645lb-ft of massive torque. Figures suggest a 0 – 60 mph time of 3.3 seconds, 0 – 100 mph in 7 seconds and a top end of 214 mph.

A number of special kits are added to the Venom 700NM, including VenomAero Exterior Aerodynamic Upgrades and lightweight alloy wheel upgrade (19x10 inch front; 20x13 inch rear).

Sounds good to you? We thought so. Be a good boy then and put aside USD179,500, which by the look of the US dollar lately, isn’t much. Be quick about it too as only 7 are being made available. If you can make it to the New York Motor Show 2008 even better, 'cause then you can scope out the real deal in the metal.

Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) is pleased to introduce the first official images of its Venom GT supercar. Based upon the Lotus Elise, the Venom GT combines a high-tech, lightweight British chassis with a powerful American V8.

“This is not the first time that Britain and America have joined forces to produce a weapon of mass propulsion”, said company founder and president, John Hennessey. “Over fifty years ago the American-built P51 Mustang fighter aircraft was flown into history powered by a British Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Today the Hennessey Venom GT promises to set a new standard of power to weight ratio in the rarified air of today's supercar market.”


SOMETIMES LESS EQUALS MORE

In the case of the Venom GT, less weight means more performance. The Venom GT will have a production curb weight of less than 2,400 lbs (1,071 kilos) aided by its lightweight carbon fiber bodywork and carbon fiber wheels. Stopping power is delivered via Brembo brakes with 6-piston calipers up front and 4-piston calipers in rear clamping down on 15-inch carbon ceramic rotors.


SOMETIMES MORE EQUALS MORE

The Venom GT’s base power plant is the supercharged 6.2 liter LS9 V8 (the same as in the Corvette ZR1) tweaked by HPE to 725 bhp. The company will also be offering 1000 bhp and 1200 bhp twin turbo V8 engine variants. The mid-engine V8 will transmit its power to the rear tires via a Ricardo 6-speed gearbox.


POWER WITH CONTROL

Hennessey plans to manage power output by using a programmable traction control system. CFD (computational fluid dynamic) tested bodywork and down force will also help keep the Venom stable at speed. An active aero system with adjustable rear wing will deploy under varying conditions on both the road and racetrack. An adjustable suspension system will allow ride height adjustments according to speed and driving conditions. Finally, power will be put to the ground via massive Michelin PS2 tires at all four corners.


POWERED BY THE USA, BUILT IN THE UK

Hennessey will be building the power plants at its Texas facility. The engines will then be air freighted to the company's assembly facility near Silverstone, England where the Venom GT is built and tested. Venom GT buyer will be offered a 1-day driver orientation and instruction program by a Hennessey factory test driver, at a track in the UK or USA prior to delivery.


LIMITED PRODUCTION

The company plans to establish a network of Venom GT dealers and distributors in the Middle East, Europe, Russia, Australia and Asia. Production is limited to just 10 vehicles per year and the company already has orders for 4 Venom GT’s.

The Venom GT simply expresses the supercar that I have always dreamed of building for myself. I wanted a nimble, lightweight, mid-engine chassis with a powerful American V-8 engine. Maximum power-to-weight ratio is critical for a performance vehicle, and it is the cornerstone to our car.

Our dedicated staff of former Bonneville, Formula One and Le Mans race engineers have teamed to design the Venom GT— incorporating many of the best technologies and advanced materials available today. The goal? The best overall performing and best looking road-legal supercar that we could build.

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce you to the all-new Hennessey Venom GT.

Powering the Venom GT is a 6.2L supercharged LS9 V-8 engine producing 725 bhp at 7,200 rpm. An available twin-turbocharged V-8 (shown) offers the ultimate power trip delivering up to 1,200 bhp.

Weight is kept to a minimum thanks to the extensive use of aluminum for the construction of items such as the engine block, cylinder heads and intercoolers. Airflow ducting is a mix of lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum components. Exhaust gasses flow thru a lightweight Titanium exhaust system. Twin ballbearing turbochargers provide instant throttle response with a never ending mountain of power.

Inside, the Venom GT merges high-tech materials with supple luxury. Machined metal meets carbon fiber—all surrounded by sumptuous leather—to produce an unforgettable cockpit.

Hold on tight to the sport steering wheel as the available 1,000 bhp twin-turbo powerplant will generate an estimated 0-to-60 mph time of 2.7 seconds. Should you choose the available 1,200 bhp twin-turbocharged engine, you will have the esteemed privilege to use the entire range of the speedometer.

Combined with a super-light curb weight of under 2,685 lbs (1,220 kilos), the Venom GT offers an unmatched power-to-weight ratio.

The Venom GT incorporates an active aerodynamic system that allows for real-time downforce adjustments based on actual driving conditions. “The Venom GT is a purposebuilt thrill ride designed to dominate the competition” says John Hennessey. “This car is for a very select client who demands ultimate performance, but with absolute exclusivity.”

F1 meets road car. To maximize the power-to-weight ratio, the Venom GT utilizes some of the most hightech racing components available today. This includes the use of carbon fiber body panels and hybrid wheels constructed of both carbon fiber and forged-aluminum. Massive Brembo 6-piston alloy brake calipers combine with lightweight carbon-ceramic rotors to give the Venom GT world-class stopping power while simultaneously minimizing curb weight and rotational mass.

The Venom GT has an active suspension system that adjusts ride height according to varying conditions. The system allows a range of adjustment up to 2.4 inches (6 cm), enabling the driver to raise the Venom GT in order to navigate items such as a driveway or a parking garage.

All components aboard the Venom GT are built for purpose, not flash. Lightweight carbon fiber surrounds an alloy shifter that actuates a Ricardo 6-speed manual gearbox. An AP Racing multi-disc clutch transfers the engine’s copious power while remaining easy to modulate.

With lateral acceleration well exceeding 1 g-Force, body support for occupants comes in the form of race-spec, deep-side bucket seats that are constructed of carbon fiber and covered in fine leather.